Legislative News
Professional Affairs Committee Works to Streamline the Advocacy Process with Sample Legislation
By Raquel Farrell-Kirk
AATA’s Professional Affairs Committee is proud to work with AATA volunteer advocates to support art therapy licensure. Today, we are sharing draft art therapy licensure legislation.
Questions about Licensure or Certification? This FAQ Guide Can Help!
With the help of AATA’s all-volunteer Professional Affairs Committee, we’ve created a comprehensive resource for our members addressing licensure, certification, scope of practice, and more. Licensure and Certification Guide can be accessed through MyAATA.
The O*NET Database Needs Updating. Here’s How You Can Help.
March 18, 2024 The Department of Labor’s Occupational Network (O*NET) Program is the nation's primary source of occupational information. Central to the program is the O*NET database, which classifies and defines hundreds of jobs. The ways in which professions...
Chapter Advocacy Updates: Accomplishments from 2023 and 2024
Advocating for licensure isn’t just about advocating for practicing art therapists: it’s about calling for increased access to mental health professionals and keeping the profession sustainable for future art therapists. Here’s a look at AATA chapter advocacy and how you can help.
Representing Art Therapy in a First-Ever National Convening on Arts and Health
By AATA President Nadia Paredes, MA, LMFT, ATR
I had the privilege to attend both the White House and NEA Summit on Arts and Culture and the Arts and Health Pre-Summit Caucus. These first-of-its-kind convenings brought together policymakers, arts advocates, and artists to collaborate on how art can contribute to the health and well-being of individual and communities.
New Counseling Compact Informational Resource
February 8, 2023
The interstate compact is an agreement between states to honor counseling licenses issued by the other states who have signed on to the compact. Once implemented in its entirety, it will provide what amounts to license portability across the country for licensed counselors.
AATA Opposes the Redefinition of Art Therapy from a Separate Profession to a Form of Counseling in Texas
July 14, 2021
The regulatory structure of art therapists in Texas has recently undergone significant changes, both to the board with authority over the rulemaking process and to the rules themselves, including how art therapy is defined. The AATA submitted comment—first during the regular sunset review period with recommended improvements, and this week urging the rejection of a proposed redefinition of art therapy as a form of counseling.
Art Therapy and Music Therapy Licensure Bill Introduced in Ohio!
July 1, 2021
On June 26, 2021, Ohio representatives C. Allison Russo and Jamie Callender introduced House Bill 359 to license and regulate art therapists and music therapists.
From Art Therapists to Advocates: Achieving Art Therapy Licensure in Tennessee
May 6, 2021 | Paige Scheinberg & Catherine Harris
“We did it, y’all! We passed the Senate and the House… and, now, the Governor has signed our bill. We now have an Art Therapy License in Tennessee!!” Now, we’re here to support YOU! Whether you have just started with advocacy and legislative efforts in your own state or you have been at it for a while, we hope some of our experiences and lessons learned along the way will help energize and inspire you to keep doing the incredible work you’re doing.
BREAKING NEWS: Art Therapy Licensure is Official Law in Tennessee
April 22, 2021
We are thrilled to announce that Governor Bill Lee signed SB 101 on April 20, 2021, officially enacting the Professional Art Therapist License in Tennessee! The law will take effect July 1st, 2021. AATA congrats the Tennessee Art Therapy Association (TATA) and Tennessee’s art therapists! Tennessee is the 19th state to recognize art therapy through licensure or title protection, and the 11th to enact a specialized art therapy license.