CRITERIA FOR CERTIFICATION

The Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy (CACPT) serves as the professional association for the field of child psychotherapy and play therapy in Canada. CACPT was established to ensure qualified clinicians in the practice of child psychotherapy and play therapy. The following are the certification categories and general requirements finalized as of March 2009. (more detailed information on requirements is available by calling the CACPT at 1-519-827-1506.)

Certified Play Therapist (CPT) Level

1. Membership:

  1. Maintain status as a member-in-good standing with CACPT and comply with the CACPT Code of Ethics.
  2. Maintain status as a certified, licensed, or registered member-in-good standing with an appropriate professional association or governing body.

2. Education:

  1. A minimum of a Master's Degree in an appropriate discipline or a Medical Degree from an accredited institution.
  2. Must have completed CACPT-designated core under-graduate or graduate level course work, including one (1) course in each of the following areas:
    1. General Concepts and Principles of Child Development: biological, psychological, and social development
    2. Child and Adolescent Behavioural Disorders/Psychopathology: abnormal child psychology
    3. Theories of Personality: understanding of personality development
    4. Legal, ethical, and professional issues: applicable Provincial and National legal practices, including family law/child welfare/mental health legislation and her/his specific discipline's ethical code and standards of practice.
  3. Must have completed one (1) graduate-level course in General Concepts and Principles of Psychotherapy: individual, family, and group psychotherapy.

3. Education Specific to Play Therapy:

  1. Must have completed at least 150 hours of graduate-level course work specific to the area of child psychotherapy/play therapy (e.g. 4 courses) or the equivalent number of hours with CACPT-accredited/approved workshops or training programs (e.g. CACPT Training Levels 1, 2, and 3), including courses in the following areas:

1) Play Therapy History
2) Play Therapy Theories
3) Play Therapy Techniques and Methods
4) Play Therapy Applications

4. Clinical Practice Hours:

  1. Must complete two (2) years and 2000 direct on-site hours of supervised general clinical experience, not more than 1000 hours of which may be accrued prior to the completion of a Master's or Medical Degree, and
  2. Must have completed at least 500 hours supervised practice specific to child psychotherapy/play therapy. These hours must be completed while under the supervision of a formal CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). These hours can only be accrued after the applicant has graduated with a Master's or Medical Degree.

5. Clinical Supervision:

  1. Must participate in 100 hours of direct clinical supervision specific to the practice of child psychotherapy/play therapy. When engaged in direct clinical practice, one must have accrued a minimum of ten (10) hours of clinical supervision per year if practicing child psychotherapy/play therapy more than five (5) hours per month, or a minimum two (2) hours of supervision per year if practicing child psychotherapy/play therapy between one (1) and four (4) hours per month. Clinical supervision must commence as soon as clinical practice in child psychotherapy/play therapy has begun. This supervision can be a combination of individual (1 or 2 people) and group supervision (3 to a maximum of 10 in a group). This supervision may be conducted by a qualified supervisor approved by CACPT, but does not need to be conducted by a formal supervisor (CPT-S) with CACPT. This supervision may be completed while pursuing the completion of the 2000 hours of general clinical experience. Such supervision can be through live or video observation. Written verification of these hours must be provided by the supervisor or supervisors, and
  2. Must also participate in a minimum of fifty (50) hours of direct clinical supervision specific to the practice of child psychotherapy/play therapy. This supervision must be conducted with a formal CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). A maximum of fifteen (15) hours of group supervision (3 to a maximum of 10 in a group) may be allowed. Any CACPT supervisor (CPT-S) providing ten (10) or more hours of supervision must observe at least one play therapy session during this time frame. This can be through live or video observation. Written verification of these hours is required. These hours can only be accrued after the applicant has graduated with a Master's or Medical Degree.

 6. References:

  1. Must submit two (2) references from supervisors who have witnessed the applicant's clinical practice using child psychotherapy/play therapy. At least one (1) reference must be from a formal CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). In addition to these two letters of reference, all hours of clinical practice and supervision will be verified in writing using Form A.
  2. Must submit two (2) references from colleagues who are familiar with the applicant's clinical practice. At least one (1) reference must relate specifically to the applicant's practice in the area of child psychotherapy/play therapy.

7. Interview and Submission of Video Recordings:

  1. The Certification Committee, or any CPT-S providing more than ten (10) hours of supervision to an applicant, may request the applicant to submit unedited video recordings of her/his therapeutic work (2 therapy sessions), and/or request that the applicant participate in an interview with the Certification Committee in support of her/his certification application.

Certified Play Therapy Associate (CPT-A) Level

1. Membership:

  1. Maintain status as a member-in-good standing with CACPT and comply with the CACPT Code of Ethics.
  2. Maintain status as a certified, licensed, or registered member-in-good standing with an appropriate professional association or governing body.

2. Education:

  1. Must have a minimum of an under-graduate degree or college diploma in a relevant field from an accredited institution, and;
  2. Must have completed CACPT-designated core course work, for a total of ten (10) courses, including a minimum of one (1) course at the college or under-graduate level in each of the following areas:
    1. General Concepts and Principles of Counselling/Interviewing: individual, family, and group counselling
    2. General Concepts and Principles of Child Development: biological, psychological, and social development, developmental psychology
    3. Child & Adolescent Behavioural Disorders/Psychopathology: abnormal child psychology, learning disorders
    4. Theories of Personality: understanding of personality development, models of childhood learning, cognitive development, cognitive psychology
    5. Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues: provincial and national legal practices including family law/child welfare/mental health legislation and the discipline's ethical code and standards of practice

3. Education Specific to Play Therapy:

  1. Must have completed at least 150 hours of graduate level course work specific to the area of child psychotherapy/play therapy (e.g. 4 courses) or the equivalent number of hours with CACPT accredited/approved workshops or training programs (e.g. CACPT Training Levels 1, 2, and 3), including courses in the following areas:

    1) Play Therapy History
    2) Play Therapy Theories
    3) Play Therapy Techniques and Methods
    4) Play Therapy Applications

4. Clinical Practice Hours (Total of 2500 Hours):

  1. Must complete two (2) years, including 2000 direct on-site hours, of supervised general clinical experience, not more than 1000 hours of which may be accrued during the completion of college degree/or under-graduate degree, and;
  2. Must also complete an additional 500 hours supervised practice specific to child psychotherapy/play therapy. These hours must be completed while under the supervision of a formal CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). These hours must be completed after the applicant has completed the CACPT-designated core educational courses and at least one (1) course in play therapy theory.

5. Clinical Supervision:

  1. Must participate in 100 hours of direct clinical supervision specific to the practice of Child Psychotherapy/Play Therapy. When engaged in direct clinical practice, one must have accrued a minimum of ten (10) hours of clinical supervision per year if practicing child psychotherapy/play therapy more than five (5) hours per month, or a minimum two (2) hours of supervision per year if practicing child psychotherapy/play therapy between one (1) and four (4) hours per month. Clinical supervision must begin as soon as clinical practice in child psychotherapy/play therapy has begun. This supervision can be a combination of individual (1 or 2 people) and group supervision (3 to a maximum of 10 in a group). This supervision may be conducted by a qualified supervisor approved by CACPT, and does not need to be conducted by a formal supervisor (CPT-S) with CACPT. This supervision may be completed while pursuing the completion of the 2000 hours of general clinical experience. Any CACPT supervisor (CPT-S) providing ten (10) or more hours of supervision must observe at least one play therapy session during this time frame. This can be through live or video observation. Written verification of these hours must be provided by the supervisor, or supervisors, and;
  2. Must also participate in a minimum of 75 hours of direct clinical supervision specific to the practice of child psychotherapy/play therapy. This supervision must be conducted with a formal CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). A maximum of fifteen (15) hours of group supervision (3 to a maximum of 10 in a group) may be allowed. Written verification of these hours by one or more CPT-S supervisors is required. These hours must be completed after the applicant has completed the CACPT-designated core educational courses and at least one course in play therapy theory.

6. References:

  1. Must submit two (2) references from supervisors who have witnessed the applicant's clinical practice with child psychotherapy/play therapy. At least one reference must be from a formal CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). In addition to these two letters of reference, all hours of clinical practice and supervision will be verified in writing using Form A.
  2. Must submit two (2) references from colleagues who are familiar with the applicant's clinical practice. At least one reference must relate specifically to the applicant's practice in the areas of child psychotherapy/play therapy. 

7. Interview and Submission of Video Recordings:

  1. The Certification Committee, or any CPT-S providing over ten (10) hours of supervision to an applicant, may request the applicant be required to submit unedited video recordings of her/his therapeutic work (2 therapy sessions), and/or request that the applicant participate in an interview with the Certification Committee in support her/his certification application.

8. Scope of Practice:

  1. CPT-A level members must not engage in independent practice unless under the supervision of a certified, licensed, or registered mental health practitioner who is a member-in-good standing with her/his appropriate professional association or governing body.

Certified Play Therapy Supervisor (CPT-S) Level

1. Membership:

  1. Maintain status as a member-in-good standing with CACPT and comply with the CACPT Code of Ethics,
  2. Must have achieved certification as a Child Psychotherapist/Play Therapist (CPT) with CACPT, and
  3. Must maintain status as a certified, licensed, or registered member-in-good standing with an appropriate professional association or governing body.

2. Education:

  1. A minimum of a Master's Degree in an appropriate profession or a Medical Degree from an accredited institution.

3. Clinical Practice Hours:

  1. Must have a minimum of 2 years clinical supervisory experience, and
  2. Must have a minimum of 200 hours of direct clinical supervisory experience.

4. Clinical Supervision:

  1. Must obtain a minimum of ten (10) hours of direct supervision on the clinical supervisory process. This supervision may include a combination of individual (1 or 2 people) or group supervision (3 to a maximum of 10 in a group) and must be conducted by a formal CACPT Supervisor (CPT-S), who must observe at least two (2) supervision sessions specific to child psychotherapy/play therapy. Written verification of these hours must be provided by the supervisor or supervisors, and
  2. Must obtain a minimum of fourteen (14) hours of "supervisor training" provided by a CACPT- approved training program, but does not need to be provided by a CPT-S. The scope of this training can relate to the general practice of providing effective/ethical clinical supervision and does not need to pertain specifically to child psychotherapy/play therapy.

5. References:

  1. Must submit two (2) references from supervisors who have witnessed the applicant's clinical practice with child psychotherapy/play therapy. At least one (1) reference must be from a formal CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). In addition to these two letters of reference, all hours of clinical practice and supervision will be verified in writing using Form A.
  2. Must submit three (3) references from individuals the applicant has supervised in a clinical capacity. At least two (2) of these references must relate specifically to supervision in the area of child psychotherapy/play therapy.

6. Interview and Submission of Video Recordings:

  1. The Certification Committee, or any CPT-S providing over five (5) hours of supervision to an applicant, may request the applicant be required to submit unedited video recordings of her/his therapeutic work (2 therapy sessions), and/or request that the applicant participate in an interview with the Certification Committee in support her/his certification application.

(* revised March 2009)