Guidance on Arts Therapy in South Africa

In South Africa, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) regulates the Arts Therapy profession, which includes Art, Dance Movement, Drama and Music Therapy. Arts Therapists are registered under the Professional Board for Occupational Therapy, Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics and Arts Therapy (OCP Board).

To practise, as an Arts Therapist, an individual must be registered with the HPCSA under the Health Professions Act, 56 of 1974(sections 17 and 34). Registration requires a Master's-level qualification from an HPCSA-approved institution and the completion of 1 000 supervised clinical hours. Only approved programmes lead to registration.

Practising without registration - or falsely claiming to be registered - is a criminal offence (Health Professions Act 56 of 1974, sections 39 and 40).

Approved Arts Therapy training institutions:

• University of Pretoria (Music Therapy)
• University of the Witwatersrand (Drama Therapy)
• University of Johannesburg (Art Therapy)

To be recognised as a training institution, an organisation must apply to both the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the HPCSA OCP Board, which approves the training under section 16 of the Act.

Arts Therapy practitioners who qualified abroad must register with the HPCSA to practise in South Africa. This requires passing the OCP Board examination.

Please email any enquiries to: seethar@hpcsa.co.za