Email from Diana Milia - Sept 2006

All the licensure requirements issues are confusing. This email from Diana Milia may clarify some of the confusion for those graduating in May.



For those who may not have seen it, I have received a response from Heather Evans regarding the problem of attaining the ATR-BC status within the two year time allotment for the LCAT.

According to her response, the ATCB must allow an art therapist to sit for the BC exam when the state says they are qualified, and cannot require the additional ATR required hours. The state is also working with the ATCB to make the BC exam available on an ongoing basis in New York. These changes will make it much more reasonable for very recent and future graduates to get licensed. (more information below)

If anyone still needs a supervisor, I have openings in my LCAT and ATR-BC supervision group for recent graduates, that meets alternate Thursday evenings. I know there are a number of other supervision groups going on as well. Good luck to all of you getting employed and seeking NY state licensure!

My question:
“By requirements of the Art Therapy Credentials Board, art therapists can only take the BC exam after receiving the ATR, a lengthier process than fulfilling the 1500 hours work experience requirement for the state of New York. While the state may not explicitly require the ATR-BC, they do apparently require the applicant to pass the BC. So in effect, you need to have your ATR-BC before getting your LCAT. Please help me to understand how this could be otherwise. The last BC exam held in New York was in June, 2006. There is no BC exam scheduled for New York for at least another year, so it is a great concern that art therapists will have a very difficult fulfilling these requirements within a two year period, given the rarity of exam opportunities.”

Her response:

To clarify...
The Art Therapy Credentials Boards’ BC exam is one of three possible exams accepted by the Department for licensure. If one chooses to take the ATCB –BC exam for the purposes of a NYS CAT License, they DO NOT need to fulfill any requirements other than what is outlined by the NYS Education Department standard pathway towards licensure. Once the NYS Education Department determines an CAT applicant is qualified to sit for the exam the Department will provide the ATCB with their name. The ATCB must allow that individual to take the BC exam without having to satisfy any further requirements. Plainly stated, you do not need to receive the ATR before taking the BC exam if the NYS Department of Education has determined you to be eligible to sit for the exam for the purpose of a LCAT. If the ATCB attempts to force you to take or fulfill additional requirement b! efore sitting for the exam, contact the Department immediately. The relationship is specifically expressed in the ATCB’s contract with the state. In addition, the exam must be available to NYS CAT applicants in NYS at least once a year.