09/18/2025
Art Therapy Diplomas VS Masters Degrees in Canada- Is There a Difference?
There is a lot of confusion in Canada when it comes to how art therapy programs are perceived. Private diploma programs use terms like “graduate-level education,” which can sound impressive—as if they are equal to a university master’s degree. But these diplomas are not comparable to a master’s in terms of academic rigour, professional standing, or legal recognition.
Academic Authority
A Master’s Degree (MA) is awarded by a provincially recognised university, following strict accreditation and government oversight. Admissions requirements include an undergraduate degree, and the coursework is held to high graduate standards.
On the other hand, a diploma comes from a private institution that is not authorised to confer degrees. Admissions may be less demanding and often do not require a bachelor degree. Diplomas are not reviewed or regulated by provincial or federal advanced education ministries.
Curriculum & Infrastructure
MA programs cover advanced topics like psychology, psychotherapy, research methods, ethics, and require substantial supervised clinical practicum hours. Students are trained to meet the standards needed for professional practice.
Diploma programs may offer some valuable art-based techniques, but they fall short in graduate-level research, academic oversight, and the essential infrastructure—like faculty research, ethics boards, and library resources—that is expected from a legitimate graduate program.
Professional Recognition
A MA is universally recognized by employers, governments, insurers, and universities. It allows progression to doctoral study and meets requirements for many regulated mental health professions.
With a diploma, recognition is limited. While some professional associations may accept diploma holders, this does not create equivalency with a graduate degree. Employers, insurers, and academic institutions do not treat diplomas as master’s-level credentials.
The Fallacy of “Graduate-Level” Marketing
The phrase “graduate-level education” has a very specific meaning: it refers to courses taken after a bachelor’s degree, which count toward a recognized graduate credential. When private diploma programs use this term, it is for marketing reasons—a true graduate education is not possible. A diploma cannot be swapped for a master’s, and it does not carry the same rights, recognition, or status.
An MA in Art Therapy from an accredited university is a legitimate, recognized graduate degree. A non-accredited diploma simply is not the same thing—using “graduate-level” language to imply otherwise is misleading and does not match up with the facts, either academically or professionally.
