California does not license the profession of art therapy.  
There are options for art therapists to obtain licensure from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences under the professions of Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor.   Required educational criteria for those licenses must be met in order to obtain the license.  Most art therapists in California who are licensed chose the LMFT (Marriage and Family Therapy license) and needed to meet all the requirements in addition to the requirements of the American Art Therapy Credentials Board ATBC if they are ATCB certified.  The new LPCC license is also an option for art therapists and will require art therapists to meet all LPCC requirements and the AATA BC requirements.  There is significant coursework overlap between the above professions.  The NorCATA concern is that neither licensing option addresses specific competency in art therapy.  Please see the BBS Licensing board information links below if you are interested.

Licensee and Registrant Statistics
Qualifications for an LMFT
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC)
Guide to dual licensure (MFT and LPCC)

       
NORCATA IS A CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ART THERAPY ASSOCIATION AND ADHERES TO AATA'S MISSION AND POLICIES

THE AMERICAN ART THERAPY ASSOCIATION'S NATIONAL POLICY AGENDA IDENTIFIES THE FOLLOWING FOUR PRIORITIES

PRIORITY I:            EMPLOYMENT OF ART THERAPISTS
                                       -Vulnerable populations and persons
                                       -Child and Adolescent Art Therapy Services

PRIORITY II:           STATE LICENSURE FOR ART THERAPISTS 

PRIORITY III:          INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT OF ART THERAPY SERVICES
                                        -U.S. Military Personnel, Veterans and Their Families 
                                        -Health System Reform Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

PRIORITY IV:          COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 


THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE GRANT (GAC): The American Art Therapy Association’s Advocacy Project Grant Program provides funding from the annual budget of the Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) to fund association affiliated Chapters to carry out advocacy grant projects the state level that are designed to promote the profession of art therapy. AATA makes Advocacy Project Grant awards to its affiliated Chapters only. Please contact Robin Valicenti, MCAT, ATR-BC, LPC. 

AATA OFFERS PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE OPTIONS FOR ITS MEMBERS:

For Professionals: Personal Insurance:
The Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO and CPH & Associates) are pleased to offer an array of quality health, dental and liability insurance products to art therapists designed to fit your needs. You can take comfort knowing these benefits can be available to help you and your family in time of need. 
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For Students:
AATA is pleased to provide Student Professional Liability Insurance for student members. In order to qualify for the Student Professional Liability Insurance, you must join as a Student PLUS member. If you are currently a student member and are in need of the Student Professional Liability Insurance, you must upgrade your membership to a Student PLUS. If you are interested in upgrading your current Student membership to the Student PLUS membership, please contact Kat Michel at kmichel@arttherapy.org

IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF INFORMATION REGARDING COVERAGE OF ART THERAPY SERVICES AS STATED IN THE AATA GUIDELINES:

These Art Therapy Guidelines for Insurers are designed to assist healthcare insurance companies and third-party claims administrators in their review of reimbursement claims that involve art therapy services. The guidelines provide information about how to apply medical necessity criteria to art therapy services and differentiate cases where coverage exclusions do not apply. Study abstracts, on the efficacy of art therapy services in improving client outcomes, are included with citations, categorized by population type. http://www.americanarttherapyassociation.org/upload/guidelinesforinsurers.pdf

National Board for Certified Counselors Announces Change in Continuing Education Policies and Procedures Affecting AATA's Approved CE Provider Status.