Art Therapy

About Us

Use this link to Find an Accredited Art Therapy Program

To search for an Art Therapy program, click on "Find an accredited program" then from there click on the "Profession" button option. Next, select "Art Therapy" as the profession you are looking for and then scroll down to choose "Search" at the very bottom of the profession list. This will take you to the directory of Art Therapy programs, which are listed alphabetically by state. There is more than one page of accredited programs. To view all of the programs click "load more" at the bottom of the page. To view a program's information, click on the name of the program to open the record.

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Learn More about Becoming an Art Therapist - Check out the Art Therapist FAQ Sheet

Important Information

Benefits of Accreditation

CAAHEP accreditation attests to the quality of an educational program that prepares for entry into the art therapy profession.

For the public, accreditation promotes the health, safety and welfare of the public by assuring competent mental health professionals
For prospective students, accreditation serves a consumer protection purpose. It provides assurance the program has been evaluated and has met accepted standards established by and with the art therapy profession.
For prospective employers, it provides assurance that the curriculum covers essential skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for today's job market in mental health care.
For graduates, it offers assurance to employers of competency in the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for entry level art therapy practice.
For art therapists, it involves practitioners in the establishment of standards and assures that educational requirements reflect the current training needs of the profession.
For the profession, it advances the field by promoting standards of practice and advocating rigorous preparation.
For public and private finding sources, it represents a highly desirable indicator of a program's quality and viability.
For the faculty and administrators, it promotes ongoing self-evaluation and continuous improvement and provides an effective system for accountability.
For the school or program, accreditation represents peer recognition.

Accreditation Documents

FOR PROGRAM DIRECTORS AND FACULTY:

How do I get started?

Art Therapy programs interested in achieving CAAHEP accreditation must review the following documents to understand what is required before beginning the process:

1) Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Art Therapy (Approved Nov. 2024)

2) ACATE Handbook for Self-Study Report & Standards

Once these materials are reviewed, to begin the accreditation process complete the ACATE Application for Accreditation Review form (AAR) at the link below:

ACATE Application for Accreditation Review (AAR)

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International Accreditation

ACATE appreciates your program's interest in CAAHEP accreditation. At this time, the capacity and expertise of this committee relates to the laws, policies and ethics of educational guidelines within the United States.

As international considerations and protocols are so nuanced, ACATE is unable to recommend art therapy programs for accreditation that are outside of the United States. Additionally, per Standard I.A. Program Sponsor (p. 11):

The institution/university's program sponsor must be a post-secondary academic institution accredited by an institutional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and must be authorized under applicable law or other acceptable authority to provide a post-secondary program, which awards a minimum of a master’s degree at the completion of the program.

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Helpful Documents

‍For Program Directors

1. Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Art Therapy. (Approved Nov. 2016)

2. ACATE Policies and Procedures Manual

3. ACATE Fee Structure

4. Fillable Forms, charts and surveys

5. Site Evaluators are Coming! - A guide for Program Directors

6. FAQ Sheet for Newly Accredited Programs

7. Annual Report (2024) Portal Instructions - provided for example of annual processes once accredited. Related webinar and Word version of these materials may also be requested from ACATE.

8. ACATE Annual Report Submission Extension form (Word)

9. Post-Graduate master's degrees also offered by art therapy programs

‍10. Complaint Policy

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