The APD is a comprehensive, academically rigorous program designed to develop professional skills for careers in art therapy. It integrates experiential and theoretical learning, fostering competence and flexibility to meet diverse clinical needs.

Graduates can pursue careers as Art Therapists/psychotherapists, with the program aligning with NOC code 3144 for this occupation.

The APD Diploma program is approved by the PTIB of the Ministry of Advanced Education and recognized by both the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).

The program is delivered through a mix of synchronous and asynchronous distance education methods, including live online interactions, streaming video platforms, and various online tools and platforms.

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences, the Arts, or a related field, have completed three psychology courses, possess a minimum of two years of education in English, and fulfill other requirements such as a portfolio and an intake interview.

CiiAT’s Art of Psychology program is an ideal pre-requisite for the Art Psychotherapy Diploma Program as it offers a foundation in psychology through a therapeutic arts lens.

To qualify for CATA professional membership, students must complete a minimum of 500 academic hours and 700 hours of clinical hours.

The program spans 104 weeks, covering 1,200 instructional hours, including academic, clinical courses, and a clinical placement segment.

Students will be dedicating 15-20 hours a week to meet the Diploma requirements.

Students need art supplies, computer equipment, access to a web camera, microphone, and Wi-Fi. Course guides and textbooks are also required, with details provided course-wise.

Assessment methods include demonstrations, participation in discussions, case study reports, presentations, quizzes, written assignments, art-making, and arts-based projects, among others.

• Students must demonstrate competency in the program’s academic and clinical components.
• Maintain a minimum attendance of 90%.
• Complete all academic requirements to a minimum 70% (B-) grade.
• Complete all clinical placement requirements in the time allocated and pass all clinical competencies.

Students will learn significant art therapy theories, adhere to the Canadian Art Therapy Association’s ethics, understand art media in clinical art therapy, and develop skills for treating psychological disorders, among other competencies.

The program admits 10-20 students per cohort, ensuring a more personalized and engaging learning experience.

Applicants are required to have completed at least three psychology courses, ideal topics include – Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Developmental Psychology. However, if students haven’t completed the necessary psychology prerequisites, they can enroll in CiiAT’s intensive course, “The Art of Psychology,” to fulfill this requirement.

The program’s online learning includes a blend of live virtual classrooms, pre-recorded lectures, forums, email communication, and the use of a Learning Management System for continuous engagement and resource sharing.

The requirement for graduation at CiiAT includes 700 clinical hours. 300-350 hours will be completed in Clinical placement working directly with clients. Clinical Placement can take place in the student’s own community or via CiiAT’s Virtual Art Therapy Clinic.

Success in the program is tied to mandatory attendance in on-camera classes, active participation, systematic engagement with course content, regular self-reflection, and office hours facilitated by instructors.

The Academic and Clinical Faulty as well as an Academic Advisor, are available to guide and support each student.

The EA assesses applicants without a bachelor’s degree for equivalent knowledge and skills, determining their suitability for the program. The application for an EA costs $200.

You should expect to dedicate approximately 15-20 hours per week to complete all aspects of classes, meetings, placement hours and homework.

You need to achieve a minimum grade of 70% in the assessment methods to pass the program in every course. This standard ensures a competent understanding and application of the course materials.

Students are expected to maintain a 90% attendance rate, tracked through the learning management system based on participation, submission of work, and engagement with course materials.

The Academic and Clinical Faulty support our students throughout their journey, and students have access to an Academic Advisor who is available to guide and support students individually.

The APD Program is a rigorous part-time program, and students should expect to dedicate at least 15-20 hours per week to their studies. Many of our students work during their studies, arranging their work schedule with their employers accordingly. Note that work hours must accommodate on-camera class times and client appointments.

The only difference between the Post-BA and Post-MA streams is that Post-MA students are not required to write a thesis or complete the Research & Arts-Based Methodologies course, so long as a thesis was completed in their previous graduate studies.

While we accept applications year-round, we offer three student intakes throughout the year: January, May, and September.

If you are applying to our program, please indicate which month you would like to begin classes. Please note that the admission process takes about 10-12 weeks from application to your first class. The deadline for each intake is usually 10 weeks before the start of classes. We encourage prospective students to submit their applications in advance when possible.

Students will attend one to two scheduled instructor-led online classes per week and will be expected to attend several other commitments, such as study labs, self-directed courses, clinical placement, and supervision throughout their schedule.

You must complete 300-350 direct client contact hours as part of your clinical placement. Your clinical placements must be completed within 18 months.

Students may be eligible to complete some or all of their clinical placement hours in our Virtual Art Therapy Clinic (vatc.ca).

Yes, payment for clinical placement hours is possible. However, it is only possible when the student is already employed at a location that can accommodate art therapy as part of their current position.

The psychology requirements must be completed before starting the program, but you are welcome to apply for the program before fulfilling this requirement, and your requirements will be discussed during the interview process for the APD program.

CiiAT’s Art of Psychology course is an intensive course that fulfills all three psychology requirements and can be completed within eight weeks. For more information, see Art of Psychology. https://ciiat.org/art-of-psychology/

Unfortunately, our programs do not currently qualify for student loans. We hope to be eligible for student loans in the future.

For the APD Program, we offer convenient payment plans. Students approved for the Post-MA track are exempt from the research and thesis classes. As such, tuition for Post-MA students is $26,460, while Post-BA students pay $29,400. The tuition is divided over 18 months for Post-MA students and 20 months for Post-BA students, with monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly payment plans available upon request. Your payments could be as low as $1,470.00/month if approved.

Furthermore, we offer a BIPOC scholarship that you are welcome to apply for if you qualify, and many of our students have found success receiving loans through their financial institutions. For more scholarships, please see the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) website for their offerings.

We are a virtual school with students from all around the world studying with us. All that is required to study with us is a stable internet connection. International students must check with their country’s governing bodies and art therapy associations if they accept the CATA membership to practice art therapy in their home country. Another thing for international students to consider is the time difference. APD courses are delivered live online on Vancouver timings (PST).

Our Art Psychotherapy Diploma (APD) Program has a clinical practicum placement component that can be completed in person in a student’s community, or students may be eligible to complete their practicum online in our Virtual Art Therapy Clinic.

The Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy offers a scholarship to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) students in an effort to provide greater accessibility to our programs. We want to recognize the marginalization that these communities face when entering the professional and academic sectors and to support bringing more BIPOC voices into the field of art therapy.

• The scholarship is only honoured if you complete the APD program
• The scholarship is in the form of a credit which is applied to your last tuition payments
• Because there are limited scholarships, the amount of credit is variable, but can be up to $5000

Scholarship Application Requirements

• A successful APD application which includes a note of intention to apply for this scholarship
• A 2500-word essay written in APA format discussing how art-making provides a connection to culture.

Scholarship essays must be sent by email to [email protected]. All applications for the scholarship will be reviewed, and in circumstances where more than one applicant has shown potential, CiiAT may decide to split the scholarship accordingly.