The Ontario Art Therapy Association has several categories of membership including Life Members, Registered Members, Professional Members, Graduate Members, Retired Members and Student Members. The Association also offers an Associate Membership, open to individuals and agencies who express an interest in the therapeutic use of art and who support the goals of the OATA.

Application for membership, and requests for information about practitioners in your locality, should be directed to the Membership Chair. All general enquiries should be directed to the President of the OATA.

Features & Benefits

Membership with the OATA is of interest to Art Therapists in practice, Art Therapy trainees and professionals in related fields; all of whom have an interest in maintaining high standards in Art Therapy and in receiving current information related to the field of Art Therapy.

Active membership in the OATA offers the support of a regulating body, strengthens the credibility of our profession, and provides opportunities for networking and growth.

As an OATA member, you will receive:

• TAPESTRY, the newsletter of the OATA
• Conference fee discounts
• Professional Insurance Coverage Option
• Yearly Directory of Current Members
• Optional Listing in Membership Directory - now online and available to public

Membership Renewals

To renew your membership please log into your account.

Categories & Criteria

Visit our New Member Application page for categories and membership criteria.

OATA Supervisor Status

In order to apply as an OATA Approved Supervisor, you must fulfil the following conditions:
• Be a Registered member of OATA or of another recognized Art Therapy Association (eg., AATA, or CATA prior to Dec ‘96) for a minimum of five years
• Be a current member in good standing with one of these associations
• Provide proof of liability insurance

For equivalency supervisor status approval, please send to the OATA Registration Chair the following documents:

• OATA Application for Supervisor Status
• Copy of Registration Certificate
• Copy of current association renewal card
• Copy of proof of liability insurance
(Note: there is no stipulation that a CATA or AATA member also has to hold OATA membership)

Each year Approved Supervisors are required to fill out this application indicating their intention to continue their supervisory status in the coming year, along with the dates of their peer supervision groups over the past year. Details of requirements and dates are on the revised (January 2009) application.

Becoming Registered

Interested in becoming a Registered member? Download this information package that will outline the requirements for Registration. This package will assist you in advance to collect the appropriate documentation and receipts so that you are prepared when you complete the 1000 paid hours required for Registration.

The registration application for the Ontario Art Therapy Association can be downloaded for viewing and/or printing using Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or higher. If you don't already have Adobe Acrobat Reader, the free download is available at Adobe.com or by clicking on the button below. Be sure to bookmark this page so that you can return easily after installing Acrobat.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a graduate of an Ontario Art Therapy program do I automatically get information about OATA membership, and how to eventually become a Registered Art Therapist?
• Not necessarily. The OATA is not directly affiliated with the University training programs, although every effort is made in keeping the students informed of their options and professional responsibilities. 
• First year students are given a free membership in the OATA, and students in any following year pay a minimal fee of $40.00 per year. This is an important link for students to become familiar with the profession, and a source for networking and communication. However, as student addresses frequently change, it may be difficult to maintain contact unless the student takes the initiative.
• Efforts are also made through the course curriculum to bring information to the students on professional standards, and to stress the importance of being affiliated with a professional association when working as an art therapist. It is then up to the graduate to make decisions about what process they wish to take. They must take the initiative to obtain the necessary information on becoming a Graduate / Professional / and (ultimately) Registered member of the association.

Can I still pay my membership for this year if I missed the deadline date?
• Memberships can be paid anytime during the current year. However, new regulations have come into effect of which members must be aware . Memberships not paid by the end of February will now be considered LATE . . . and will be penalized a $10.00 late fee.
• Memberships not paid by the end of December will be lapsed (a whole year gone unpaid) . . . and are penalized a $25.00 lapsed fee. Should a Registered membership lapse beyond a year this member will be asked to reapply through the Registration committee, paying the necessary $40.00 fee for this process as well.

When can I apply for Registration?
• Registration Applications are accepted three times annually: January 1st, April 1st and September 1st.
• Applicant must be a Professional Member with OATA for six months prior to applying, and must provide proof of graduation from a recognized art therapy program
• Graduation implies completion of all course work, all educational practicum hours and thesis (if applicable)
• Applicant is required to have accumulated 700 supervised, unpaid, educational practicum hours
• Applicant must have completed 1000 supervised, paid, DIRECT CLIENT CONTACT internship hours POST Graduation date

How should I prepare/organize myself for becoming Registered?
• You must keep track of your direct client paid hours and submit them upon registration
• You must make sure that your Art therapy supervisor has had one of the following designations for at least two years : OATR, RCAT*(must be registered no later than December 1996), or ATR. They must also have current and on going Art Therapy working experience. Ask your potential supervisor if they meet these qualifications and if s/he does not, s/he must contact the Registration Chairperson for an application form. Effective January 1, 2003, OATA supervisor status must be renewed annually.
• You must provide proof of graduation, ie. certificate.
• Please ensure that you have been a professional member of OATA for at least 6 months prior to applying for registration.
• Professional liability insurance is a requirement in order to become registered and all those who are practicing should have some form of insurance, either privately or through the agency in which you are employed.

How can I become a volunteer with the OATA?
As a non-profit organization, the OATA relies heavily on the dedication and support of volunteers who are members of OATA.   Areas in which you can volunteer include these committees:
• Membership
• Registration
• TAPESTRY Newsletter
• Conference
• Education
• Public Relations

For further information on volunteering, please email: president@oata.ca