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Healthcare License Verification

How to Verify an Art Therapist Certification (ATR-BC)

Art therapists use creative processes in structured clinical settings to address mental health goals. The ATR-BC (Art Therapist Registered-Board Certified) is the highest national credential, issued by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB).

· 6 min read

Quick answer

Verify art therapist credentials through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) at atcb.org using the credential verification lookup. Look for ATR-BC (board certified) or ATR (registered) status. Also check state licensure if the state regulates art therapy practice.

ATCB credential tiers

The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) issues two primary credentials for art therapists in the United States:

  • ATR (Art Therapist Registered): Entry-level national credential. Requires a master's degree in art therapy (or equivalent) from an accredited program plus 1,000 hours of supervised post-graduate clinical experience.
  • ATR-BC (Art Therapist Registered-Board Certified): Advanced credential requiring ATR status plus passage of the ATCB board certification examination. This is the gold standard credential and required for independent clinical practice in many settings.

The ATR-BC requires renewal every five years through continuing education. The ATR does not require a board exam but must also be maintained through ongoing education requirements.

How to verify ATCB credentials

ATCB provides a public credential verification tool:

  1. Go to atcb.org
  2. Navigate to “Verify a Credential” or the credential lookup directory
  3. Search by the art therapist's name
  4. Confirm: credential level (ATR or ATR-BC), active status, and expiration date
  5. Note whether the credential is currently active or has lapsed

An expired ATR-BC means the individual is no longer board certified. They may still hold the underlying ATR if they have not let that lapse as well, but the higher board certification is not active.

State licensure for art therapists

A limited but growing number of states license art therapists. States with dedicated art therapy licensure or recognition include Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and others. In most states, art therapists practice under mental health counselor or related licensure frameworks rather than a standalone art therapy license.

State regulation varies widely

In states without specific art therapy licensure, art therapists in clinical settings typically hold a mental health counselor license (LPC, LMHC) in addition to the ATR-BC. Verify both credentials if the role involves clinical mental health services. The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) at arttherapy.org tracks state licensure status.

For states with specific art therapy credentials, verify with the state licensing board in addition to ATCB. Search “[state] art therapy license board” to locate the appropriate verification portal.

Art therapy vs. art instruction

Clinical art therapy is a healthcare intervention addressing documented mental health and developmental goals, delivered in structured therapeutic relationships by credentialed ATR or ATR-BC practitioners. It is distinct from art classes, recreational arts programming, and arts and crafts activities in care settings.

For hospital, behavioral health, school-based mental health, or insurance-billed settings, confirm that the provider holds ATR-BC and any applicable state license. Art instructors or recreational staff without ATCB credentials are not qualified for clinical art therapy roles.

Red flags

  • Name not found in ATCB credential lookup at atcb.org
  • Expired ATR-BC credential — 5-year renewal cycle
  • Claiming “Board Certified” status with only ATR (not ATR-BC)
  • No state license in a state requiring art therapy or mental health licensure
  • Degree from a non-CAAHEP or non-AATA-recognized art therapy program
  • Art instructor or recreation staff representing themselves as a clinical art therapist

Verification checklist

  • 1. Verify ATR or ATR-BC at atcb.org — confirm active status and expiration
  • 2. For clinical roles, confirm ATR-BC specifically (not just ATR)
  • 3. Determine whether the state of practice regulates art therapists separately
  • 4. If clinical mental health services are provided, verify accompanying LPC/LMHC state license
  • 5. Verify educational program was AATA-approved or CAAHEP-accredited at time of graduation

Verify art therapy program accreditation

Art therapists must graduate from an accredited program. Use VerifyED to confirm whether a school's art therapy program is properly accredited.

Search Schools and Accreditation →