AATA2025 Annual Conference FAQs  

Registration

What are the differences between registration types? 

There are three registration options for this year’s conference. The is Full Registration package includes access to the core program sessions for all 3 Core Program Days of conference (Oct. 9 – 11). The One-Day and Two-Day passes include access to one or two Core Program Days of your choice. 

These registration options do not include events associated with additional fees, such as Full-Day and Half-Day Advanced Practice Courses, Workshops, the Opening Reception, and Closing Party.  

How many CEs can I expect to earn with a full registration?

With full conference registration, you gain access to over 150 sessions across three days. While it’s not feasible to attend every session, most attendees can participate in up to 7 sessions per day. That means if you fully engage each day, you can earn 7–8 Continuing Education (CE) credits daily, totaling 21–24 CEs for the entire conference.

If you’re hoping to earn even more CEs, consider signing up for one of our Advanced Practice Courses, held before the core conference programming. These sessions offer a deeper dive into specialized topics and provide additional CE credits for those looking to maximize their learning opportunities

What if I don’t want a Full registration but would like to attend additional events? 

You can purchase a One-Day or Two-Day Pass to attend the sessions on Core Program Days (Oct. 9 – 11). You can also purchase any of the following items separately: full-day or half-day advanced practice courses, 90-minute workshops, the Opening Reception, and Closing Party.    

Do I need to register for the sessions I want to attend prior to Conference starting? 

No, the only events that require you to sign up in advance are Workshops and Full-Day or Half-Day Advanced Practice Courses, which have limited seating.  

Check availability for Advanced Practice Courses here and workshops here. 

Is it possible to change the Advanced Practice Course I am registered for?  

You can change the advanced practice course you registered for to another of the same length (e.g., full-day to full-day) only if the course you wish to switch to still has slots available. Please contact the AATA National Office for more information at conference@arttherapy.org. 

What if I can’t attend AATA2025 in Portland? 

We are offering a Virtual Conference Oct. 25 and 26, which will offer live, entirely unique content not offered at the AATA2024 in-person conference on a custom platform designed specifically for us. Attendees can earn up to 17 Continuing Education credits and those registered for the in-person conference in Portland will receive a 50% discounted rate for the virtual conference. 

What if I need to cancel my registration?  

Please contact the National Office Directly at info@arttherapy.org in order to receive a refund. All refund requests received before September 7, 2025, will be issued a refund of 75% of the registration fee. For any cancellations between September 8, 2025, and October 1, 2025, a refund of 50% of the registration fee will be issued. 

No monetary refunds will be issued for requests made after October 1, 2025. Rather, a credit of 50% of the registration fee will be offered, which can be applied to the registration at the next AATA Annual Conference (In-Person or Virtual) and/or any AATA online learning opportunity offerings. These credits are not transferable to another attendee. 

You can read the full cancellation policy here.  

Accessibility

If you have accessibility needs, please be sure to contact the National Office at conference@arttherapy.org. 

Will there be sign language interpreters?  

Yes, in order to best accommodate our members, we ask that you reach out to conference@arttherapy.org to share the events you plan to attend so we can have an interpreter present. 

Will there be simultaneous translation into other languages?  

Unfortunately, we cannot offer any translation services at this time.   

Programming

There are a variety of session formats; some are large, and some are small. While the vast majority of sessions are open to everyone, some sessions are restricted to members of a community or educational background. 

This year, AATA is not printing a program guide and instead is using the Whova conference app as the schedule guide, which includes session details and presenter information. If you prefer a printed copy of the schedule, please print and bring the Schedule-at-a-Glace available coming soon.

What are the additional program offerings?  

Workshops:

Workshops are 30-seat classes taught by an instructor aimed at teaching participants a new technique through experiential learning. Participants will learn the technique and then implement it with special materials not available in Open Studio. (Worth 1.5 CE credits)

Advanced Practice Courses:

These courses are also limited to 30 seats but occur outside of the Core Program Days and will be held during pre-conference on Oct. 6 in either a Half-Day (3 hour sessions worth 3 CE credits) or Full-Day (7 hour sessions worth 7 CE credits) format.   

Opening Reception & Closing Party:

These events provide food and an opportunity to network with other professionals attending the conference. Join President Nadia Paredes at the Opening Reception on Wednesday evening, Oct. 8, 7:30 – 9:30pm, and celebrate with colleagues and friends at the Closing Party on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 8 – 11pm! Each reception must be registered for separately. Tickets are $40 and are available for purchase through the registration portal. 

Will there be a Night on the Town this year? 

Last year in Pittsburgh, based on feedback from AATA2023, we debuted a more inclusive and accessible version to help our conference attendees take in the best of the city. Unlike Night on the Town, there is nothing to register for in advance, no meeting points or schedules dictated for you. Just all the information you need in a flexible guide to help you curate your own perfect “Night on the Town.”

Stay tuned for the guide, which will be published on the conference website too, and feel free to share your Night on the Town plans in the Whova conference app to help connect with other like-minded explorers!

Is the standard programming enough to fill an entire day, or will I have to purchase add-ons to fill my time?  

Yes, the programming included in the standard program is enough to fill your entire day! At any given time, there will be multiple events happening. Check out the schedule of events in the Program Guide.   

It’s my first conference, how can I prepare? 

Registered attendees will receive an invitation to download the Whova conference app a few weeks before conference, allowing you to create a profile and virtually meet presenters and other attendees before the conference even begins! (Look for the email in your inbox sent from event-noreply@whova.io.)

We encourage you to attend the Newcomer’s Session on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 6:30 – 7:30pm prior to the Opening Reception to get to meet other first time conference attendees and learn more about what to expect. If you have participated in the first or second cohort of our newly re-launched Mentor Match program, we also encourage you to take the opportunity to meet your mentor and other cohort members in person at the Mentor Match Meet Up on Oct. 9, from 6:30 – 7:30pm.

If you’re a student, volunteering at the Open Art Studio is a great way to get to know other students and attendees. To register to volunteer, simply log in to your MyAATA profile and add an Open Art Studio volunteer session (or two!) to your registration. For any questions about volunteering or adding a volunteer time slot, contact Meredith at mashley@arttherapy.org.  

If you have any questions not answered in this blog post, you can also check out the AATA2024 Ask Me Anything session recording or reach out to the National Staff directly at info@arttherapy.org.

Which sessions are CE eligible?  

Sessions eligible for Continuing Education are identified with a session number beginning with a two-letter program track code followed by numbers (listed in parentheses after the session’s name). It is each attendee’s responsibility to determine whether their licensing or credentialing body will accept the continuing education earned at AATA’s annual conferences. 

• • Art Therapy Credentials Board: All educational sessions sponsored by AATA are accepted for continuing education by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB), except those sessions that are not identified with a session number (e.g., RE18), such as Shared Interest Group and Poster sessions.
  • National Board for Certified Counselors: AATA is also a National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP Provider #5670) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for courses that meet NBCC requirements. To find sessions that meet NBCC requirements, look for an “N” next to the session code. (e.g., N-ES23 or N/NY-RE18)  
  • State of New York: AATA is approved by the State of New York as a provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists (LCAT) in New York. Sessions that are eligible are identified with an “NY” code. (e.g., NY-SC203 or N/NY-RE18)

For Ticketed Sessions (including workshops), there will be be AATA staff or volunteers on hand to scan the codes on attendee’s conference badges. 

After conference, you will receive an automated email shortly after conference letting you know the sessions you attended have been added to your dashboard. To claim your credits, simply navigate to your dashboard in the Online Learning Academy and complete a short survey to unlock your CE certificate for download or print.

Pricing

Hotel/Accommodations

How do I get to the hotel?  

We do not offer a shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Therefore, we recommend utilizing public transportation, taxi, or ride sharing. The Portland airport is approximately 33 minutes from the hotel by car or 45 minutes by public transportation. To utilize public transportation, walk to the Portland International Airport Station and take the MAX Red Line towards Hills Airport/Fairgrounds. Ride the light rail for about 16 stops, then get off at Pioneer Square North. The hotel is a 3 minute walk from the stop.

For those driving, self-parking is available for $39/day and valet parking is available for $59/day. There is no EV charging available at the hotel.

Would anyone be interested in carpooling to the conference?  

Some AATA members are carpooling to the conference! We recommend you log in to the MyAATA All Member Community and post a carpooling request.    

Will food be provided? 

Each day, there will be a complimentary light breakfast at our “Breakfast with the Board” before the morning plenary sessions and cold lunches available for purchase. If you stop by the Arts & Crafts Marketplace and Author Meet and Greet on Thursday evening, Oct. 9, you can expect complimentary snacks and a cash bar. 

For those who have purchased tickets to the Opening Reception or Closing Party, there will be appetizers, and one drink included with your ticket, with a cash bar.  

Will there be food options for special diets?  

Yes! There will be marked vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Should you require another type of dietary accommodation, let us know via email at conference@arttherapy.org, and we will do our best to provide additional options. Food is also available after the conference at the hotel restaurants.   

Conference Atmosphere and Opportunities to Connect 

What is the dress code?  

Wear clothing that is professional but comfortable. In October, Portland temperatures typically range from mid-50s to mid 60s. Since both the weather and the hotel may be chilly, we recommend bringing a jacket or layers that you can easily add or remove to stay comfortable throughout the day. 

Is the conference family friendly?  

While family is not able to participate in the conference itself, there are a wide variety of museums, parks, and other kid friendly activities to do in Portland. Please note, AATA is not able to provide child care or child care recommendations. 

In addition, please stay tuned for a guide put together by the Conference Committee for arts and culture in Portland. 

Who will be there? Will there be time for socializing and networking?  

Currently we are expecting more than 1,000 attendees, which include everyone from art therapy students to retired art therapists, as well as well-known authors and academics in the profession, and related mental health professionals. The Opening Reception, Closing Party, Shared Interest Groups, Open Art Studio, a Meetup for Mentor Match Participants, the Exhibit Hall, and the Arts & Crafts Marketplace are great places to network and socialize during the conference.   

There are also breaks throughout the conference—so look forward to chats in the hallway or between sessions! 

For Presenters

What technology will be provided? 

 Each room will have a laptop and screen. Presenters will also have access to the AV team on standby in case any