Play Therapy Certificate
Upcoming Program
The Play Therapy Certificate is still awaiting formal approval. Check back later for information regarding start dates.
At a Glance
Tuition Cost for Entire Program*
$5,418
Credentials
The NWCPTS is an Association for Play Therapy Approved Center
Format
In-person at the Portland Center or online synchronous, though most courses must be completed in person
* All stated financial information is subject to change.
The Northwest Center for Play Therapy Studies’ Certificate in Play Therapy is designed to provide experientially based graduate-level education in play therapy, both for enrolled graduate students and mental health professionals in the community. Seven hours of specific graduate play therapy courses are required for completion of the certificate.
About the NWCPTS
The Northwest Center for Play Therapy Studies was founded in 2003 by its director, Daniel Sweeney, PhD, and is the oldest and largest university-based center focused on the study and promotion of play therapy in the northwest United States. The NWCPTS is an Association for Play Therapy (APT) Approved Center.
Earn Your Play Therapy Credential
Upon completion of the certificate, you will meet most, if not all, of the play therapy instruction requirements of the Association for Play Therapy (APT) to receive the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential with the APT. There are specific educational and supervised requirements for this credential, which may change regularly. While you are a student in the play therapy certificate program, we will stay informed of all potential certificate updates as required by APT, and offer coursework in response.
Courses and Credit
Play therapy certificate courses must be taken for credit and not audited. In terms of meeting the instructional requirement for the RPT credential, play therapy courses taken for credit are granted increased play therapy instruction time.
Each graduate course semester credit equals 22.5 hours of play therapy instruction. The seven required credit hours for the Certificate in Play Therapy amount to 157.5 APT play therapy instruction hours.
Per the Association for Play Therapy, RPT applicants are required to complete 150 hours of play therapy-specific instruction in five primary areas during the simultaneous or sequential completion of both play therapy experience and supervision.
Note: For students completing the play therapy certificate, all certificate courses other than GCEP 580 can triple-count toward degree elective requirements, the play therapy certificate, and the Trauma Response Institute’s post-graduate certificate (Block B electives).
Eligibility
George Fox Students
Graduate students in George Fox’s Graduate School of Counseling (GSC) are automatically eligible for enrollment in the play therapy certificate program, as long as prerequisite coursework has been completed.
Since both clinical mental health counseling and marriage, family and counseling students are already required to complete the three-credit GCEP 580 Play Therapy: Lifespan Applications course, they are nearly halfway through the required courses for the Certificate in Play Therapy.
George Fox graduate students in other mental health programs (PsyD and MSW) are also eligible to enroll in play therapy certificate courses, as long as prerequisites have been met.
Non-George Fox Students
Non-GSC students are welcome to apply and participate in the certificate program, as long as they are current or post-degree mental health students or graduates. Simply complete a Special Student Application to apply for entrance into the play therapy certificate program.
Enrollment
Once accepted into the play therapy certificate program, you will meet with an academic advisor to identify your desired timeline for completion within the allotted time frame.
The foundational course, GCEP 580: Play Therapy: Lifespan Applications, can be taken in an in-person synchronous format or a digital synchronous format. Currently, the majority of the certificate program is only available in an in-person synchronous format.
Certificate students have four years to complete the certificate courses and are automatically unenrolled as certificate-seeking students if they do not take at least one play therapy course per year. Also, students may take as many play therapy courses as they wish without applying to earn the certificate.
Our Mission
The mission of the NW Center for Play Therapy Studies is to promote the healthy development and welfare of children and families through the process of play and filial therapy.
In support of the relational, psychological and spiritual wholeness of children and families, the center seeks to fulfill this objective through the provision of play therapy, training, supervision, and learning resources for students and mental health professionals in the community.
Questions?
Kelly Peterson
Admissions Counselor, Graduate Counseling Programs