American Art Therapy Association proposes updates to undergraduate pre-art therapy standards

The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) has submitted proposed revisions to the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) guidelines for undergraduate pre-art therapy programmes. AATA says the changes would align the standards with current expectations in the field and better prepare students for graduate study.

What happened

AATA announced the submission on 13 August 2026. NASAD is recognised by the US Department of Education as an accrediting agency for free-standing institutions offering art and design programmes, and its standards cover baccalaureate programmes in pre-art therapy.

Because a master’s degree is the minimum level of education for art therapy credentials in the United States, the NASAD guidelines treat undergraduate study as preparation for graduate work: studio art skills, field experience and other pre-professional study.

The proposals were prepared by AATA’s Undergraduate Education Committee, led by Meera Rastogi, PhD, ATR-BC, LPAT. AATA and the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) say the updates would bring NASAD’s pre-art therapy standards into line with current expectations. AATA has also published Undergraduate Pre-Art Therapy Education Guidelines, dated May 2026.

Why it matters

The proposal shows how the profession in the United States structures entry: undergraduate preparation, then a master’s programme, then credentialing through the Art Therapy Credentials Board and, in many states, licensure. AATA describes licensure as providing title and practice protection for art therapists. Students in India and elsewhere who plan to train as art therapists abroad can use AATA’s undergraduate guidelines to judge whether their preparation fits that route.

Because a master’s degree is the entry point, an undergraduate pre-art therapy degree does not by itself qualify someone to practise as an art therapist in the United States. The proposals concern US accreditation standards and do not change training or practice requirements in other countries.

What happens next

The proposed revisions are with NASAD. AATA has not published a timeline for NASAD’s decision.

Sources

• American Art Therapy AssociationAATA proposes updates to NASAD pre-art therapy guidelines
• American Art Therapy AssociationUndergraduate Pre-Art Therapy Education Guidelines, May 2026