Expressive Arts Therapy training must be obtained by a program or institute that meets the following definition:

**Definition of Expressive Art Therapy Institute:

• Was founded by or currently has courses/classes taught by a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist with IEATA and…
• Has facilitators/instructors who have had training and experience as a creative or expressive arts therapist, with equivalent qualifications set forth in IEATA’s general registration standards and requirements for REATs.

Expressive Arts Therapy Program Attestation:

Expressive Arts Therapy programs should attest to meeting the REAT Standards and Requirements under Competency A. Students should ask their institute or program if  they have completed the form and their program confirmed to meeting the requirements. If they have not, please have them email reat@ieata.org.

The applicant must fulfill 3 of the 4 following categories with a minimum of 25 hours of coursework/instruction per category:

1. Individual Expressive Arts Therapy Process– coursework
2. Group Expressive Arts Therapy Process– coursework
3. Application of Expressive Arts Therapy:
   How the applicant applies intermodal arts therapy to address client issues and meet the needs of their client given their experience with the arts and diagnosis.
4. Approaches to, or styles of, intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy in practice and study:
   Various approaches used by the applicant in integrating intermodal expressive arts in therapy.

The applicant must fulfill 3 of the 4 following categories with a minimum of 25 hours of coursework/instruction per category:

1. Ethics/Professional Practice
2. Personal Styles (e.g., personality theory)
3. Psychopathology
4. Development (child and adult)

Arts Practice and Ongoing Creative Engagement
The applicant will need to demonstrate ongoing personal and/or professional involvement in one or more art modalities through their narratives and any supporting artistic, audio, video, or creative materials submitted with the application.

Examples of evidence may include:

• Regular artistic practice
• Artistic training or study
• Professional artistic work
• Creative community participation
• Integration of the arts into personal and professional life

Arts Coursework and Professional Development Hours

The applicant demonstrates a minimum of 50 documented hours of participation in creative arts training, coursework, professional artistic development, and/or ongoing professional engagement. Evidence is clearly documented through narratives, transcripts, certificates, course descriptions, or other supporting materials.

A Master’s Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy

This category includes the following:

• Students working on their Master’s Degree AND Expressive Arts Therapy education within the same university/institute Master’s Degree program.
• Master’s Degree with minors or concentration in Expressive Arts Therapy
• We will accept equivalent programs that use the title “Creative Arts Therapy,” recognizing that the terminology “Expressive Arts Therapy” is not used in all regions.

Supervision Requirement (both bullet points apply):

• 500 hours practicum of supervised clinical work
• 50 hours of supervised individual clinical sessions; or 100 hours of supervised group clinical sessions or a combination of individual and group sessions

Demonstration of Arts Practice and Involvement (see Competency C)

• Programs that include arts courses

A Master’s Degree in Psychology, Educational Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Related Mental Health Discipline

PLUS

Completion of training in one or several professional **Expressive Arts Therapy Institutes (see Competency A)

This category is for those who are completing their Expressive Arts Therapy training in a program outside of their Master’s Degree. Typically, this is someone who first gets their Master’s Degree and then later completes their Expressive Arts Therapy training.

Expressive Arts Therapy Institute Practicum Supervision Requirement (both bullet points apply):

• 200 hours of supervised clinical practicum
• 25 hours of individual supervisory sessions, OR 50 hours of group supervisory sessions, OR combination of individual & group supervisory sessions

Demonstration of arts practice and involvement (see Competency C)

• Programs that include arts courses

A Master’s Degree in Fine Arts (music, visual arts, dance, drama, etc.)

PLUS

Completion of training in one or several professional **Expressive Arts Therapy Institutes (see Competency A): program must include study of Psychology ie. theory, development, disorders, and assessment

This category is for those who are completing their Expressive Arts Therapy training in a program outside of their Master’s Degree. Typically, this is someone who first gets their Master’s Degree and then later completes their Expressive Arts Therapy training.

Expressive Arts Therapy Institute Practicum Supervision Requirement (both bullet points apply):

• 500 hours of supervised clinical Practicum (internship)
• 50 hours of individual supervisory sessions, OR 100 hours of group supervisory sessions, OR combination of individual & group supervisory sessions

Continuing Education in General Therapy & Psychology

• See Competency B

Doctoral Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy (see Competency A)

We will accept equivalent programs that use the title “Creative Arts Therapy,” recognizing that the terminology “Expressive Arts Therapy” is not used in all regions.

Expressive Arts Therapy Institute Practicum Supervision Requirement (both bullet points apply):

• 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practicum work
• 100 hours of individual supervisory sessions, OR 200 hours of group supervisory sessions, OR combination of individual & group supervisory sessions

Demonstration of arts practice and involvement (see Competency C)

• Programs that include arts courses

Exceptional Category
*See updated wording to Cat E experience requirement below effective 02/01/2026

This category has been added for those individuals who began acquiring their post-masters/post-doctoral experience without supervision from an expressive arts or creative arts therapist because there were none available at the time.

Applicant must:

• have exceptional professional qualifications
• have practiced expressive arts therapy at a postgraduate level continuously since January 2012, and
• have demonstrated a clear contribution to the field and are highly respected by their peers in the profession and can demonstrate this by publications, videos, brochures, testimonies, awards, etc.
• must fulfill one of the four educational categories above (A, B, C, or D) and document both practicum, and clinical supervision hours obtained, if any (note Competency A is not required)
• must fulfill Competencies B and C
• 5 letters of references required should be from individuals familiar with your skills and reputation as an Expressive Arts Therapist
• 2 of the 5 letters must be from past supervisors

The autobiographical statement should provide evidence of the applicant’s professional development, artistic identity, and integration of expressive arts therapy principles. Your statement should address the following:

• Journey: Describes their personal and professional path toward becoming an Expressive Arts Therapist.
• Artistic Competence: Demonstrates artistic skill and development through training, creative practice, professional experience, teaching, presentations, publications, exhibitions, performances, or other relevant accomplishments.
• Professional Practice: Explains their current role, expressive arts therapy work, populations served, areas of specialization, and relevant credentials or professional affiliations.
• Personal Growth: Reflects on experiences that have contributed to self-awareness and professional development, including therapy, supervision, mentorship, expressive arts processes, or other transformative experiences.
• Professional Contribution: Identifies contributions, leadership, service, or advocacy within the expressive arts therapy profession.
• Professional Identity: Demonstrates thoughtful integration of personal experiences, artistic practice, and professional development in shaping their identity as an Expressive Arts Therapist.

Format Requirements: Submit a statement that is a minimum of five double-spaced pages in length.

The Philosophy of Expressive Arts Therapy Statement should demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of expressive arts therapy principles, theoretical foundations, personal philosophy, and clinical application. Your statement should address the following:

• Philosophy & Influences: Clearly articulates their philosophy of expressive arts therapy and identifies the significant influences, values, principles, concepts, images, or metaphors that shape their practice.
• Professional Identity: Describes how the arts inform their worldview, professional identity, and approach to expressive arts therapy.
• Therapeutic Practice: Demonstrates how their philosophy is reflected in assessment, treatment planning, interventions, client engagement, and professional decision-making.
• Intermodal Integration: Provides clear examples of purposeful use of multiple art modalities and intermodal transfer within clinical practice.
• Reflective Integration: Demonstrates thoughtful reflection on the relationship between philosophy, artistic process, therapeutic practice, and professional identity.
• Case Study: Includes a case study that illustrates the practical application of expressive arts therapy principles and methods.

Format Requirements: Submits a statement that is a minimum of five double-spaced pages in length.

Two (2) letters of reference are required. They can be from:

• your supervisor who is a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist, Registered Creative Arts Therapist, or Licensed Mental Health Professional with a background in the arts, including your supervisor from your pre-graduate degree and/or post-graduate degree experience.
• from individuals who are familiar with your work as it relates to expressive arts therapy, your progress, and have witnessed your professional development in the therapeutic environment.

Five (5) letters of reference are required.

• At least two (2) of these letters of reference must be from past supervisors. The other letters of reference must be from colleagues or instructors in the mental health profession, who are familiar with your skills and reputation as an Expressive Arts Therapist.