Categories and Requirements

A tiered structure of membership is available and all categories and their requirements are listed here. The tiered structure is based on Qualifications Authority levels. Please note that the terms 'degree', 'masters', 'doctorate' and so forth are protected terms which must only apply to courses that are registered by government. For more detail, please see our recognised qualifications page.

Creative Arts Therapists who are members of ANZACATA, are allied health professionals who have completed ANZACATA recognised and endorsed training with a university or a registered training organisation. They use creative processes to help clients explore feelings that may be hard to put into words.

We classify professional, provisional and tier as practising memberships because these members work directly with clients. All practising members in Australia and NZ are able to purchase cover under the ANZACATA member insurance program with Focus Insurance Brokers. Student membership is available for students of recognised courses and affiliate membership for others interested in creative arts therapy but not working with clients.

Note: A fee of $90 AUD (+ GST for Australian applicants) is payable before an application for Professional, Provisional or Tier membership can be approved. This is a non-refundable processing fee only, and does not form part of the annual membership subscription, which is payable only after the application is approved. Student members (those graduating from an ANZACATA approved Masters course and applying for Professional membership) are exempt from this application fee. Once the Board makes a determination about the appropriate level of membership for the new applicants, our decision is final. Please see our details on currency (below), because if your qualification is old and you have not practised in the field, we will not admit you to a practising level of membership. ANZACATA supports members and vouches for their professionalism, therefore we need evidence that they can practice safely and with up-to-date methods and practices. This requirement protects all existing members, demonstrates their high level of professionalism and maintains the integrity of membership.

Professional

Professional Option A - Australian, New Zealand, Singaporean and Hong Kong Masters (or Professional Doctorate) Graduates in Art or Arts Therapy from the following: La Trobe University; Western Sydney University; University of Queensland; Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, New Zealand; The University of Auckland*; Melbourne University*; Murdoch University, LASALLE College of Arts, Singapore; The MIECAT Institute (MIECAT), and The University of Hong Kong.

Qualifications Authority Level 9 or 10 and degrees which include 750 hours of supervised clinical practice. A high-quality scan of your academic testamur and transcript is required.  Applicants with a professional doctorate will also need to provide evidence that their course included 750 hours of supervised clinical practice.

*These courses are under review.

OR

Professional Option B - Graduates from a course that is approved by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) or the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA), or any other creative arts therapy association that reflects the ANZACATA training standards.

Qualifications Authority Level 9 or 10 and degrees which include 750 hours of supervised clinical practice. A high-quality scan of your academic testamur and transcript is required as well as evidence of your membership to AATA, BAAT and CATA.

Currency of Creative Arts Therapy Awards and Practice

To ensure that practising members of ANZACATA are up-to-date in their knowledge of creative arts therapy practice, evidence base and efficacy for the safety of clients, we have the following currency rules for those with approved masters (option A) or those with a course approved by AATA, BAAT or CATA (option B). These are assessed on a case by case basis by the members services officer in conjunction with the ANZACATA CEO. Any cases that are unclear, have negative declarations or mitigating circumstances are taken to the Membership Sub-Committee of the Board for determination. All mandatory declarations must be signed by members wishing to join or re-join.

Degrees awarded in the last 5 years

If you graduated within the last 5 years you will be eligible for professional membership immediately.

Degrees awarded more than 5 years but less than 10 years ago

1. If your degree was awarded more than 5 years ago but less than 10 years ago AND you have worked as a creative arts therapist in the last 5 years you will be eligible for professional membership if your application is supported by a letter from your supervisor which shows you have had regular clinical supervision over the last 5 years. In addition you will need to provide evidence of regular CPD over the past 5 years too (at least 10 hours per year for the last several years). If this evidence is not uploaded with your application, you will be eligible for provisional membership until you can provide it. A resume showing your work history over the last 5 years may also help to evidence your claim for currency.
2. If your degree was awarded more than 5 years ago but less than 10 years ago AND you have not worked as a creative arts therapist in the last 5 years (or cannot provide evidence) you will be eligible for provisional membership and can move to professional level when you have completed 10 hours of clinical supervision and 10 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) within a maximum of two years and provide evidence of this achievement. This applies to any prospective member who is no longer current in the profession, by way of working in another profession, those taking family leave or sick leave and who have not worked in the profession in recent years.

Degrees awarded more 10 or more years ago

1. If your degree was awarded 10 or more years ago AND you have worked as a creative arts therapist for the past 5 years you will be eligible for provisional membership if your application is supported by a letter from your supervisor confirming that you have had regular clinical supervision and regular CPD during this period. In addition, you may be required to complete 10 hours of CPD and 10 hours of supervision (within two years) before you can move to professional.
2. If your degree was awarded 10 or more years ago AND you have not worked as a creative arts therapist in the past 5 years, we are unfortunately unable to offer you a practising membership.

Entitlements

Professional members are eligible to participate in all activities and receive all publications including online access to the peer-reviewed Journal of ANZACATA. They are entitled to use the ANZACATA logo and post nominal, to vote, to be listed on the Find a Therapist directory on the website, and to have access to advertising and marketing opportunities. Professional members also must agree to be a guarantor (fixed at $10) of the ANZACATA company limited by guarantee. The guarantee amount is the total amount that each member may be required to contribute if the company is wound up and has insufficient assets to cover its debts.

Provisional

This category applies to individuals who are-

Provisional Option A - Graduates of art(s) therapy programs at Masters level that ANZACATA has not previously approved for entry into professional level membership.

Qualifications Authority Level 9 and awards with at least 750 hours of supervised clinical placement. Documented evidence is essential - this must include academic transcript and testamur, details of placement hours, or letter from clinical supervisor, and evidence that the award is Qualifications Authority Level 9 or above. Please note non-English awards and other documentation must be accompanied by a NATTI certified translation. 

Applicants with qualifications that did not include the mandatory 750 hours of supervised clinical placement, will need to work towards achieving equivalent hours during their provisional membership.

OR

Provisional Option B - For student members (enrolled in an ANZACATA approved masters level training program) who have not been able to complete the full requirements for application to Professional level membership. This Option is meant for students who became ill and failed to complete with their cohort, but who have just one unit of study or perhaps one placement to be completed. The application must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation by the training institution which details how much of the 750 hours of supervised clinical placement has been undertaken and now much remains to be completed and a timeframe for when it will be completed, along with any course units of study still outstanding and when they will be completed. Qualifications Authority Level 9.

Duration of provisional level membership

After a maximum of two years at Provisional level, if members have completed all the requirements and provided appropriate evidence, Provisional members can apply for Professional level membership.

Currency of Creative Arts Therapy Awards and Practice

ANZACATA vouches for, insures, supports and provides support should a complaint be made against a member and therefore, we must ensure all practising level members are safe, competent and confident to practice. If you have not been a member before and graduated more than 5 years ago, or let your membership lapse and wish to re-join, you must ensure first that you have evidence of at least 10 hours of clinical supervision and at least 25 hours of CPD every year for the past five years before we will consider your request to join or re-join. Joining ANZACATA as a practising member is not as of right. It is based on evidence of your capacity to work professionally in the field. To ensure that practising members of ANZACATA are up-to-date in their knowledge of creative arts therapy practice, evidence base and efficacy for the safety of clients, we have the following currency rules for those with previously unrecognised master degrees (option A):

Degrees awarded in the last 5 years

1. If you graduated within the last 5 years you may be eligible for professional membership immediately if your application includes all the required documentary evidence (see option A above).
2. If not all the required documentation can be provided with the application, you may be eligible for provisional membership until the documentation is provided.

Degrees awarded more than 5 years but less than 10 years ago

1. If your degree was awarded more than 5 years ago but less than 10 years ago AND you have worked as a creative arts therapist in the last 5 years you can be approved as provisional if your application is supported by a letter from your supervisor which shows you have had regular clinical supervision over those 5 years.  If this evidence is not uploaded with your application, you may be eligible for provisional membership until you can provide it. 
2. If your degree was awarded more than 5 years ago but less than 10 years ago AND you have not worked as a creative arts therapist in the last 5 years (or cannot provide evidence) you will be eligible for provisional membership and are required to complete 10 hours of clinical supervision and 10 hours of CPD (within two years) before you can move to professional.

Degrees awarded 10 or more years ago

1. If your degree was awarded 10 or more years ago AND you have worked as a creative arts therapist for the past 5 years you will be eligible for provisional membership if your application is supported by a letter from your supervisor confirming that you have had regular clinical supervision during this period.  In addition, you will be required to complete 10 hours of CPD and 10 hours of supervision (within two years) before you can move to professional.
2. If your degree was awarded 10 or more years ago AND you have not worked as a creative arts therapist in the past 5 years, we are unfortunately unable to offer you a practising membership.

Entitlements

Provisional members may not use the ANZACATA logo or post nominal, or vote but are eligible to participate in all activities and receive all publications including online access to the peer-reviewed Journal of ANZACATA.

Tier

This category applies to individuals who have graduated with a creative arts therapy training program that has been recognised by a Qualifications Authority at Level 6-8. Click here to go to where you can check your qualification status.

All applicants under this category must supply high-quality scans of their art therapy testamur and academic transcript.

Currency of Creative Arts Therapy Awards and Practice

To ensure that practising members of ANZACATA are up-to-date in their knowledge of creative arts therapy practice, evidence base and efficacy for the safety of clients, we have the following currency rules for tier applicants.

Qualifications awarded in the last 5 years

If you graduated within the last 5 years you will be eligible for tier membership immediately.

Qualifications awarded more than 5 years but less than 10 years ago

1. If your qualification was awarded more than 5 years ago but less than 10 years AND you have worked as a creative arts therapist in the last 5 years you can be approved at tier level if your application is supported by a letter from your supervisor which shows you have had regular clinical supervision during those 5 years and you will need to provide evidence of regular CPD over the past 5 years too (at least 10 hours per year for the last several years).
   
2. If your degree was awarded more than 5 years ago but less than 10 years AND you have not worked as a creative arts therapist in the last 5 years (or cannot provide evidence) we cannot offer you tier membership until you have evidence of 10 hours of clinical supervision and 10 hours of CPD in the previous two years. Please apply after this has been achieved and provide evidence.

Qualifications awarded 10 or more years ago

1. If your qualification was awarded 10 or more years ago AND you have worked as a creative arts therapist for the past 5 years you will be eligible for tier membership if your application is supported by a letter from your supervisor confirming that you have had regular clinical supervision during that period AND you can show you have completed 10 hours of CPD and 10 hours of supervision within the previous two years.
2. If your qualification was awarded 10 or more years ago AND you have not worked as a creative arts therapist in the past 5 years, we are unfortunately unable to offer you a practising membership

Entitlements

Tier members may not use the ANZACATA logo or post nominal, or vote but are eligible to participate in all activities and receive all publications including online access to the peer-reviewed Journal of ANZACATA.

Student

This category applies to individuals who are currently enrolled in a creative arts therapies course recognised by ANZACATA as long as they have evidence that they are currently enrolled in the course. We accept the following forms of evidence: a letter of acceptance into the course (with date shown); a letter from a course coordinator; a copy of current online student status details; or any other documentation that shows the course, the applicant's name and the year in which they are studying.

Student members may not use the ANZACATA logo or post nominal, or vote but are eligible to participate in all activities and receive all publications including online access to the peer-reviewed Journal of ANZACATA.  

Affiliate

This category has applied to individuals who are interested in creative arts therapy, but do not work in the profession such as social workers, psychologists, counsellors, play therapists, occupational therapists, nurses or students studying related fields, or who are retired from the profession, and who support the purposes and objectives of the Association. Affiliate members may not use the ANZACATA logo or post nominal, or vote but are eligible to participate in most activities and receive all publications including online access to the peer-reviewed Journal of ANZACATA. We do not offer insurance to Affiliate members. There are insurance implications for those who move from a practising membership to Affiliate. Members are reminded that if they are seeing clients they need to ensure they have a practising membership and are covered by indemnity insurance (see Ethics and Standards). Affiliate members do NOT have the support of ANZACATA to practice and people should be wary of any course which purports to offer membership of ANZACATA. Only the courses listed on Training for Professional Membership and Training for Tier Membership are accepted for practising membership of ANZACATA. From June 2025, this will no longer be a category of membership and will be replaced by the category of “On Leave” for practising members who are taking a break from work in the field and also “Subscription Only” for those who are not qualified or retired and simply wish to receive our monthly e-news.

ANZACATA English Language Proficiency Policy

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that practising Creative Arts Therapists registered by ANZACATA in Australia and New Zealand have the language requirements to practice safely and effectively in English. The requirement relates to those people who are seeking new membership entry to ANZACATA and also re-registering members.

Proficiency in the English language is essential for Creative Arts Therapists to develop therapeutic relationships in the Australian and New Zealand contexts.

Evidence of English language Proficiency not required for English Courses

Prospective members who wish to join ANZACATA at a practising level and who have completed their approved course of study at one of the ANZACATA named universities or higher education institutions in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore or Hong Kong are not required to offer any proof of English language proficiency.

Prospective members who wish to join ANZACATA at a practising level and who have completed their approved course of study at a university in USA, Canada or the UK also do not have to offer any proof of English language proficiency.

Prospective members who wish to join in the non-practising category of Affiliate do not have to offer any proof of English language proficiency.

When is English language proficiency required?

Prospective members who have not completed their course through an English-speaking tertiary course approved by ANZACATA, will require proof of their English language proficiency^*. Evidence of this proficiency will be requested at application for ANZACATA membership and if an English proficiency test is deemed to be necessary, all costs for this testing will be the responsibility of the applicant. 

Application cannot continue without this evidence being provided by the applicant. ANZACATA requires English language proficiency test results to be dated less than 2 years before the date of application. If scores older than 2 years are submitted, applicants will be requested to sit the test again.

^* Unless the course was conducted in English in the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Republic of Ireland, India, Singapore, Hong Kong or New Zealand. The original qualification/testamur will be in English.

English language tests that ANZACATA accepts

In keeping with the Australian Department of Home Affairs, ANZACATA will recognise the following English language tests:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Academic and General
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
• CAE Cambridge Test: Certificate in Advanced English

What level of proficiency is required?

All applicants must obtain a score of Proficient or Superior across all elements of the test. This means:

IELTS
Listening 8.0 or 7.0
Reading 8.0 or 7.0
Writing 8.0 or 7.0
Speaking 8.0 or 7.0

PTE
Listening 79 - 65
Reading 79 - 65
Writing 79 - 65
Speaking 79 – 65

TOELF-IBT
Listening 28 - 24
Reading 29 - 24
Writing 30 - 27
Speaking 26 - 23

Cambridge English Advanced C1
Listening 200 - 185
Reading 200 - 185
Writing 200 - 185
Speaking 200 - 185

OET Listening A B
Reading A B
Writing A B
Speaking A B