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:

1. Professional Credibility
2. Standardization of Practice
3. Demonstrating Expertise and Skill Development
4. Increased Public and Industry Recognition
5. Continuing Education and Growth

More on certification for Horticultural Therapists

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

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.

Professional Registration Resources

• AHTA Professional Registration Policies and Procedures - Horticultural Therapist Registered
• AHTA Professional Registration Policies and Procedures – Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner
• Course Titles that Support the AHTA Core Curriculum Topic Areas 
• For a list of programs that offer academic coursework in horticultural therapy, please refer to the Horticultural Therapy Education page.