Purpose

• Create a formal licensure system for clinical art therapists to protect the public and professional standards.
• Establish a new governing board, set rules, define the scope of practice, and outline ongoing education, supervision, and disciplinary processes.

What the bill would do (Main Provisions)

• Create the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (13–18 members) to oversee clinical art therapy and related professions. The board includes professional counselors, alcohol/drug counselors, clinical art therapists, and public members; it must promote geographic and racial/ethnic diversity on appointments.
• Define key terms and roles for art therapy, including:
  • Art therapy, art therapy services, accredited educational institutions, certified art therapist, licensed clinical art therapist (LCAT), provisional licensed clinical art therapist (LCATP), and supervision terminology.
• Establish the scope of practice for clinical art therapy, including evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, therapy using art media, crisis intervention, and work with diverse populations.
• Prohibit unauthorized practice and protect professional titles (with exceptions for students/interns under supervision and other licensed professionals working within their own standards).
• Create licensure pathways:
  • Licenses for clinical art therapists (LCAT) and provisional licenses (LCATP).
  • Transition rules allowing waivers for certain highly experienced, credentialed art therapists until July 1, 2027.
  • Licensure by reciprocity for applicants with equivalent credentials from other jurisdictions.
• Require ongoing renewal, continuing education, and supervision to maintain licensure.

Qualifications, Training, and Supervision

• General licensure requirements:
  • Be at least 18 years old, of good moral character.
  • Hold a master’s or doctoral degree in art therapy (with documented supervised internship hours) or an advanced related degree with specific coursework in art therapy and 700 hours of supervised internship.
  • Complete 4000 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical art therapy experience (first 2000 hours supervised by an art therapy supervisor; second 2000 hours may be supervised by an art therapy supervisor or a qualified mental health professional).
  • Obtain board certification and complete 700 hours of supervised internship on graduation, plus 4000 hours post-degree experience.
  • Pass the required certification/qualifications and pay applicable fees.
• Supervision details:
  • Minimum supervision rate: two hours of supervision for every 40 hours of work.
  • At least 75% of supervision must be in person or through real-time interactive methods; up to 25% may be by phone or other audio/video means.
  • At least 50% of supervision hours must be individual; the other 50% may be in a group setting.
  • Supervised experience must include at least 1800 hours of direct client contact and be completed within 24 to 72 months.
  • Doctoral internships can count toward the postgraduate supervision requirement.
• Qualified supervisors:
  • Licensed clinical art therapists, art therapy-certified supervisors, licensed mental health professionals with art therapy supervision credentials, and other specified professionals.
  • Applicants must demonstrate competence and provide documentation of supervision experience and coursework.

Licensure Pathways and Practice

• Provisional license:
  • Issued to applicants who meet core requirements and have a plan for supervised practice.
  • Must use the title Provisional Licensed Clinical Art Therapist (LCATP) and is subject to all licensing rules except continuing education requirements.
  • Renewal required annually; can be renewed up to five times.
• Full licensure (LCAT) and renewal:
  • Annual renewal with continuing education (40 hours every two years; at least 20 hours in art therapy content; ethics and cultural responsiveness requirements).
• Fees:
  • Initial licensure: provisional $100; licensed $250.
  • Renewal: provisional $50; licensed $200.
  • Late renewal, CE sponsorship, duplicate certificates, and good standing checks have specified fees.
  • All fees go to the state government special revenue fund.
• Reciprocity:
  • The board may license someone with a current license from another jurisdiction if their standards are equivalent or higher.
• Fraud, disciplinary actions, and sanctions:
  • Grounds for action include incompetence, unprofessional conduct, fraud, failure to meet continuing education, and other violations.
  • Possible actions: deny, suspend, revoke, place limits or conditions on licensure, retraining, mandatory supervision, fines (civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation), or referral to appropriate health programs.

Privacy, Ethics, and Protections

• Privileged communications are protected with clearly defined exceptions (e.g., required disclosures by law, danger to safety, criminal proceedings where privilege would obstruct proceedings, or family-wide waivers with individual consent).
• Licenses are non-transferable.
• Records and information must be kept current; licensees must notify the board of changes in name, address, employment, or contact information within 30 days.

Implementation and Transition

• Transition period for experienced practitioners:
  • Through July 1, 2027, the board may waive certain educational/internship requirements and issue licensure to applicants who hold a credential in good standing as a certified art therapist and have at least five years of full-time practice.
• The bill also updates the scope and qualifications for broader mental health practice to include additional professionals (e.g., certain nurses, social workers, psychologists, and physicians) under Minnesota law in 245I.04, subdivision 2, expanding who can provide mental health services in given contexts.

Impact on Public Policy

• Emphasizes cultural competency and diversity in the field through required continuing education and board composition.
• Sets formal professional standards for art therapy to protect clients and ensure consistent care.
• Creates a clear licensing framework to reduce unqualified individuals practicing clinical art therapy.

Relevant Terms - Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy - Licensed Clinical Art Therapist (LCAT) - Provisional Licensed Clinical Art Therapist (LCATP) - Art therapy; art therapy services - Accredited educational institution - Supervised experience; post-master’s hours - 4000 hours of post-master supervision; first 2000 hours supervised by ART supervisor; second 2000 hours by ART supervisor or LMHP - 1800 hours of clinical client contact - Continuing education; ethics; cultural responsiveness - Privileged communication; protected titles - Unauthorized practice; sanctions; civil penalty - Reciprocity; transition waivers; diversity requirements - Licensed supervisors (ATCS, LCAT, etc.) - Fees; renewal; late fees; CE sponsorship; certificate of good standing - Privileges and exceptions for students/interns - 245I.04 mental health professional qualifications (expanded eligibility)