| Play Therapy Credentials |
Program OverviewFirst established and offered in 1992, the Association for Play Therapy (APT) offers three credentials by which licensed mental health professionals, school counselors, school psychologists, or school workers may demonstrate their play therapy competency to the general public, parents, and other mental health professionals.
We recognize the intricacies involved in attaining an advanced credential. The Credentialing Committee carefully considered efforts to balance both equity and quality in training, and these remain a priority for this organization. As the Board, we support the APT Credentialing Committee’s recommendation to require both contact and non-contact play therapy training. This decision upholds the integrity and quality of our field by ensuring that professionals gain meaningful, interactive experiences that foster skills development and peer connection, while also creating accessible options. As an inherently relational-based approach for a highly vulnerable population, clear competencies and standards help protect the play therapy profession and ensure that children and families receive the highest level of care from well-prepared play therapy clinicians. ~ APT Board of Directors Getting StartedHave questions about the credentialing standards and application? Explore the links below for a variety of resources, including detailed information about eligibility requirements, application steps, and what to expect throughout the credentialing process.
Registered Play TherapistTMApplications are welcome upon the completion and documentation of all credentialing requirements as outlined in the RPTTM Credentialing Standards. Prior authorization by APT to begin earning hours towards the credentialing requirements is not needed.
Registered Play Therapist-SupervisorTMApplicants must hold the Registered Play TherapistTM credential, in good standing, for the previous three (3) consecutive years prior to applying for the Registered Play Therapist-SupervisorTM credential.
School Based-Registered Play TherapistTMSchool Based-Registered Play TherapistsTM (SB-RPTTM) are school counselors, school psychologists, or school social workers who hold a license from their state's department of education, and who have satisfied the criteria described in the SB-RPTTM Guide.
ResourcesLooking for more support? Here are additional resources to help you navigate your professional journey with confidence. Whether you're looking for a list of terms to clarify the requirements, seeking guidance on play therapy competencies, or curious about the trademark use, the links below offer helpful information.
As always, we encourage you to contact us at info@a4pt.org or 559-298-3400 for additional support.
Annual RenewalRegistrants are required to annually renew their credential and submit mandatory play therapy continuing education every three years. Please visit the Credential Renewal section of our website and the Renewal FAQ page for more information.
Certificate ReprintsTo request a replacement or duplicate wall certificate please complete the Certificate Reprint form. The reprint fee for wall certificates is $10.00.
NotificationsChanges to the RPTTM Standards - Play Therapy Instruction Hours Effective April 1, 2025, of the 150 hours of play therapy instruction, a minimum of 75 hours must be met by contact (in-person) training. The remaining 75 hours may be earned via contact or non-contact training. All webinars, including live webinars are counted as non-contact training. See Terms for definition of each. Changes to the RPTTM Standards - Time Frame and Group Supervision Based on member feedback, committee recommendations, and the need to address both the cost and accessibility of the RPT credential, we are pleased to announce the following updates:
We appreciate your feedback and ongoing support as we continue to uphold the high standards of the RPTTM, RPT-STM, and SB-RPTTM credentials. Changes to the RPTTM Standards - Diversity Effective January 1, 2023, APT and the IDEA Team are excited to announce upcoming additions to the RPTTM Standards! These additions address issues of diversity specific to play therapy and apply to any RPTTM application received January 1, 2023 or later. It is our hope the additions signify our continued commitment to the competent practice of play therapy with diverse populations. We invite you to review the Summary of Program Changes (in red text for your convenience) to the RPTTM Standards. Changes to the RPTTM & RPT-STM Credentialing Requirements Effective January 1, 2020, individuals interested in applying for the Registered Play TherapistTM (RPT) credential must meet the criteria as listed in the Credentialing Standards document (formerly known as the RPTTM & RPT-STM Guide). The revisions to the credentialing requirements signals APT's continued commitment to the field of play therapy and the standards by which the RPT/S credentials are earned. To learn more about the revisions and clarifications to the credentialing requirements, please read the Special Section of the March and June 2019 issues of the Play TherapyTM Magazine. Changes to the Supervised Play Therapy Experience & Supervision Credentialing Requirement Effective January 1, 2020, hours earned toward the supervised play therapy experience and supervision requirements for the RPTTM and RPT-STM
applications must be under the supervision of an RPT-STM only. Any supervised play therapy experience and supervision hours accrued prior to January 1, 2020 will be accepted provided
they fall under the current guidelines. Please refer to the Credentialing Standards for further instruction. If you were conferred the RPTTM or RPT-STM
credential prior to January 1, 2020, this change will NOT affect you. APT dedicated a special section of its magazine to the 2020 changes and it can be viewed here. Changes to the Definition of Contact & Non-Contact Hours for Continuing Education Effective January 1, 2020, contact hours are defined as "in-person" instruction only. Live webinars, recorded webinars, book studies, etc. are defined as non-contact hours. APT dedicated a special section of its magazine to the 2020 changes
and it can be viewed here. Credentialing Changes for Canadian Registrants This notification addresses recent changes that have occurred with Canadian RPTTM and RPT-STM registrants. The changes affect a small number of our Canadian registrants. Since APT has no way of knowing if its vast number of members, registrants, Approved Providers, and Approved Centers are affiliated in some way with Canadian supervisees, training attendees, and/or fellow Canadian play therapists interested in the RPT/S credentials, this notice has been made available to all on our website. RPTTM and RPT-STM Acronym Conflict In some states the acronym RPTTM is protected by Physical Therapists, and therefore restricts the public display of such. To see if your state is included, please review this list. Changes to RPT-STM Renewal: Supervisor Training Hours In October 2015, the APT Registration & CE committee revisited the RPT-STM renewal standards for supervisor training and agreed that the increase from two to six (6) hours that was effective April 1, 2014 was excessive. Therefore, we have amended this criterion to three (3) hours of supervisor training in each three year CE cycle. If you were approved BEFORE 1/1/2014 – you will complete three (3) hours of supervisor training in your next 36 month CE cycle and thereafter. If you were approved AFTER 12/31/2013 – you will complete six (6) hours of supervisor training in the first and second CE cycles over the next six years. Then complete three (3) hours of supervisor training each 36-month CE cycle thereafter.
Disclaimer: The Association for Play Therapy (APT) confers the designation of Registered Play TherapistTM (RPTTM) and Registered Play Therapist SupervisorTM (RPT-STM) to individuals who have provided APT with documentation that they have a) a mental health graduate or higher degree; b) been licensed by the applicable state licensing or certification authority; c) completed a minimum number of hours of general clinical experience and supervision; d) completed a minimum number of hours of play therapy training and supervision; and e) completed the requisite continuing education hours. The designation as a RPTTM or RPT-STM does not certify, imply, or affirm the knowledge or competency of such individual but only confirms that the education and training requirements identified herein have been satisfied. |
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