CCAE

Certified Creative Arts Educator (CCAE)

1. Credential Overview

The Certified Creative Arts Educator (CCAE) credential is designed for individuals who integrate learning through the creative arts within educational institutions, as well as in community, cultural, and other educationally oriented settings. It recognizes educators who employ the creative arts to facilitate learning, personal development, and community engagement, while demonstrating professional competence, ethical integrity, inclusive and culturally responsive practice, respect for applicable laws and regulations, and appreciation for the distinctive creative arts traditions, methodologies, knowledge systems, and professional practices of the regions and communities in which they work.

2. Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Membership: Active membership in IACAET, with annual membership renewal and annual renewal of the credential

• Foundational Knowledge: Demonstrated understanding of how arts-based processes foster personal growth, social engagement, and community development
• Education and Training:
  • A degree or diploma in the creative arts (e.g., visual arts, dance, music, drama, design, multimedia, or digital arts) or a related field, such as arts education, education through the arts, or community arts
• Practice/Experience: Documented experience in educational or community-based creative arts programs
• Supervision/Mentorship (recommended): Evidence of supervision or mentorship by an appropriately qualified educator, cultural custodian, or community leader, or other relevant professional

• Professional Conduct: Agreement to comply with the IACAET Code of Ethics and uphold applicable professional and ethical standards

This eligibility framework acknowledges diverse forms of expertise, including experiential, cultural, and non-formal learning pathways.

3. Application Pathways

IACAET recognizes that professional competence may be developed through diverse academic, experiential, and culturally grounded pathways. Applicants may apply through one of the following pathways:

• Regular Pathway: For applicants who meet the eligibility requirements described above
• Grandparenting Pathway: For established practitioners who may not meet all formal academic criteria but demonstrate equivalent professional competence and This pathway is available only during the initial 1–2 years following the launch of the credential
• Exceptional Pathway: For practitioners with outstanding professional contributions, substantial expertise, or unique qualifications. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis

4. Required Application Materials

Applicants are required to submit supporting documentation, which includes:

• Application Statement (explaining the motivation, why and how the applicant meets all the criteria for the category of application, including personal and professional artistic activities) (maximum 1000 words for Regular Pathway)
• Brief CV to support the application statement, including the links of portfolio (video, website, blogs etc.) when necessary (maximum 1000 words for Regular Pathway)
• Copies of original degrees and transcripts as appropriate and other relevant training programs
• Letters of recommendation from appropriate mentors/colleagues

5. Core Competencies

Holders of the CCAE credential demonstrate the ability to:

• Design/co-design, manage implement, and evaluate arts-based educational programs.
• Identify and understand the roles of creative arts and cultural applications in educational and community settings
• Facilitate creative expression with diverse populations (e.g., children, youth, and adults)
• Apply responsive and co-design methods in education and community contexts.
• Integrate arts-based tools, processes, and technologies responsibly
• Approach arts-based learning with ethics of care, responsibility, and culturally responsive practice
• Demonstrate awareness of diverse contexts, aesthetics, and knowledge systems
• Engage in practices that acknowledge and protect value of creative artefacts, including documentation produced in arts-based earning processes.

6. Scope of Practice

Credential holders are recognized as qualified to:

• Design and deliver creative arts education programs in schools, communities, and cultural settings
• Encourage personal and group learning through creative expression
• Foster learning environments as spaces of care, emotional safety, and collaboration
• Develop pedagogical resources and strategies using arts-based processes
• Integrate resources from different times and cultures to promote diversity and pluralism
• Facilitate arts-based learning experiences that support creative exploration and engagement with social and cultural themes
• Support critical reflection on creative processes, artistic works, and their social and cultural contexts
• Collaborate with participants and communities of practice to co-create educational strategies
• Apply arts-based research methods and strategies of inquiry to enrich education and community work.

Note: This credential does not authorize or intend the practice of any clinical therapeutic intervention.

7. Ethical Standards

Credential holders commit to:

• Practicing in alignment with IACAET’s Code of Ethics
• Applying pedagogies of care and safeguarding in all learning environments.
• Respecting the legal and ethical protection of authors, participants, and cultural materials.
• Ensuring responsible use of documentation, information, and media.

8. Ongoing Professional Development

• Credential holders must complete a minimum of 25 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) annually to maintain their CCAE credential.
• Renewal requires evidence of CPD activities, which may include short professional training courses, workshops, conferences, research, reflective practice, supervision/mentoring, or other relevant professional development activities. CPD ensures that credential holders remain responsive to evolving knowledge, educational practice, ethical standards, and community needs.