A semi-annual newsletter brought to you by the ACATE Council | | The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) provides the semi-annual ACATE Canvas newsletter to inform its many stakeholders of the progress of art therapy program accreditation generally and the actions of the Council more specifically. | | Sara Miller Received the 2025 Dana Elmendorf Outstanding Site Evaluator Award | | |
The Dana Elmendorf Outstanding Site Evaluator Award recognizes site evaluators for their outstanding contributions to ACATE’s mission of ensuring the high quality of site visit policies and procedures. The award is granted annually to a site evaluator who has demonstrated exemplary service to the council. This year ACATE is pleased to recognize the efforts of Dr. Sara Miller. Sara was nominated by a peer who described her as “well-prepared, conducted herself very competently and confidently during the visits, and completed in a timely fashion all the site visit follow-up requirements.”
Sara Miller, PhD, LPC, LCPC, ATR- BC, ATCS, is a seasoned researcher and clinical professional dedicated to understanding human behavior and improving systemic outcomes. She currently serves as a Research Specialist for the Colbert and Williams Consent Decrees in Illinois, where she applies her expertise in disability studies to support complex de-institutionalization efforts through training initiatives and participatory program evaluation.
A recognized leader in her field, Sara has completed one full term and continues in her second term, spanning nearly five years, with the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) through CAAHEP, where she plays a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining the rigorous quality standards that guide the profession. She combines her clinical depth with a high-level analytical approach to foster excellence in both practice and education.
In addition to her participation on the Council as a Practitioner Member, Sara served as the ACATE Commissioner to CAAHEP from July 2022 – June 2024.
| | Accredited Program Fee Changes 2027 | | |
In alignment with recently adopted CAAHEP fee policy, ACATE Council approved an increase in Accredited Program Fees effective July 2027 of 10% on July 1, 2026, and every third year afterward (see fee schedule below). This predictable, longer cycle supports programs with budget planning and aligns with the average rates of inflation in the United States. For additional details and rationale, see CAAHEP Fee Changes FAQ.
The table below shows the Accredited Program Fees through 2032:
| | ACATE and CAAHEP Expand Support for Programs | | As part of ongoing strategic planning initiatives, ACATE and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) continue to provide opportunities for networking and gaining valuable insights on achieving and maintaining accreditation. | | |
In October, CAAHEP announced the official launch of CAAHEP Academy, a new learning management system designed for everyone involved in CAAHEP accreditation - from program directors to deans, CAAHEP Commissioners to Committees on Accreditation, and students to the public. This centralized platform offers courses, webinars, and resources to deepen your understanding of accreditation in allied health education. While ACATE is in the process of development of course content, CAAHEP has topics that include information about CAAHEP and accreditation, the accreditation process, and program resources.
CAAHEP hosted its first Update for Program Directors held LIVE in the CAAHEP Academy on December 3, 2025, for 333 program directors. In case you missed, or if you wish to re-watch the session, you may access the recording in the CAAHEP Academy. Simply log in, select Live Events, and then Past Live Events. While there, consider registering for the next quarterly Update for Program Directors, scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time.
If you have any questions, please contact academy@caahep.org.
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Self-Study Report
This month, ACATE announces a fully online self-study report platform on Weave. This integrated system will ensure that programs and reviewers have access to the same materials and instructions. Program Directors will be able to invite team members to enter content and upload documents. Dates for live trainings will be announced. Recording of these trainings will be available on CAAHEP Academy website.
Annual Report – Coming soon!
Additionally, CAAHEP made significant strides in the development of a new annual reporting system designed to capture the progress and successes of accredited programs. This system will provide a clearer picture of how programs meet accreditation standards and achieve their educational goals. By implementing a more structured reporting framework, we can better support our accredited programs and enhance transparency within the accreditation process, and we look forward to its debut in the coming year.
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Join Us in July at the CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop in Denver
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is strategically designed for a diverse range of individuals involved in higher education allied health programs seeking or maintaining CAAHEP accreditation. This includes:
- Program Directors and Administrators will gain valuable insights into the accreditation standards, self-study reports, and ongoing reporting and compliance requirements.
- Faculty Members will take away real-world strategies and best practices that will contribute to the accreditation success of your program, curriculum development, and assessment.
- Clinical Coordinators will learn the strategies for managing successful affiliates that align with CAAHEP standards.
- Institutional Leaders will understand the value of CAAHEP accreditation and how it contributes to the overall reputation and success of the institution.
- Individuals new to CAAHEP accreditation will gain a foundational understanding of the accreditation process, key requirements, and connections with new colleagues and CAAHEP leaders.
Don't miss this invaluable opportunity to equip yourself and your team with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve and maintain CAAHEP accreditation.
NEW this year: ACATE will host a lunch and workshop immediately following Saturday morning session for program directors and others interested in the process for accreditation of art therapy programs. Get all the details on the CAAHEP website at CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop.
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SPARK Art Therapy Educator Collective
The mission of the Art Therapy Educator Collective is to provide the spark that encourages sharing, learning, and co-creating that is accessible to all art therapy educators with the intention that collaboration serves students and the profession. The Art Therapy Educator Collective is hosting a virtual offering on Friday, August 14, and Saturday, August 22, 2026. ACATE is pleased to support this endeavor and will be presenting on the topic “MythBusters: Demystifying All Things Accreditation”. For schedule and information, please contact the organizers at feldwischr@uindy.edu.
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Recent CAAHEP/ACATE Accreditation Actions
While not engaged in accreditation reviews of new programs during the past six months, ACATE focused on supporting the transition to the revised CAAHEP Standards and new Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) policy, which became effective January 1, 2026.
ACATE conducted five focused site visits in 2025. Focused Site Visit refers to a site visit that is focused on a limited number of standards where there are significant concerns or continuing concerns related to non-compliance. The purpose of this evaluation is to verify and clarify specific areas and causes of non-compliance for the purpose of determining opportunities to improve compliance and support program success.
In addition to submitting an annual report, CAAHEP accredited art therapy programs must undergo comprehensive review at least every eight years. ACATE reached a significant milestone in which 12 of the 39 CAAHEP accredited art therapy programs entered into their first comprehensive review cycle for achieving continuing accreditation status. ACATE also received requests for initial accreditation review for two programs and one new degree track.
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ACATE Accreditation Policy Updates
With a focus on continuous quality improvement, ACATE engaged in continuous review of existing policy and approved numerous minor policy changes to provide clearer guidelines. These updates and additions to ACATE Policies and Procedures can be seen in detail on the ACATE/CAAHEP website.
Accreditation Review Process
During 2025, CAAHEP revised the process for the submission of the Request for Accreditation Services (RAS), requiring the submission of the RAS within 30 days of the self-study report (SSR) submission. Below is the revised timeline:
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Are you interested in making an impact on emerging art therapists? Are you looking for ways to connect with other professionals – or maybe just “beef up” your resume? ACATE is currently seeking applications and nominations for positions that will become open on July 1, 2026. Please consider applying or nominating someone whom you believe will work tirelessly to promote best practices for art therapy educational programs and create and improve processes for programs seeking and accreditation. ACATE members serve rotating three-year terms, with no member serving longer than two consecutive terms. Qualified students and past ACATE council members are encouraged to apply.
Required Qualifications and Professional Experience
Educator and Practitioner candidates must be ATR-BC credentialed and possess knowledge of, experience with, and/or willingness to learn about the higher education accreditation process, e.g., experience with other accrediting, licensure, or certification bodies.
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Educator Member: May be either a full time, part time, or adjunct faculty member currently teaching in an art therapy program with experience in curriculum design and program assessment.
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Practitioner Member: May be either a provider of art therapy or a supervisor of practitioners and who can highlight the needs of consumers of art therapy services and graduates under supervision.
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Public Member: An informed person with a broad community point of view who can provide an outside perspective on accreditation issues, represent the public in the work of the council, and pay special attention to the public interest. A public member may not be a member of the art therapy profession or affiliated in any capacity with a CAAHEP-accredited art therapy program (e.g., faculty, staff, or administrator in or overseeing a CAAHEP-accredited art therapy program).
For more information or to submit materials contact: acatecouncil@gmail.com.
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Thank you to our Sponsoring Organizations | | | | |
