Professional Registration

The American Horticultural Therapy Association recognizes and registers horticultural therapists through a voluntary professional registration program. This is a peer review system that is intended to promote basic professional competencies based upon academic and professional training, work experience in horticultural therapy and other professional activities and accomplishments. To obtain a registration application by email, call the AHTA office at 484-654-0357 , or email us at: website@ahta.org. There is no cost for the application, but one must be a member of AHTA to apply. Visit the Policies and Procedures page to learn more.

RECENT IMPORTANT CHANGES: The Board of Directors has focused much time and energy in the last few years to overhaul its Professional Registration program. AHTA’s board has implemented changes in order to raise the standards required for those who want to enroll in this program. The board has also revised its criteria for accrediting HT Certificate programs.

Effective October 1st, 2008:
To gain the HTR credential, a four-year college degree is required. Required course content in three subject areas of horticulture, human sciences and horticultural therapy must be included in the degree, or gained in addition to the degree. A description of required course content and mandatory credit hours is available from AHTA.

Also required are 480 hours of an internship (field work). Internships may be paid or unpaid, but must be under the supervision of an AHTA-registered horticultural therapist. More information on internship is available from AHTA.

For more information about these changes, please contact Johanna Leos, chair of the Professional Registration Work Team, jgleos@bigfoot.com.