As an APTA Registered Play Therapist you are recognised for the skills, expertise and experience you have as a practicing specialist Play Therapist and Mental Health professional. This demonstrates to employers, professional colleagues, parents, clients and carers that an individual play therapist and mental health professional has achieved the professional standard for practice in play therapy as required by APTA. Applicants must agree to abide by the APTA Best Practices Guidelines and are subject to the Complaints Procedure of their mental health professional association.
Eligibility Requirements
The Australian Play Therapists Association confers the designation of Australian Play Therapists Association Registered Play Therapist (APTA-RPT) to individuals who have provided APTA with documentation that they have:
1. Mental Health qualification:
o Psychology (Post Graduate Degree or Masters level)
o Social Work (Dip SW, Bachelor or Masters level)
o Occupational Therapy (Bachelor or Masters level)
o Mental Health Nursing (Grad Dip RN, Post Grad Dip or Masters level)
o Counselling (Bachelor or Masters level)
o Creative Art Therapy or Art Therapy (Masters level)
2. Registration with a regulation body related to Mental Health qualification: Level 3 ACA, Clinical Member PACFA, AASW, AHPRA, or ANZACATA
3. WWCC (or National Police Certificate, Blue Card Police Check, Teachers Clearance dependent on State requirements)
4. Professional Indemnity Insurance ($10,000,000 min on one claim cover).
5. 150 hours Play Therapy training (with a minimum of 100 hours face to face or live online contact hours, & no more than 50 hours of distance or online non contact learning. See Training page for more information).
6. 750 hours of post tertiary qualification clinical practice hours
7. 300 hours post training Play Therapy specific client hours.
8. 50 hours post training Play Therapy specific supervision (max. 10 hours group supervision may be included). Supervision must be with a Registered Play Therapist or Registered Play Therapist Supervisor of APTA, APPTA, APT, or BAPT. Supervision with a Certified Theraplay Supervisor will be accepted for a maximum of 25 hours for those who study Theraplay. Supervision (and not Consultation) with a Certified Synergetic Supervisor will be accepted if evidenced. From July 1st, 2026, all supervision must be provided by a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Supervision with Registered Play Therapists which takes place after June 30, 2026 will no longer be accepted.
Annual Renewal Requirements
Minimum 10 hours of professional development per membership cycle, specific to the practice of play therapy. This can be face-to-face training, distance or online learning. Clinical Supervision does not constitute Professional Development.
Minimum 50 hours Play Therapy specific client hours (until June 30, 2026). For all renewals from July 1, 2026 onwards, a minimum 100 hours Play Therapy specific client hours will be required.
10 hours Play Therapy specific supervision with a Registered Play Therapist or Registered Play Therapist Supervisor of APTA, APPTA, APT, or BAPT. Group supervision will be accepted for no more than 5 supervision renewal hours, with every 1.5 hours of group supervision accepted as 1 hour of supervision. No more than 4 hours may be conducted in any single session of group supervision. Group supervisor/supervisee ratio 1:6 maximum. From July 1st, 2026, all supervision must be provided by a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Supervision with Registered Play Therapists which takes place after June 30, 2026 will no longer be accepted.
Benefits of Membership
• Advertise as a Registered Play Therapist of the Australian Play Therapists Association.
• Listing on the APTA Register of Play Therapists “Find a Registered Play Therapist” indicating you have met the professional standards, clinical experience and maintain ongoing professional development to work as an APTA Registered Play Therapist.
• Voting rights at APTA meetings and eligibility for membership on the APTA Board.
• Display APTA’s logo on advertising material.
• Advertising up to twice per calendar year without charge.
• $225 per year on acceptance of Registered Play Therapist Application
• Membership fees are set according to the category application. Membership will run for (1) year from the date the application is approved.
As an APTA Registered Play Therapist you are recognised for the skills, expertise and experience you have as a practicing specialist Play Therapist and Mental Health professional. This demonstrates to employers, professional colleagues, parents, clients and carers that an individual play therapist and mental health professional has achieved the professional standard for practice in play therapy as required by APTA. Applicants must agree to abide by the APTA Best Practices Guidelines and are subject to the Complaints Procedure of their mental health professional association.
Eligibility Requirements
The Australian Play Therapists Association confers the designation of Australian Play Therapists Association Registered Play Therapist (APTA-RPT) to individuals who have provided APTA with documentation that they have:
1. Mental Health qualification:
o Psychology (Post Graduate Degree or Masters level)
o Social Work (Dip SW, Bachelor or Masters level)
o Occupational Therapy (Bachelor or Masters level)
o Mental Health Nursing (Grad Dip RN, Post Grad Dip or Masters level)
o Counselling (Bachelor or Masters level)
o Creative Art Therapy or Art Therapy (Masters level)
2. Registration with a regulation body related to Mental Health qualification: Level 3 ACA, Clinical Member PACFA, AASW, AHPRA, or ANZACATA
3. WWCC (or National Police Certificate, Blue Card Police Check, Teachers Clearance dependent on State requirements)
4. Professional Indemnity Insurance ($10,000,000 min on one claim cover).
5. 150 hours Play Therapy training (with a minimum of 100 hours face to face or live online contact hours, & no more than 50 hours of distance or online non contact learning. See Training page for more information).
6. 750 hours of post tertiary qualification clinical practice hours
7. 300 hours post training Play Therapy specific client hours.
8. 50 hours post training Play Therapy specific supervision (max. 10 hours group supervision may be included). Supervision must be with a Registered Play Therapist or Registered Play Therapist Supervisor of APTA, APPTA, APT, or BAPT. Supervision with a Certified Theraplay Supervisor will be accepted for a maximum of 25 hours for those who study Theraplay. Supervision (and not Consultation) with a Certified Synergetic Supervisor will be accepted if evidenced. From July 1st, 2026, all supervision must be provided by a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Supervision with Registered Play Therapists which takes place after June 30, 2026 will no longer be accepted.
Annual Renewal Requirements
Minimum 10 hours of professional development per membership cycle, specific to the practice of play therapy. This can be face-to-face training, distance or online learning. Clinical Supervision does not constitute Professional Development.
Minimum 50 hours Play Therapy specific client hours (until June 30, 2026). For all renewals from July 1, 2026 onwards, a minimum 100 hours Play Therapy specific client hours will be required.
10 hours Play Therapy specific supervision with a Registered Play Therapist or Registered Play Therapist Supervisor of APTA, APPTA, APT, or BAPT. Group supervision will be accepted for no more than 5 supervision renewal hours, with every 1.5 hours of group supervision accepted as 1 hour of supervision. No more than 4 hours may be conducted in any single session of group supervision. Group supervisor/supervisee ratio 1:6 maximum. From July 1st, 2026, all supervision must be provided by a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Supervision with Registered Play Therapists which takes place after June 30, 2026 will no longer be accepted.
Benefits of Membership
• Advertise as a Registered Play Therapist of the Australian Play Therapists Association.
• Listing on the APTA Register of Play Therapists “Find a Registered Play Therapist” indicating you have met the professional standards, clinical experience and maintain ongoing professional development to work as an APTA Registered Play Therapist.
• Voting rights at APTA meetings and eligibility for membership on the APTA Board.
• Display APTA’s logo on advertising material.
• Advertising up to twice per calendar year without charge.
• $225 per year on acceptance of Registered Play Therapist Application
• Membership fees are set according to the category application. Membership will run for (1) year from the date the application is approved.
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