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Art Therapist Courses: How to Train, Get Certified

Art therapy combines creative practice with clinical skills to help people process emotions, recover from trauma, and build wellbeing. For someone considering training, the usual path centers on graduate-level coursework plus supervised clinical experience, followed by professional credentials that support practice and career mobility.

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Quick overview — education and credentials

Entry into professional practice most often requires a graduate degree oriented to art therapy (master’s level). Coursework typically covers art therapy theory, clinical methods, psychology, assessment, research methods, and supervised practicum/internship hours. National credentials are available through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB); common credentials include the Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P), Registered Art Therapist (ATR), and the Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC). The ATCB sets educational and supervised-experience standards that many employers and states recognize.

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Types of courses and certificates

  1. Master’s degree programs (MA/MPS/Master of Arts in Counseling: Art Therapy): Full graduate programs integrate didactic coursework with extensive clinical practicum and internship placements; these programs are the standard route to meet credentialing eligibility.
  2. Post-master’s certificates / graduate certificates: For holders of a relevant master’s degree who need art-therapy-specific coursework to meet credentialing or licensure requirements, post-master’s certificates or focused graduate certificates deliver targeted training and supervised hours.
  3. Continuing education and short certificate courses: Established practitioners and allied professionals can expand skills or earn continuing-education credits through association-run academies and accredited workshops. The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) runs an online learning academy for continuing education.

Credentials and career development

  • Why credentials matter: Many employers expect national credentials or state licensure where applicable; credentials make supervision, billing, and clinical placement easier and provide a standardized measure of competence. The ATCB manages registration and board certification standards; an ATR-P (provisional) credential is now part of the credentialing pathway for new graduates engaged in supervised practice.
  • Typical career steps: complete a qualifying graduate program → accrue supervised practicum and internship hours → pursue provisional/registered credentials → pursue board certification or applicable state licensure → expand into settings such as hospitals, schools, community mental-health centers, private practice, or specialized programs. A focus on supervision experience, continuing education, and networking supports career mobility.

U.S. salary picture

Salary ranges for art therapists vary widely by location, setting, and experience. Recent employer- and employee-reported estimates illustrate that median and average figures differ across sources:

  • ZipRecruiter (aggregate job/payroll data) reports an average Art Therapist salary around $66,000 per year (national average as aggregated on the site).

How to pick a course that supports credentialing and employability

  1. Confirm program alignment with ATCB standards — check the school’s statement about meeting art-therapy curriculum and practicum criteria that qualify graduates for ATR eligibility.
  2. Verify practicum and internship placements — programs that organize supervised clinical placements across diverse settings (schools, hospitals, community clinics) help build a balanced experience record.
  3. Check accreditation and licensure compatibility — some programs carry programmatic accreditation (where applicable) and will note whether graduates typically meet state licensure prerequisites; confirm how the degree supports practice in the state(s) of interest.
  4. Consider delivery format and scheduling — full-time, part-time, low-residency, and online formats exist; choose based on work/life constraints and supervised-practice logistics.

Example programs and providers

The programs below illustrate common training routes (master’s and certificates). Each link leads to the program page for curriculum and admissions details:

  • Lesley University — Art Therapy / Expressive Therapies (MA options, practicum emphasis).
  • Pratt Institute — MPS in Art Therapy and Creativity Development (on-campus and low-residency formats).
  • NYU Steinhardt — MA in Art Therapy (clinical training, 60-credit curriculum).
  • Adler University — MA in Counseling: Art Therapy (program offered in Chicago and a new online format).
  • PennWest — Post-Master’s Art Therapy Certificate (online post-master’s certificate example).
  • Maine College of Art & Design — Graduate Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy (short certificate option).

Short checklist before applying

  • Confirm that the course fulfills ATCB educational criteria or specifies what additional steps are needed for ATR eligibility.
  • Check practicum/internship hour requirements and supervision arrangements.
  • Review program format, schedule, and any residency requirements.
  • Consider career goals (clinical practice, school-based work, hospital settings, research) and how program placements align.

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