British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy
You will usually need a first degree in art or a relevant subject. To practice as an art therapist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). In order to register with the HCPC, you must first successfully complete an approved Masters degree in art therapy or art psychotherapy.
What degree should I get to become an art therapist?
To practice as an art therapist, you must be
registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). *The
titles ‘art therapist’ and art psychotherapist’ are inter-changeable in the UK. To practice as an art therapist, you must be
registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
As a newly qualified art therapist , your starting salary is likely to be £31,365 (band 6), rising up the pay scale to £37,890. Experienced NHS art therapists can earn between £38,890 and £44,503 (band 7). NHS senior and principal art therapists earn salaries of £45,753 to £51,668 (band 8a).
Academic Requirements AATA-approved art therapy programs generally consist of 48 to 60 semester credits (or approximately 18 months to 2 years of full-time education). The typical curriculum includes: History and theory of art therapy . Techniques or practice in art therapy .
You will usually need a first degree in art or a relevant subject. To practice as an art therapist , you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). In order to register with the HCPC, you must first successfully complete an approved Masters degree in art therapy or art psychotherapy.
You ‘ll need to complete a postgraduate qualification approved by the Health and Care Professions Council. Full-time postgraduate courses normally take 2 years to complete. Part-time courses take 3 years. You should have a degree in art or creative therapies to do a postgraduate course.
In fact, demand for art therapy jobs has been in decline since the beginning of 2009. A career as an art therapist can be both mentally stimulating and financially rewarding. At present, the average salary for art therapists is $57,000 per year, according to job postings on SimplyHired.com.
Does a Successful Art Therapist Need an Artistic Background? An art therapist doesn’t necessarily have to have a background in art . But, some knowledge of an artist’s tools can help. A patient isn’t going to be painting a picture that belongs to a certain era in art history.
There are several ways you can get the experience (training) & knowledge when you are in a state without an art therapy license: certificate programs (there are different kinds, other than the minimum 1-2 year nationwide certificate “ATR-BC”) self-study (literature) + experience (if you’re in a country w/o art therapy )
Employment of art therapists is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. Therapy is a growing area generally, and this growth will provide opportunities for therapists of all types, including art therapists .
A typical day for an Art Therapist will also include: Design art therapy sessions or programs to meet client’s goals or objectives. Conduct art therapy sessions, providing guided self-expression experiences to help clients recover from, or cope with, cognitive, emotional, or physical impairments.
In 2014, art therapists , who fall under the broad category of recreational therapists , earned a annual average salary of $46,060. Professionals in the top 10 percent of the category earned $69,230.
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a subject that encompasses the prerequisites for psychology. For instance, I have a double-major in visual art and psychology, and a master’s in creative art therapy . You’ll also need a certain number of supervised hours working in a clinic, but that will vary based on where you live.
Online Master’s Programs Many colleges offer a Masters degree in Art Therapy using an online program and coursework. For an easily accessible and flexible schedule, online programs offer a better choice with convenient options to fit their schedules.
The Best Art Therapy/therapist Colleges of 2019
Rank | School Name | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | George Washington University | Washington, DC |
2 | Hofstra University | Hempstead, NY |
3 | Lesley University | Cambridge, MA |
4 | Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA |
Most Popular Schools for Art Therapy/Therapist Major & Degree Program
Rank | School Name | Students |
---|---|---|
1 | Long Island University | 48 |
2 | Lesley University | 41 |
3 | Adler University | 40 |
4 | Southwestern College | 38 |
2016 NOC: Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment (3144) University of Lethbridge.
Average Wage | $44.90 / hr |
---|---|
Average Salary | $69,602.00 / yr |
Hours Per Week | 31.9 hrs |