How long does it take to process an application and render a decision?
Usually 4-6 weeks. Once the AHTA Office receives an application and all required documents, including official transcripts, it is processed and forwarded to the Review Board. The applicant will receive notice that it has been processed. The applicant will hear from AHTA once a decision has been made.
Do I need to send transcripts from every college that I attended?
Yes. Transcripts from all colleges/universities must be included even if the credits were transferred into the college you graduated from. The only guarantee that all your coursework will be reviewed is to make sure every transcript is submitted with your application.
I attended an educational institution that was on a quarter system as opposed to a semester system, can I still use those credits?
Yes. You must convert the quarter credits to the equivalent semester credits. You may find that you need additional courses to fulfill the total credit hour or content requirement in each subject area. Reference the quarter hour to semester hour conversion table to convert your credits.
Can I take horticultural therapy certificate courses anywhere as long as they are for college credit?
No. All horticultural therapy coursework completed as part of a certificate must be taken from an AHTA accredited certificate program.
Can I submit my application before I've completed all my coursework, my internship, or my work experience?
No. An application will not be processed until all required documentation has been submitted.
If my request for registration status is denied, do I have the opportunity to reapply?
Yes. If your request for registration is denied, you will receive a letter detailing the reason(s) for denial. You will have a period of one year during which you may submit an addendum to your application along with the appropriate documentation. If you wish to appeal the decision, you have thirty (30) days within which to notify the AHTA office in writing.
Is a pass/fail option acceptable for required courses?
Yes. Pass/fail is an option if academic credit is granted. The transcript from the accredited institution must reflect credit earned.
Horticultural Therapy Registered (HTR) FAQ
Can I become professionally registered as an HTR if I don't have a degree in horticultural therapy?
Yes. The AHTA offers an alternative route to professional registration that requires a bachelor's degree, a combination of coursework in plant and human sciences, and coursework in horticultural therapy. A complete description of the requirements are in the AHTA Professional Registration Policy and Procedures.
Must I complete a horticultural therapy internship to qualify for professional registration?
No. The AHTA will accept either an internship or supervised work experience to meet the HTR requirements. An internship in horticultural therapy requires a minimum of 480 hours, supervised by a registered horticultural therapist at the HTR or HTM level. A work experience option requires a minimum of 1,500 supervised work hours in horticultural therapy. For complete information about the internship and/or work experience requirement, review the AHTA Horticultural Therapy Internship Handbook and Professional Registration Policies and Procedures.
Does AHTA accept college credit granted for work and/or life experience?
Yes, however, only courses selected from the core curriculum effective October 1, 2013, will be accepted. An official transcript documenting academic credit must be from an accredited degree-granting academic institution in the United States. Please refer to Credit for Work/Life Experience for more information about this option.
Can I combine courses to meet the core requirements?
Yes. Courses may be combined to meet the course content or semester credit requirements. For example, to meet the Introduction to Horticulture requirement, and applicant could combine a Careers in Horticulture course for 1 semester credit with a Horticultural Crop Production course for 3 credits to meet all the course content requirements of an Introduction to Horticulture course.
What is the process if I wish to submit alternative coursework for evaluation?
Courses submitted for consideration as equivalent to the core course topic areas listed in the AHTA Professional Registration Policies and Procedures-Horticultural Therapy Registered must be accompanied by a course description or syllabus. Reference the document AHTA Course Titles that Support the AHTA Core Curriculum Topic Areas to compare course content to determine if the course you are submitting is an equivalent course.
Are the HTA and HTM registration levels still available?
No. These designations were once options to HTR registration but have been discontinued. Horticultural therapy professionals who achieved these levels of registration should continue to use the respective credential, but registration at the HTM or HTA level is no longer offered.
I started working towards professional registration several years ago and then the core curriculum changed on October 1, 2013. Do I need to start all over again?
No. If six (6) or more of the core courses were taken before October 1, 2013, you will be reviewed under the Option B course requirements that were effective October 2008 to October 2013. AHTA strongly recommends and encourages you to take the remaining two (2) courses from the new required coursework list.
If all coursework was taken before October 1, 2013, you will be reviewed under the requirements in place from October 2008 to October 2013. If you need a copy of the professional registration requirements in effect before October 1, 2013, please contact the AHTA office at 206-209-5296, to request a copy.
For a comprehensive overview of the Professional Registration policies and procedures, refer to the AHTA Professional Registration Policies and Procedures.
For a list of course titles that support the core curriculum topic areas, refer to the Course Titles that Support the AHTA Core Curriculum Topic Areas list.
Therapeutic Horticultural Practitioner (THP) FAQ
Is a bachelor’s degree required to apply for the THP?
No. Only the nine semester credits in horticultural therapy coursework are required.
Must I take all horticultural therapy coursework through an AHTA accredited certificate program?
No. A student may complete horticultural therapy coursework as an independent study as long as it meets all the course content requirements outlined in the AHTA Professional Registration Policies and Procedures – Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner.
If the horticultural therapy coursework is part of a certificate program, then yes, it must be completed through an AHTA accredited certificate program.
Do the 500 hours of work experience have to be supervised by an HTR?
No. If you are pursuing the 500 hours for the THP, the hours are not required to be internship hours and do not require supervision by an HTR. An applicant must have a primary contact who can verify the work experience This person may be the employee’s supervisor, a volunteer coordinator, a contract administrator.
Can I complete the 500 hours as an internship with an HTR internship supervisor?
Yes. If you are planning to pursue professional registration at the HTR level in the future, it is advised to complete the 500 hours with an HTR internship supervisor following the internship requirements. The 500 hours may used to apply for the THP but the application materials are different. The work verification form is required for the THP and the internship materials would be submitted with the HTR application.
What is reclassification?
Reclassification is an option for a THP to advance to the professional registration of Horticultural Therapist-Registered, the HTR. A THP is required to meet the plant science and human science coursework requirements and if the 500 hours were not completed as an internship, may apply the 500 hours of work experience toward the work experience option required for the HTR.
If I am an independent Contract provide therapeutic services, can I use my work hours?
Yes. In addition to the work experience verification form, an independent contract must also provide proof of services rendered in the form of a signed contract, paid invoices, or a written agreement. If the contractor is combining hours from several sites, a work verification form is required for each site.
For a comprehensive overview of the Professional Registration policies and procedures, refer to the AHTA Professional Registration Policies and Procedures - Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner.
