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 1-800-634-1603 or 859-514-9177, or email us at: info@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 as well as Definitions of Experience and Point Assignments to learn more.

RECENT IMPORTANT CHANGES: The Board of Directors has focused much time and energy in the last few years to overhaul its Voluntary 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, 2007:
1) HTA and HTM as credentials will no longer be granted; however, those who have already been registered with HTA and HTM credentials will continue to be recognized indefinitely.

2) HTR will be the only credential AHTA registers.

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 services 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.

See the new HTR Registration Standards here

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 Lorraine Brisson, chair of the Professional Registration Work Team, lorraine.brisson@va.gov.