Related to the Certification Process

What does it mean to be a Certified Child Psychotherapist and Play Therapist (CPT) or Certified Play Therapy Associate (CPT-A) with CACPT?
A designation as a Certified Play Therapist (CPT) or Certified Play Therapy Associate (CPT-A) indicates to the public and the professional community that you have participated in extensive specialized training and are committed to upholding the highest standards in play therapy. This designation also indicates that you are committed to upholding the ethical standards and continuing education requirements of the Canadian national association representing play therapy. This credential is recognized nationally and internationally as being bestowed on those with the highest level of skill and knowledge in the areas of child psychotherapy and play therapy.

What are the benefits to becoming certified?
As a Certified Play Therapist or Certified Play Therapy Associate you are entitled to advertise yourself with the credentials CPT and CPT-A, respectively. These credentials provide the public with the ability to gage your level of training and expertise, and thereby to make an informed decision when accessing treatment providers. Individuals who have achieved Certification can also have clients referred to them by the Association.

What is the difference between being a CPT and a CPT-A?
A CPT (Certified Play Therapist) has a Master's degree or Medical degree in an appropriate profession from an accredited university. A CPT-A (Certified Play Therapy Associate) has a post-secondary degree or a diploma in a relevant field. A CPT can become a CACPT supervisor (CPT-S), whereas a CPT-A is restricted from this credential. For additional differences between these categories please refer to the training requirements.

How do I know what Certification requirements I need to complete?
Generally people begin by reviewing the Certification standards and comparing these with the experience, training, and education accomplished to date. Given CACPT's approval, you are then able to become a Member of the Association. This entitles you to send a completed Application for Certification to the Certification Committee. This Committee will conduct a formal CACPT file review and provide you with specific information about what Certification requirements you have completed and which you still need to pursue. To accurately assess your information you must complete a full application.

How do I apply for certification?
Certification applications are available by contacting CACPT at

(519) 827-1506
or
www.CACPT.com

Where do I send my file review or Certification application?
These materials are forwarded directly to the head office of CACPT at the address below. Please ensure that you do not send incomplete or partially-completed materials, as this can often result in lengthy delays. Also, please be sure that you send the application as one package. Please keep a copy of all of your materials for your records. It is strongly advised that you mail your material by Registered mail, so that your package can be traced.

Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy
Attention: Certification Chair
24 Hayes Avenue
Guelph, Ontario, N1E 5V5

Do I really need my transcripts and course outlines included in my file review or Certification application?
Original transcripts are required, reflecting all of your course work that you seek to count towards Certification. Course outlines are needed in circumstances where the content of the course is not readily apparent from the title of the course as listed on the transcript. It is always best to include these course outlines where possible. Even if you have previously applied for training programs with CACPT, you are still asked to submit all materials in a similar manner as if you had applied to multiple programs at a college or university. Several different Committee members review these materials and, in order to expedite processing, require fully-completed packages to be submitted. Official transcripts should be sent directly to you, and then you would submit these as a component of the complete application package. Please do not have institutions send transcripts directly to CACPT.

Is there a cost for a file review?
For members who are applying to the CACPT Play Therapy Certificate Program Level One, the first file review is included in your application for admittance into the program. All other reviews are charged a processing fee. The final review of the file for Certification is included in the Certification fee. (Fee structure can be provided upon request from CACPT Head Office.)

What does a file review tell me?
Most applicants utilize this process to determine if they have met all of the academic requirements for Certification. As applicants are required to keep track of their own supervision hours and records of client contacts, this information should be available without a file review. Issues related to employment and supervision are also addressed during the file review process.

If I complete the CACPT training program, does that mean that I am a Certified Play Therapist?
No. The CACPT Play Therapy Certificate Training Program offers you a convenient and comprehensive learning opportunity to complete your educational requirements related to child psychotherapy/play therapy, as well as providing you the forum to obtain several clinical supervision hours. Certification is a separate process that involves completing a specified number of direct clinical practice and clinical supervision hours. Many participants who become Certified begin the process by completing the CACPT Play Therapy Certificate Training Program.

I did not take any child psychotherapy or play therapy courses in my post-secondary, Master's or Medical training. What can I do?
You have the option of finding suitable courses at the college or university level, or you can attend CACPT-approved workshops. Many members elect to attend the CACPT Play Therapy Certificate Training Program, as this is a comprehensive and highly credible means of rapidly achieving your educational requirements for Certification.

I was accepted into the CACPT Play Therapy Certificate Program, but I still do not have some of the courses required for Certification. Do I need to obtain these courses to become Certified, even if I have gone through all three levels of the CACPT Play Therapy Certificate Program?
Yes. All educational requirements must be met before becoming certified. This includes having the appropriate courses as stipulated by the CACPT standards. It is your responsibility to ensure that you complete the necessary training and that you maintain accurate records that reflect these achievements. To prevent any unanticipated barriers in your pursuit of Certification, it is in your best interest to have a file review conducted to assure yourself of which educational components have been met and which may still be outstanding.

Please clarify how many direct clinical hours do I require to become a CPT?
To become certified you must accumulate 2000 hours of clinical work. 500 of that 2000 hours, must be completed while receiving supervision from a CPT-S and 1500 can be provided by direct supervised general clinical practice. Not more than 1000 of that 2000 hours may be accrued prior to the completion of a Master's or Medical Degree or Post Master's Degree.

Please clarify how many direct clinical hours do I require to become a CPT-A?
To become certified you must accumulate 2500 hours of clinical work. Not more than 1000 of that 2500 hours may be accrued during the completion of a college diploma or under-graduate university degree. 500 of that 2500 hours, must be completed while receiving supervision from a CPT-S. These 500 hours must be completed AFTER the applicant has completed the CACPT- designated core educational courses AND at least one course in play therapy theory.

Please clarify the hours of supervision for me. How many hours of supervision do I need and what is the difference between group and individual supervision hours?

To become a CPT: Clinical Supervision must begin as soon as you have begun practicing Child Psychotherapy Play Therapy. To become a CPT, you are required to achieve 100 hours of supervision specific to the practice of child psychotherapy/play therapy by a supervisor approved by CACPT. This supervision may be conducted by a qualified supervisor approved by CACPT, but does not need to be a formal CPT-S. This supervision may be completed while pursuing the completion of the 2000 hours of general clinical practice. In other words, this person is qualified to clinically supervise you with your clinical work and does not have to be formally Certified as a Child Psychotherapist Play Therapist Supervisor (CPT-S) but DOES need to be approved (thru a simple application form) by CACPT to provide this supervision to you.

IN ADDITION: You are required to get a minimum of 50 hours of direct clinical supervision by a CPT-S specific to your work in Child Psychotherapy Play Therapy. A maximum of 15 hours of group supervision can be counted in these 50 hours, wherein a "group" is defined as 3 to 10 individuals. All of your supervision hours can be individual without any group supervision if you so choose.

Therefore you are required to accumulate 150 supervised hours in total to become a CPT.

To become a CPT-A: Clinical Supervision must begin as soon as you have begun practicing Child Psychotherapy Play Therapy. To become a CPT-A, you are required to obtain 100 hours of supervision specific to the practice of child psychotherapy/play therapy by a supervisor approved by CACPT but does not need to be a formal Certified CACPT Supervisor (CPT-S).

IN ADDITION: You must achieve a further 75 hours of supervision specific to the practice of child psychotherapy/play therapy by a credentialed CACPT Supervisor (CPT-S). A maximum of 15 hours of group supervision can be counted in these 75 hours, wherein a "group" is defined as 3 to 10 individuals. All of your supervision hours can be individual without any group supervision if you so choose.

Therefore you are required to accumulate 175 supervised hours in total to become a CPT-A.

Are supervisors from allied associations and organizations recognized by CACPT or are they required to apply to become a CPT-S through the application process (for example, a supervisor recognized by the Association for Play Therapy, Play Therapy International, the College of Psychologists, the College of Social Workers, or Theraplay)?
They are required to become a CPT-S through the application process. They are therefore not recognized unless they officially have the credentials CPT-S designated by CACPT. This allows CACPT to maintain a valid mechanism for ensuring that our standards/requirements are being maintained.

I can't find a supervisor. What can I do?
Establish contact with CACPT's head office (see previous contact information above) to obtain a list of Supervisors available. If there are no CACPT-Certified supervisors residing in your area, several CACPT-Certified Supervisors do provide supervision by long distance (telephone, email, dvd).

I am currently not working in a setting that allows me to practice play therapy. How can I obtain play therapy experience?
Some CACPT-Certified Supervisors offer play therapy internships. Contact these supervisors directly to obtain more information. You can obtain a list of CACPT Certified Supervisors by contacting CACPT's head office.

Are the hours of direct clinical practice related to my time "on location" at my work, volunteer, or practicum setting, or do you count direct hours as time spent engaged with the client face-to-face?
Direct hours are those where you are engaged in the direct provision of face to face therapeutic services. The following do not count as direct clinical practice hours: team meetings, case conferences, report writing, note writing, preparation for sessions, or consultation with collaterals.

How do I keep track of my direct clinical practice hours and supervision hours?
It is your responsibility to keep track of your direct client contacts. This can easily be done by keeping a spread sheet of the date of contact and the hours. There is also a CACPT supervision form that has a section wherein the supervisor "signs off" on your achieved hours. It is wise to have your supervisor sign off in this manner to avoid discrepancies at a later point when you apply for Certification. At the time of applying for Certification, you are required to have your CACPT supervisor (CPT-S) complete a formal "supervisor's reference", wherein she or he provides insight into your skills and knowledge, and also signs off on the total number of supervision hours you have achieved together.

The requirements state that I must have two references from supervisors. Can I not do all of my hours with one supervisor?
You are required to have two references from supervisors who have provided you with supervision pertaining to child psychotherapy/play therapy. All of your required supervision hours for Certification must be completed by either a CACPT supervisor (CPT-S) or one who has been approved by CACPT. All of your required CPT-S hours (50 for CPT level applicants and 75 for CPT-A applicants) must be "signed off" by a CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). You are able to complete the entire amount of your supervision hours with one CACPT supervisor (CPT-S), who can "sign off" on this requirement. In this case, however, you would also need to submit a second reference from any person in a supervisory capacity for you (CACPT-approved or any other affiliation suitable to your scope of practice) who can speak to your practice as a child psychotherapist/play therapist. You are encouraged to engage more than one supervisor on your journey toward Certification in order to experience a broader perspective and thereby allowing for richer skill development.

Does child psychotherapy/play therapy need to be in a specific modality, such as individual, or a specific treatment model, such as child-centred?
Play therapy is an experiential modality that is often provided in many modalities, including individual, family, or group practices. There are also multiple recognized methods and models of treatment, as well as countless more techniques. To practice ethically you should engage in those models, modalities, and techniques for which you are trained and which fit within your scope of practice, or for which you are receiving appropriate supervision.

When I send in my final application for Certification, where does it go?
When you have gathered all of the necessary documentation and records asked for in the application, it is forwarded as one complete package to CACPT at the address provided above. Your application is then reviewed in confidence by members of the Certification Committee. Following this review, the Certification Chair will forward you a report of the Committee's findings. If all items are complete, and you are granted Certification status, you will receive a Certification number and a formal Certificate.

If I become a Certified Associate, can I engage in private practice?
CPT-A individuals must not engage in private practice unless under the supervision of a certified, licensed, and/or registered mental health practitioner who is a member in good standing with her/his appropriate professional association or governing body.

Do my records from the CACPT Play Therapy Certificate Program get forwarded to the Certification Committee?
It is the applicant's responsibility to keep track of materials indicating successful achievement of CACPT-training programs and to forward these materials to CACPT when applying for Certification.

I am a supervisor in my place of employment and I am a Certified Associate (CPT-A). Can I provide supervision recognized by CACPT?
CPT-A level individuals (Certified Associates) are not approved to provide supervision.

I am returning to school for my Master's or Medical degree. Can I move from the Certified Associate (CPT-A) to Certified Child Psychotherapist/Play Therapist (CPT) level?
Following the completion of all additional CACPT requirements for the CPT level, you are entitled to submit a new application in order to have your credentials reviewed and your Certification level altered to reflect your advanced training.

Once Certified, are there additional Certification requirements?
Once you are a CPT, you are obligated to achieve 36 hours of continuing education credits every three years in the theory and practice of play therapy. CPT-A level individuals are obligated to complete 48 hours of continuing education for the first three years after Certification and then 36 hours every three years thereafter.

What is the average length of time to fulfill the Certification requirements?
CPT and CPT-A members progress through their training and supervision processes at their own pace. There is no set time period to complete the requirements.

I am presently Certified as a CPT-A. I have been engaged in private practice since receiving my Certification. The new standards indicate that I cannot do so without direct supervision. What am I to do now?
As you were Certified before these new standards were put in place in April 2009, you may continue to practice in the manner which you have been doing. However, you are strongly encouraged, to engage in supervision as a way of ensuring you continue to meet the highest standards of clinical practice.

I am presently working toward Certification at the CPT-A level in order to be able to pursue private practice in child psychotherapy/play therapy. The new standards stipulate that I cannot engage in private practice at this level of Certification. Now what?
As of April 2009, in order to engage in private practice at the CPT-A level, you must complete all of your CPT-A requirements and then arrange for supervision following your Certification as stipulated in the new standards. You have the choice of whether or not to complete your Certification process under the old standards or change to the new standards, up until January 1, 2011, after which all applicants in process must adhere to the new standards. However, with regard to private practice, all applicants at the CPT-A level, regardless of when they began the Certification process, must secure supervision in order to enter private practice.

I am presently taking the CACPT Play Therapy Certificate Program and intend to pursue Certification. Since I have begun my education toward this, do I follow the previous standards or the new ones to become Certified?
Anyone who was admitted into Level One of the Play Therapy Certificate Program prior to Jan 2009 or (who has submitted their formal Application Package for Certification to the Certification Committee prior to April 2009), has the option of pursuing Certification under the previous standards or adopting the new standards, until January 1, 2011. Thereafter, only the new standards will apply.

I am presently in the process of accumulating my hours to meet all of the requirements for full Certification at the CPT or CPT-A level. Do I need to complete the process using the old standards, switch to the new standards, or use a combination?
Anyone who was admitted into Level One of the Play Therapy Certificate Program prior to Jan 2009 or (who has submitted their formal Application Package for Certification to the Certification Committee prior to April 2009), after which all applicants in process must adhere to the new standards. You cannot combine parts from each set of standards, and once you have made your choice between staying with the standards you began with or switching to the new, you must abide by your decision. If you choose to change to the new standards, you must contact CACPT in writing in order for your file to reflect this decision.

I have earned more than the required 50 hours of mandatory supervision required at the CPT level. Can I apply these extra hours toward becoming a CPT-S?
No. The type of supervision you have received has been for your Child Psychotherapy Play Therapy clinical skills. The type of supervision you need to become a Certified CPT Supervisor (CPT-S) is geared towards your supervisory skills (how you provide feedback and supervision to others in regards to their play therapy skills).

What constitutes "direct play therapy practice"? *
"Direct play therapy practice" refers to any activity involving the use of any play therapy models or techniques face-to-face with child and adolescent clients and family members. Working with caregivers regarding behaviour management, filial therapy, and many forms of group therapy qualify as "direct play therapy practice" using this definition. However, group therapy as well as solely working with parents (without the child present) in the above mentioned ways cannot be counted for 100% of the Total amount of hours required. 75% of your clinical hours must be involve face to face with child / adolescent clients (whose parents may be present during this time) in order to meet the requirements for certification.

I allowed my membership in CACPT to lapse and wish to reinstate it. I was Certified at the CPT or CPT-A level but did not keep up my membership dues. What must I do to return to being a member-in-good standing and have I lost my CPT or CPT-A designation as a result of this situation?
In order to maintain your Certification, the CACPT standards state that you must be a member-in-good standing. Given that you allowed your membership to lapse, you must reapply to the Certification Committee to have your CPT status reinstated. They will inform you of any requirements you must complete in order to have your CPT status restored.

I have not completed all of the requirements to become fully certified yet and have not kept up my membership dues. I am currently involved in practicing Child Psychotherapy Play Therapy and /or have begun the process of training through the Play Therapy Certificate Program but have not completed my hours or my training levels yet. Am I required to keep my membership dues current?
Yes, as a Child Psychotherapy Play Therapy Student, admitted into the program, it is mandatory that you remain a member-in-good standing by keeping your association membership dues current. Even after you complete the three levels of training and when you begin working on accumulating your Play Therapy hours, you must remain a current up-to-date member in order to be considered a member-in-good- standing.

The new standards require that I be a member-in-good standing with my professional association or governing body. What do I need to provide in order to prove this?
A copy of your professional licence, certificate of professional certification, or registration with your professional association should be submitted with your application for Certification. This proof will be requested on a yearly basis upon renewal of yearly CACPT membership.