Continuing Education for Art Therapists
Our continuing education courses are designed to support ethical, creative, and clinically grounded art therapy practice. Courses are created for art therapists and related helping professionals seeking meaningful professional development that can be applied directly to clinical, educational, community, and creative practice settings.
Each course includes clear learning objectives, course requirements, continuing education hours, and completion documentation.
ATCB Continuing Education Information
The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) sets standards for art therapy credentials and recertification. Board Certified Registered Art Therapists are required to complete continuing education as part of maintaining board certification. Current ATCB recertification standards state that ATR-BC credential holders complete 100 continuing education credits within each five-year recertification cycle.[1]
ATCB’s Authorized Art Therapy Continuing Education Provider (AATCEP℠) Program recognizes providers offering professional art therapy continuing education. ATCB states that continuing education credits earned from an Authorized Art Therapy Continuing Education Provider (AATCEP℠) are accepted for ATCB recertification purposes.[2][3]
If a course is offered for ATCB/AATCEP continuing education credit, the course page will clearly indicate:
- Number of CE credits/hours
- Course format
- Learning objectives
- Completion requirements
- Instructor/provider information
- Certificate details
- Any applicable approval or provider statement
Participants are responsible for reviewing their own credentialing, licensing, and recertification requirements to determine whether a course meets their individual needs.
About ATCB / AATCEP Credit
ATCB’s AATCEP℠ program is intended to help art therapists access trusted, high-quality continuing education in the field of art therapy. ATCB identifies eligibility standards for providers and notes that clinical art therapy continuing education content should be delivered by qualified art therapy professionals, with clinical art therapy content delivered by or with an ATR-BC when required by ATCB standards.[3]
Course pages on this site will specify whether a course is being offered for ATCB-recognized art therapy continuing education credit.
Course Completion Requirements
To receive a certificate of completion, participants must complete all required course components. Requirements may vary by course, but may include:
- Watching all required video lessons
- Completing required readings or handouts
- Passing required quizzes or knowledge checks
- Completing reflection prompts or assignments, if included
- Submitting a course evaluation
- Completing the course within the stated access period, if applicable
Certificates are issued only after all stated requirements have been completed.
Certificates of Completion
Participants who successfully complete a CE course will receive a certificate of completion. Certificates may include:
- Participant name
- Course title
- Date of completion
- Number of CE hours/credits
- Instructor/provider name
- Course format
- Completion statement
- Applicable provider or approval language, when relevant
Participants should save their certificates for their own credentialing, licensure, or recertification records.
Course Formats
Courses may be offered in one or more of the following formats:
On-Demand Courses
Self-paced online courses that may include video lessons, written materials, downloadable resources, quizzes, reflections, and a completion certificate.
Live Online Workshops
Scheduled workshops offered through a live video platform. Attendance, participation, course evaluation, and any additional requirements must be completed to receive CE credit.
Hybrid Courses
Courses that include both self-paced learning and a live component. Completion requirements will be listed on the individual course page.
Organizational Trainings
Custom or group trainings may be available for agencies, schools, clinical teams, or professional organizations. CE eligibility and documentation will be clarified during the planning process.
Learning Objectives
Each CE course includes specific learning objectives. These describe what participants should be able to understand, identify, apply, or discuss by the end of the training.
Learning objectives may focus on areas such as:
- Ethical decision-making
- Clinical documentation
- Art therapy assessment and intervention
- Boundaries and professional practice
- Trauma-informed approaches
- Work with diverse populations
- Supervision, consultation, and reflective practice
- Creative process in clinical care
Evaluations
Course evaluations help document completion and support course improvement. Participants may be required to complete an evaluation before receiving a certificate.
Evaluations may ask about:
- Course content
- Instructor effectiveness
- Relevance to practice
- Clarity of learning objectives
- Overall learning experience
- Suggestions for future courses
Recordkeeping
Completion records may be maintained for administrative and documentation purposes. Participants are encouraged to keep their own copies of certificates, receipts, and course descriptions for credentialing, licensure, or audit purposes.
If a replacement certificate is needed, participants may contact the course provider with the course title, completion date, and registration information.
Refunds and Cancellations
Refund and cancellation policies may vary depending on the course format.
On-Demand Courses
Because on-demand courses provide immediate access to digital content, refunds may be limited once course materials have been accessed.
Live Workshops
Live workshop refund or cancellation deadlines will be listed on the individual workshop registration page.
Provider Cancellation
If a live workshop is cancelled by the provider, participants will be offered a refund, transfer, or credit when appropriate.
Please review the specific refund policy listed on each course or workshop page before registering.
Accessibility and Accommodations
Reasonable efforts are made to provide an accessible learning experience. Participants who need accommodations are encouraged to make requests before the course or workshop begins so there is time to review and respond.
Possible accommodations may include:
- Captioned video when available
- Written materials
- Accessible PDFs when possible
- Alternative arrangements for live participation when appropriate
Accommodation requests can be submitted through the contact form.
Technology Requirements
Participants are responsible for having access to the basic technology needed to complete online courses. This may include:
- Reliable internet connection
- Current web browser
- Email access
- Ability to view streaming video
- Ability to download PDF materials
- Zoom or other video platform access for live workshops
If you experience technical difficulty, please use the contact form for support.
Scope and Responsibility
Continuing education courses are intended for professional development and are not a substitute for clinical supervision, consultation, legal advice, ethics board consultation, therapy, or independent credentialing/licensure review.
Participants are responsible for applying course material within their own scope of practice, professional role, state regulations, ethical codes, agency policies, and credentialing requirements.
Questions About CE Credit
If you are unsure whether a course will meet your credentialing or licensing needs, please review the requirements of your credentialing board, licensing board, employer, or professional organization before registering.
For ATCB-related questions, participants should consult current ATCB recertification information and requirements directly through the ATCB website.
ATCB website: https://atcb.org
Suggested FAQ Section
Are these courses for art therapists only?
Courses are designed primarily for art therapists, but some trainings may also be relevant to counselors, social workers, creative arts therapists, educators, and other helping professionals. Each course page will identify the intended audience.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Participants who complete all stated course requirements will receive a certificate of completion.
Can I use these courses for ATCB recertification?
Courses offered for ATCB/AATCEP continuing education credit will be clearly identified on the course page. Participants are responsible for confirming that a course meets their individual credentialing or recertification needs.
How many CE hours is each course?
The number of CE hours will be listed on each individual course page.
Do I need to complete a quiz?
Some courses may include quizzes, knowledge checks, reflections, or evaluations. Requirements will be listed on the course page.
Can I access the course later?
Access periods may vary. The course page will state how long participants have access to on-demand materials.
What if I need a replacement certificate?
Use the contact form and include your name, course title, approximate completion date, and registration email.
Are refunds available?
Refund policies vary by course type. Please review the refund and cancellation information listed on the course page before registering.
ATCEA| Pamela Ullmann