Relating to art therapy; prescribing an effective date.
HB 3760 creates a new provisional license category for art therapists in Oregon and updates the existing licensing framework for art therapy. Under the bill, the Health Licensing Office (HLO) may issue a provisional licensed art therapist credential to applicants who are at least 18, hold at least a master’s degree from an approved program, are in a supervisory relationship with a qualified supervisor, are in good standing in other states where they are authorized to practice, and pay the required fee. A provisional licensee may later apply for full licensure after completing two years of supervised mental health practice and meeting any additional HLO requirements.
The bill also revises the standards for full licensure as a licensed art therapist or licensed certified art therapist. Beginning for applications on or after January 1, 2028, applicants for those licenses must show two years of supervised mental health practice as a provisional licensed art therapist, in addition to the existing education, credentialing, and good-standing requirements. The bill clarifies definitions, expands the list of recognized license categories, and directs HLO to adopt rules for licensing, fees, reciprocity, public records, and professional and ethical standards. The operative date for most provisions is January 1, 2026, with the act taking effect 91 days after adjournment sine die.
HB 3760 amends ORS 681.740, 681.743, 681.746, 681.749, 681.752, and 681.758 to add a provisional art therapy license and to tighten the pathway to full licensure by requiring two years of supervised mental health practice. It expands HLO’s regulatory authority over art therapy licensure, including rulemaking on qualifications, fees, reciprocity, public records, and ethics, and it updates the unlawful-practice provisions so that only licensed or provisional licensed individuals may hold themselves out as art therapists, subject to listed exceptions. The bill affects applicants, current and future art therapy practitioners, supervisors, and the Health Licensing Office.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears neutral and administrative rather than contentious. The measure is structured as a professional licensing update, suggesting a policy goal of clarifying credentials and creating a supervised entry path into the profession. No opposition, amendments from debate, or recorded roll-call votes are provided in the context.
The main policy issue apparent from the text is the balance between access to the profession and regulatory rigor. Supporters would likely view the provisional license as a way to create a clearer pathway for new practitioners, while the added two-year supervised practice requirement for full licensure may be seen as raising standards and protecting clients. Potential points of contention could include whether the new requirements are too burdensome for applicants, how HLO will define acceptable supervision and qualifications by rule, and whether the 2028 applicability date for full licensure changes creates a transition period that treats applicants differently depending on when they apply.