Art Therapist Education Requirements and Career Information
Artists who also have a deep interest in psychology should consider an art therapy career. Art therapists pair their love for studio art with helping patients deal with problems through the creation of art.
Art Therapist Job Responsibilities
Art therapists lead their clients through a variety of art activities in order to improve clients' self esteem, physical health and mental well-being. They believe that creating art can help people cope with problems that contribute to emotional, mental and physical issues. According to the Health Professions Network, art therapists employ a combination of studio art, psychotherapy and counseling to guide their clients toward a healthier outlook on life (www.healthpronet.org). Clients sculpt, sketch, paint and create other unique works of art during their sessions with a licensed art therapist.
Art Therapist Education Requirements
People who wish to enter the art therapy field must first hold a bachelor's degree. They then apply to a master's degree program in art therapy. According to the American Art Therapy Association, prospective art therapy graduate students must submit a portfolio of their artwork in order to be admitted to an art therapy degree program (www.americanarttherapyassociation.org). They must also possess 18 semester hours of art studio courses and 12 semester hours of psychology courses. Art therapy degree programs typically last about two years.
Students enrolled in a graduate program for art therapists take classes related to psychotherapy, psychology, human development, ethics, patient assessment and other subjects related to the art therapy field. Graduates of a program typically earn a master's degree in art therapy. They may also earn a master's degree in counseling with a concentration in art therapy. Some art therapists return to school to earn a Ph.D. in art therapy.
Art Therapy Certification Requirements
Art therapists are required to be certified by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). After earning a master's degree and fulfilling post-graduate art therapy experience requirements, new therapists are eligible to earn a credential to become a registered art therapist (ATR). Registered art therapists must successfully pass a written exam administered by the ATCB to become board certified (ATR - BC), which is a more advanced credential (www.atcb.org).
Places Where Art Therapists Work
Art therapists work in schools, nursing homes, prisons, hospitals, recreation facilities, mental health hospitals and nonprofit agencies. They often work with other medical professionals to create a treatment plan for patients who may benefit from art therapy in addition to more traditional remedies.
Related to Art Therapist
- Related
- Recently Updated
- Popular
Art Therapy Jobs: Career Options and Requirements
Art therapy can be used in a variety of careers that focus on the mental and physical rehabilitation of sick, injured...
Recreational Therapy Graduate Program Options
The goal of a recreational therapist is to enhance and sustain the physical, psychological and emotional health of...
Best Schools with Art Therapy Graduate Programs: List of Schools
Art became a recognized form of therapy in the 1940s. Art therapy allows patients to use a creative outlet to improve...
How The Heidelberg Project Is Transforming Lives Through Art
When budgets are tight and something needs to go, the arts are frequently one of the first victims. However, in...
Art Exhibit Sees Afghanistan Occupation in a New Light
- Art Critic: Job Description, Duties and Salary
- Art Majors Doing Better in Job Market Than Expected
- Art Installations on College Campuses
- Top Web Design School - Chicago, IL
- Public Administration Courses: Top Ranked College with Courses and Degrees in Public Administration - Washington, DC
- Networking Degree: Top Ranked School for a Career in Networking and Telecommunications - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Top Ranked Degree Programs in Biomedical Engineering - Houston, TX
24 Popular Schools
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applicants from Minnesota or Tennessee
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
- Associate
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
-
Associate
-
- AS in Health Science
- AAS in Medical Assisting
-
- AAS in Medical Office Management
- ASHS in Physical Therapy Assistant
-
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must live within close proximity to school locations
- Must be graduated from high school by 2011
School locations:
- Arizona (1 campus)
- Florida (1 campus)
- Texas (1)
Classroom-Based Programs
- Associate
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arizona (5 campuses)
- California (25)
- Colorado (2)
- Columbia (D.C.) (1)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (3)
- Hawaii (2)
- Louisiana (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Missouri (2)
- Nevada (2)
- Ohio (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Virginia (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Doctorate
- Master
- Bachelor
-
Associate
-
- AA in Health Care Administration
- AA in Health Care Administration - Electronic Health Records
- AA in Health Care Administration - Health & Wellness Administration
-
- AA in Health Care Administration - Medical Records
- Associate of Arts Foundations in Health Care Administration
- Associate of Arts Foundations in Health Care Administration/Medical Records
-
- Non-Degree
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applications from Texas residents
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- California (4 campuses)
- Colorado (1 campus)
- Florida (4)
- Missouri (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (2)
Classroom-Based Programs
-
Associate
-
- Associate - Occupational Therapy Assistant
-
- Associate - Physical Therapist Assistant
-
-
Non-Degree
-
- Massage Therapy
-
- Patient Care Technician
-
-
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arizona (3 campuses)
- California (16)
- Colorado (3)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (4)
- Illinois (8)
- Indiana (2)
- Kentucky (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (2)
- North Carolina (2)
- New Jersey (3)
- Nevada (1)
- New York (2)
- Ohio (4)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (5)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (7)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (3)
- Washington (3)
- Wisconsin (2)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must have either two or more years of college or active military status if you are under 24 years of age
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
