The Horticultural Therapist- Board Certified (HT-BC)
The Horticultural Therapist –Board Certified (HT-BC) credential is in development and scheduled to be available in October 2026. This new certification represents a significant step forward in establishing professional standards, enhancing credibility, and advancing the field of horticultural therapy.
Horticultural therapy is a growing field that bridges healthcare, social services, and horticulture to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being. As the profession gains recognition, certification provides several key benefits:
- Professional Credibility
- Standardization of Practice
- Demonstrating Expertise and Skill Development
- Increased Public and Industry Recognition
- Continuing Education and Growth
HT-BC Credential Explained
The HT-BC is a formal recognition that an individual has met established professional standards in horticultural therapy. It assures employers, clients, and the public that certified professionals possess the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to practice effectively and ethically. The certification process includes requirements for education, professional experience, and the successful completion of a comprehensive examination.
The exam, currently in development, is based on six key domains identified through a large-scale Job Task Analysis involving input from the horticultural therapy community. These domains are:
Horticulture
Treatment Planning
Program Planning and Activity Design
Managing Human Resources
Business Practices, Safety, and Ethics
Professionalism and Scholarship
HTRs and HT-BC
The certification is designed for individuals seeking to be recognized as credentialed horticultural therapists. The HT–BC will eventually replace the current HTR designation as the primary credential in the field. AHTA will stop accepting new HTR applications approximately three months before the launch of the certification exam. After that, all new applicants will apply for the HT–BC certification. Current HTRs may continue to use their designation and AHTA will continue to recognize this legacy . However, current HTR designees are encouraged to become certified under this new national competency standard.
THPs and HT-BC
The certification exam will not be required for Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner (THP) applications at this time.
Eligibility Pathways
Pathway 1
Professional Registration
Applicants must hold a current Horticultural Therapy – Registered (HTR), or a Horticultural Therapist – Master (HTM) professional registration with AHTA.
Examination
Applicants must successfully complete the HT-BC examination.
Pathway 2
Educational Requirements
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in any field and meet the following course requirements:
1. Required coursework
Horticultural Therapy Courses - nine semester credits in horticultural therapy from an AHTA accredited program (required for all applicants, regardless of degree field).
2. Additional coursework based on degree background
If the degree is not in a human science or plant science field, they must also complete:
12 semester credits in required human science topics, and
12 semester credits in required plant science topics
If a degree is in an approved plant science or human science field, applicants are exempt from taking additional undergraduate coursework in that major area. However, they are still required to complete nine credits in horticultural therapy and 12 credits in the area outside their degree field, as follows:
If the degree is in plant science, complete required 12 credits in human science
If the degree is in human science, complete required 12 credits in plant science
Approved Fields
Plant Science Degree (examples):
Horticulture, Horticultural Science, Plant Physiology, Plant Science, Floriculture
Human Science Degree (examples):
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Work, Music Therapy, Counseling, Psychology, Rehabilitation
Professional Experience
Applicants must have completed a 480-hour internship supervised by a horticultural therapist or have at least 1,000 hours work experience utilizing horticulture as therapy.
Examination
Applicants must successfully complete the HT-BC examination.
Pathway 3
Current Licensure/Certification
Applicants must hold a current license or certification in an approved profession accepted by the American Horticultural Therapy Association as follows:
Mental health or related professions:
Social work, clinical - LCSW, LMSW
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor – CRC
Professional counselor/therapist, licensed - LPC, LCADC, LMFT
Board Certified Behavior Analysis – BCBA
Allied Professions:
Occupational therapist, registered or licensed - OTR, OTR/L, OTD
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist - CTRS
Speech and Language Pathologist - SLP
Art therapist, registered or certified - ATR, ATR-BC
Music Therapist, MT-BC
Physical therapist/assistant, licensed - PT, PTA
Activity professional, certified - AAP-BC
Nursing - LPN, RN, BSN, NP
Medical Doctor - MD
Education professions: State licensure or certification
Career and technical instructor
Vocational instructor
Alternative education teacher
Special education teacher
Horticulture professions:
Professional horticulturist, certified - CPH
Landscape architect, licensed – RAL, PLA
Arborist, certified – ISA
If your license or certification is not listed contact AHTA for consideration.
Educational Requirements
1. All applicants must have an appropriate degree to meet the requirements of their current license or certification.
2. All applicants must also complete nine semester credit hours of horticultural therapy coursework from an AHTA accredited program (required for all applicants, regardless of degree field).
Professional Experience
Applicants must have completed a 480-hour internship supervised by a horticultural therapist or have at least 1,000 hours work experience utilizing horticulture as therapy.
Examination
Applicants must successfully complete the HT-BC examination.
Additional Pathways may be considered in the future.