This fact sheet covers the basics of New York State licensure for Mental Health Practitioners, including Creative Arts Therapists. For detailed information including the texts of the relevant laws/regulations, visit the Office of the Professions at: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/mhp/.

What is licensure in creative arts therapy? Is it a license in art therapy?

New York State has designated a part of mental health practice as Creative Arts Therapy, which it defines as “a profession that uses active engagement in the arts to address mental, emotional, developmental, and behavioral disorders. Creative Arts Therapy uses the relationship between the patient and therapist in the context of the artistic process as a dynamic force for change. It can also be used to manage stress and promote mental and physical health.”  The law states that, “Creative Arts Therapists are trained in psychotherapy and in specific arts disciplines…” and it specifies the educational requirements a person needs to become a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT).

In New York, the LCAT requirements are in the same regulations as those governing Marriage & Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, and Psychoanalysts.  LCATs are able to assess and treat in the capacity of a mental health practitioner. A person must hold a valid and active LCAT license in order to practice art therapy in NYS.

What do students have to do to get licensed?

There are three parts to the licensure application: (1) the academic transcript; (2) a passing grade on a state-approved exam; and (3) postgraduate supervision hours.

If students complete a New York State-approved academic program, like the Master of Science in Creative Arts Therapy at Nazareth University, their transcript will include all the coursework necessary. New York State uses the exam administered by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATBC, www.atcb.org). All Art Therapy students at Nazareth University are preparing to be Board Certified Registered Art Therapists (ATR-BC), the national standard for practicing Art Therapy. All graduates who want to practice Art Therapy will take the ATBC exam in order to become an ATR-BC – and once they have passed the exam, they can use the documentation of that in their LCAT application.

Postgraduate supervision takes place once they have a job.  It is different from the supervision they receive in clinical education while in school; the supervisor does not have to be present at all their sessions, and supervision meetings occur less frequently. When they first start their job, they will apply to New York State for a provisional license. They will then need to accumulate 1,500 hours of supervised practice (at least 1,000 of which must be in direct client contact) before they can apply for their permanent license as a Creative Arts Therapist.

Will this license be recognized by other states?

Some states have created laws for licensure in art therapy that students who complete the Art Therapy program at Nazareth may qualify. It’s important to look at each state individually.

Many states have laws governing who can practice in mental health. There is no official reciprocity/recognition for the LCAT by other states at this time, but the educational and supervision requirements students will complete for this program are on par with those required by other states for mental health practitioners such as the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Students should be able to use the documentation (transcript, test results, supervision hours) in applying for a license to do mental health practice in another state and then fulfill any additional requirements such as a state-specific exam.  The faculty advisors can work with students in planning for a move to a different state.