Horticultural Therapy Internships: Frequently Asked Questions

When did AHTA revise its internship requirements?

AHTA revised internship requirements went into effect on June 1, 2013. AHTA formalized the student requirements with clear definition and explanations of requirements for both on-site and off-site internships. AHTA also formalized the requirements of the internship supervisor with clear definitions and explanations of the requirements for both on-site and off-site supervision.

If I began my internship prior to June 1, 2013, do I have to start all over again?

No. If you began your internship prior to June 1, 2013, you will be evaluated under the guidelines effective prior to June 1, 2013. You may also use, and submit for professional registration, the Internship Evaluation form in effect at that time. If you need a copy of the AHTA Internship Guidelines or Internship Evaluation form in effect prior to June 1, 2013, please contact us at [email protected]. 

If you began an internship after June 1, 2013, you are subject to the new requirements.

Are there pre-requisite requirements for internships?

Yes. AHTA requires an intern to complete the Introduction to Horticultural Therapy course and one additional required horticultural therapy course (six semester credits) of his or her choice prior to beginning an internship.

Students electing to undertake an internship after completing six semester credits are required to be directly supervised on-site by an HTR or HTM. AHTA recognizes that on-site supervision is not always available and will allow off-site supervision if necessary. If an intern is supervised off-site, the intern must have completed nine semester credits in horticultural therapy before starting the internship experience.

Are internships required to be for academic credit?

No. Academic credit is not required for an internship to apply towards professional registration.

Can I complete my internship at more than one site?

Yes. Internships may take place at one or two sites and may be supervised by one or two supervisors. If an intern is supervised by two supervisors, an Internship Performance Report is required to be completed by both supervisors and submitted with the professional registration application.

Interns completing their internship at two sites must meet the project requirements identified in the AHTA Horticultural Therapy Internship Handbook. 

How long do I have to complete my internship?

Internships must be a minimum of 480 hours under the supervision of a registered horticultural therapist. Internships may be completed in 3 months and must be completed within 2 years.

How do I meet the project requirements if my internship is split between two sites?

It is the intern's responsibility to coordinate their internships to meet the project requirements. Since the short-term project is a client activity, it should be easy to complete this at one site. Both the long-terms and the case study projects must be completed at one site. It is your responsibility to ensure that you will be at one site long enough to complete these two projects. Reference the AHTA Horticultural Therapy Internship Handbook for more information.

Can I apply for professional registration before I complete my internship?

Yes, but your application will not be reviewed until you have completed your internship and submitted the required Internship Performance Report.