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 updated as of November 17, 2016. (more detailed information on requirements is available by calling the CACPT at 1-519-827-1506.)

Certified Play Therapist (CPT) (Revised April 20, 2017)

1: Membership:

• Maintain status as a member-in-good standing with CACPT and comply with the CACPT Code of Ethics.
• Maintain status as a certified, licensed, or registered member-in-good standing with an appropriate Canadian professional association or governing body.
• CPT, CPT-A, CPT-S members are required to provide proof of liability insurance through a professional insurance provider annually.
• CPT, CPT-A, CPT-S members are required to produce a recent Police Certified Criminal Record or Vulnerable Sector check, which is updated in the event an offence occurs on your record.

2: Education:

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in an appropriate discipline or a Medical Degree from an accredited institution.
• Must have completed CACPT-designated core under-graduate or graduate level course work, including one (1) course in each of the following areas:
  • General Concepts and Principles of Child Development: biological, psychological, and social development
  • Child and Adolescent Behavioural Disorders/Psychopathology: abnormal child psychology
  • Theories of Personality: understanding of personality development
  • 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.
• Must have completed one (1) graduate-level course in General Concepts and Principles of Psychotherapy: individual, family, and group psychotherapy.

3: Foundation Child and Play Therapy Training:

Must have completed at least 180  hours of graduate-level course work specific to the area of child psychotherapy/play therapy from the CACPT Certificate Program, from CACPT Approved Providers, from an institute of higher learning, or from other training programs or workshops, that will include the following areas:

• Theory and Approaches  (60  hour)
• Play Therapy Techniques  (60  hours)
• Play Therapy Special Populations   (60 hours)
  • If all or part of Foundation Training occurred outside of graduate level courses or CACPT accredited/approved training, such as at workshops or other educational experiences, the applicant may challenge some or all of the Foundation Training hours by submitting this request to the Education  Committee
  • The challenge process includes an evaluation of the educational experience with suggestions for the applicant to ensure that these educational experiences are equivalent to those in the approved and accredited CACPT Foundation Training.  Details on this process are located on the Prior Learning Assessment and Exemption (Form C) on the CACPT Certificate Program page on the CACPT website.

4: Clinical Practice Hours (minimum of 2000 clinical practice hours):

• Must complete 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
• 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 may be included within the supervised general clinical practice hours. They can only be accrued after the applicant has graduated with a Master’s or Medical Degree.

5: Clinical Supervision relating to child psychotherapy/play therapy (minimum of 150 supervision hours):

• Must participate in 100 hours of direct clinical supervision specific to the practice of child psychotherapy/play therapy. 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 certified CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). 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 recorded on the Clinical Supervision Tracking Form.
• Must also participate in a minimum of 50 hours of direct clinical supervision specific to the practice of child psychotherapy/play therapy that is conducted by a certified CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). A maximum of fifteen (15) hours of group supervision (3 to a maximum of 10 in a group) is 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 recorded on the Clinical Supervision Tracking Form. These hours can only be accrued after the applicant has graduated with a Master’s or Medical Degree.

6: References:

• 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 must be verified in writing using the Clinical Supervision Tracking Form.
• 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:

• 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).
• The Certification Committee may request that the applicant participate in an interview with the Certification Committee in support of her/his certification application.

8: Requirements once certified

• CPTs are required to obtain 12 hours of continuing education every year in order to maintain certification with CACPT. This continuing education must be related to the theory and practice of child psychotherapy/play therapy.

Certified Play Therapy Associate (CPT-A) (Revised April 20, 2017)

1: Membership:

• Maintain status as a member-in-good standing with CACPT and comply with the CACPT Code of Ethics.
• Maintain status as a certified, licensed, or registered member-in-good standing with an appropriate Canadian professional association or governing body.
• CPT, CPT-A, CPT-S members are required to provide proof of liability insurance through a professional insurance provider annually.
• CPT, CPT-A, CPT-S members are required to produce a recent Police Certified Criminal Record or Vulnerable Sector check, which is updated in the event an offence occurs on your record.

2: Education:

• Must have a minimum of an under-graduate degree or college diploma in a relevant field from an accredited institution, and;
• 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:
  • General Concepts and Principles of Counselling/Interviewing: individual, family, and group counselling
  • General Concepts and Principles of Child Development: biological, psychological, and social development, developmental psychology
  • Child & Adolescent Behavioural Disorders/Psychopathology: abnormal child psychology, learning disorders
  • Theories of Personality: understanding of personality development, models of childhood learning, cognitive development, cognitive psychology
  • 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: Foundation Child and Play Therapy Training:

• Must have completed at least 180  hours of graduate-level course work specific to the area of child psychotherapy/play therapy from the CACPT Certificate Program, from CACPT Approved Providers, from an institute of higher learning, or from other training programs or workshops, that will include the following areas:
  • Theory and Approaches  (60  hour)
  • Play Therapy Techniques  (60  hours)
  • Play Therapy Special Populations   (60 hours)
    • If all or part of Foundation Training occurred outside of graduate level courses or CACPT accredited/approved training, such as at workshops or other educational experiences, the applicant may challenge some or all of the Foundation Training hours by submitting this request to the Education  Committee.
  • • The challenge process includes an evaluation of the educational experience with suggestions for the applicant to ensure that these educational experiences are equivalent to those in the approved and accredited CACPT Foundation Training.  Details on this process are located on the Prior Learning Assessment and Exemption (Form C) on the CACPT Certificate Program page on the CACPT website.

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

• Must complete 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;
• 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 certified 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:

• Must participate in 100 hours of direct clinical supervision specific to the practice of Child Psychotherapy/Play Therapy. 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 certified CACPT supervisor (CPT-S). 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 using the Clinical Supervision Tracking form.
• 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 certified 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 using the Clinical Supervision Tracking Form. 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:

• 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 the Clinical Supervision Tracking Form.
• 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:

• 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:

• 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.

9: Requirements once certified

• CPTAs are required maintain CACPT membership in good standing and to obtain 12 hours of continuing education ever year. This continuing education must be in the theory and practice of child/play therapy.

Certified Play Therapist Supervisor (CPT-S) (Revised April 20, 2017)

1: Membership:

• Maintain status as a member-in-good standing with CACPT and comply with the CACPT Code of Ethics,
• Must have achieved certification as a Certified Play Therapist (CPT) with CACPT, and
• Must maintain status as a certified, licensed, or registered member-in-good standing with an appropriate professional association or governing body.
• CPT, CPT-A, CPT-S members are required to provide proof of liability insurance through a professional insurance provider annually.
• CPT, CPT-A, CPT-S members are required to produce a recent Police Certified Criminal Record or Vulnerable Sector check, which is updated in the event an offence occurs on your record.

2: Education:

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

3: Clinical Practice Hours:

• Must have a minimum of 2 years clinical supervisory experience, and

•  Must have a minimum of 200 hours of direct clinical supervisory experience.

4: Clinical Supervision:

• 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

•  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:

• 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 the Supervision Tracking Form.
• 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:

• 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.

7: Requirements once certified 1. Certified Play Therapist Supervisors are required to obtain 12 hours of continuing education every year. This continuing education must be in the theory and practice of child/play therapy. 2. Certified Play Therapist Supervisors are required to participate in six hours of Supervision specific Continuing Education training every three years in order to maintain their CPT-S status. This supervisor training does not need to be limited to Play Therapy Specific Supervisor Training.