Until the year 2001 I.C.E.T. (YAHAT) was in charge of assessing and recommending programs to the Health Ministry for approval. Today, this responsibility rests solely with the Health Ministry. The Health Ministry is responsible for setting and distributing the requirements to the approved programs, and to issuing certificates of recognition to those who fulfil those requirements by graduating from the approved programs or other programs abroad, which comply with all the requirements. In the current directive of the Health Ministry it is stated that as of the beginning of the 2003 school year every new program will be required to have certification from the Institute for Higher Education enabling it to provide Masters level studies. Within five years from the publication of the current directive, all current programs approved by the Health Ministry will also be required to receive the certification of the Institute of Higher Education in order to be eligible for renewal of their Health Ministry permit. The Health Ministry will not renew approval of programs, which will not receive approval by the Institute of Higher Education.

According to the outlook of I.C.E.T (YAHAT), the following are appropriate guidelines for training programs in Creative & Expressive Therapies:

1. Training programs will accept into their programs only students who completed a Bachelors degree in a field relevant to the profession. (Mental Health areas, Art, Education, etc.).
2. The duration of the program will be no less than two years. During the training students will receive appropriate basic knowledge that will enable them to treat a variety of populations of varying ages and needs.
3. During the course of the program emphasis will be given to strengthen the area of arts for those students who’s background is in education, psychology and mental health and vice versa.
4. Programs will include the following areas:

• Fields of study combining the therapeutic and artistic.
• Theory, Philosophy and History of the specific Art Therapy field in which the student is enrolled.
• Enrichment and expansion of studies in the specific Art Therapy field in which the student is enrolled.
• Basic studies in relevant medical fields.
• The study of Psychology, Psychopathology and Psychotherapy.
• Study of therapeutic approaches to diverse segments of the population.
• Experiential workshops in the specific therapeutic field the student is enrolled in.
• Study and understanding of the Mental Health systems.
• Study and understanding of the Education systems.
• The study of Ethics pertaining to Therapy in general and to Art Therapy in particular.

5. The training program will encompass at least 1200 fieldwork hours, of which at least 600 will be of direct client contact. Students will receive at least one personal or group supervision hour from at least two approved supervisors for each 8-10 fieldwork hours within the years of training. Supervision can only be provided by professionals registered as supervisors in I.C.E.T. (YAHAT), with knowledge and expertise with the specific population in the area that the student is working in. The Supervisor will be from the specific field the student is enrolled in. (Music, Movement and Dance, Art, Drama, etc.)
6. The student will be required to work in public setting comprising of educational settings and psychiatric clinics recognised by the Health Ministry for the purpose of training therapists. The student will experience working with various ages of clients and presenting problems, and it is recommended to specialise for at least one year in a hospital psychiatric unit.
7. The fieldwork will be supervised in the institution by a I.C.E.T (YAHAT) registered supervisor from the field of study of the student. In areas where there is no such person available the supervisor will be a person registered as a supervisor in a psychotherapy association, and approved by I.C.E.T (YAHAT) for the purpose of student supervision. Programs and students have to ascertain ahead of time the registration and acceptability of a prospective supervisor.
8. The supervision within the training program will be parallel to and in addition to the supervision at the fieldwork placement.
9. Within the training program, only a registered supervisor in the specific course or field of study will supervise the student.
10. Group Supervision will include no more than 10 students and will meet weekly for the number of hours required to provide adequate supervision.
11. There has to be a distinct separation between studies and treatment so that a situation never arises in which a student is in therapy with one of the teachers or supervisors. Neither can a situation be tolerated in which a supervisor treats a teacher or vice versa.