AATA News

March 3, 2026 – Yesterday, AATA submitted a public comment on a proposed rule from the Department of Education that would define “professional student” for purposes of determining federal student loan amounts based on the type of program in which a student is enrolled. We were joined by dozens of art therapists and art therapy students in submitting comments urging the Department to expand their definition. If these rules are finalized, art therapy students would not be able to borrow more than $100,000 total through federal student loans beginning July 1, 2026.

Take action on changes to Federal Student Loans. The Department of Education has issued a proposed rule that would redefine “professional student” for purposes of determining federal student loan amounts, which will harm access to care.

We are excited to announce the AATA2026 Call for Proposals and share with you this year’s proposal process. The Call for Proposals invites submissions for the in-person conference and a two-day live virtual conference, both planned for Fall 2026.

Congratulations so our newly elected leaders!

We want to recognize AATA’s Art Therapy Award and Honors recipients.

Whether you want to gift yourself some learning, or support a colleague’s education journey, use this 25% discount for select art therapy Continuing Education virtual sessions.

From exploring art therapy’s cultural impact to examining its role in diverse communities, these posts capture the growing public interest in the field. Here’s a look at the 10 most-read articles. A huge thank you to all our members who volunteered to share their expertise in our blog or for our virtual Monthly Learning Series (available on the Online Learning Academy).