Become a Member

APTA welcomes the participation and support of all people interested in play therapy as an Affiliate member. Affiliate members may include students, allied health and non-mental health professionals, teachers, parents and individuals with an interest in Play Therapy.

Affiliate membership is a category of membership for those who have an interest in play therapy and want affiliation with APTA but who do not meet the requirements for a Registered Play Therapist or Associate Member. The combined participation of all of our members strengthens the continued development and professional recognition of play therapy.

Affiliate members may not use any APTA post nominals or logo to advertise. Members of this category are exempt from APTA voting rights and are not eligible to be on the APTA committee.

Eligibility Requirements

All interested parties are invited to become an Affiliate Member.

Benefits of Membership

1. Belong to a professional association.

2. Emails and Newsletters keep you informed of training and developments in Play Therapy.

3. Networking opportunities with Play Therapists and individuals and organisations with an interest in Play Therapy.

4. Opportunity to actively participate in APTA and to further contribute to the advancement of the field of Play Therapy in the community.

5. $135 per year on acceptance of Affiliate Member Application

6. Membership fees are set according to the category application. Membership will run for (1) year from the date the application is approved.

APTA welcomes the participation and support of mental health professionals with an interest in Play Therapy to join as an Associate member. Associate membership is for members who have qualifications that do not meet the Play Therapy specific criteria for the Registered Play Therapist Category.

Associate members may be working towards Clinical Membership. The combined participation of all of our members strengthens the continued development and professional recognition of play therapy.

Associate members may not use any APTA post nominals or logo to advertise. Members of this category have APTA voting rights and are eligible to be on the APTA committee.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet minimum requirements relating to:

• Mental Health Professional Qualification

• Registration with Regulation Agency

• Working with children check or police Clearance

• Evidence of Supervisors governing body – RENEWAL – 5hrs Play Therapy Supervision. All Supervision must be undertaken by a RPT or RPT-S.

Full details are available for download.

Benefits of Membership

1. Belong to a professional association (ACA, PACFA, AASW, AHPRA, ACATA, ANZATA.

2. Emails and Newsletters to keep you informed of training and developments in Play Therapy.

3. Networking opportunities with Play Therapists and individuals and organisations with an interest in Play Therapy.

4. Opportunity to actively participate in APTA and to further contribute to the advancement of the field of Play Therapy in the community.

5. Voting rights at APTA meetings and eligibility for membership on the APTA committee

6. $145 per year on acceptance of Associate Member Application

7. 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 International Professional Member you are recognised for the training skills you have specific to Play Therapy as a qualified Mental Health professional. You are also demonstrating to employers, professional colleagues, parents, clients and carers that you abide by the professional standards and Best Practice Guidelines in play therapy required by APTA.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet minimum requirements relating to:

• Professional Qualifications

• Ethics

• Play Therapy Clinical Supervision

• Liability Insurance

• Working with Children & National Police Checks

Full details are available for download.

Benefits of Membership

1. Voting rights at APTA meetings and eligibility for membership on the APTA committee.

2. Belong to a professional association.

3. Emails and Newsletters to keep you informed of training and developments in Play Therapy.

4. Networking opportunities with Play Therapists and individuals and organisations with an interest in Play Therapy.

5. Opportunity to actively participate in APTA and to further contribute to the advancement of the field of Play Therapy in the community.

6. $185 per year on acceptance of Provisional International Professional Member Application.

7. 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.

2. Registration with a regulation body related to Mental Health qualification Level 3 ACA, Clinical Member PACFA, AASW, AHPRA, ACATA, ANZATA.

3. WWCC or National Police Certificate.

4. Professional Indemnity Insurance.

5. 150 hours Play Therapy training (100 hours live contact hours, & 50 hours non contact). RENEWAL 1ORS PD. An Australian Play Therapists Association Registered Play Therapist, must accrue a minimum of 10 hours of professional development per membership cycle, specific to the practice of play therapy, to maintain RPT - Membership.  This can be in face-to-face training, distance or online learning.  Clinical Supervision does not constitute Professional Development. Verification of these hours must be provided either via a certificate or a statutory declaration. Evidence of attendance at PD may be requested by the APTA committee for approval of membership.

6. 300 hours post training Play Therapy specific client hours. RENEWAL 50 Hours

7. 50 hours post training Play Therapy specific supervision (max. 10 hours group supervision may be included). Your Supervisor must be– RPT or RPT-S

The designation as an APTA-RPT does not certify, imply, or affirm the knowledge or competency of such individual but only confirms that the education and training requirements identified herein have been satisfied.

150 hours of Play Therapy training with a minimum of 100 hours face to face training and no more than 50 hours of distance or online learning

• The 150 hours of Play Therapy training accepted by APTA for Clinical Membership must be Play Therapy specific and focused on Play Therapy as a form of counselling or psychotherapy for children.

• APTA only accepts Play Therapy specific training for clinical member training hours

e.g. A workshop on Trauma and Attachment linked with Play Therapy practice is accepted by APTA whereas a Trauma and Attachment workshop that is general and not relating specifically to Play Therapy is not accepted by APTA for the Play Therapy training hours required for Clinical Membership.

Play Therapy approaches that are accepted by APTA and where the Play Therapy training is focused on specializing in working with children include:

1. • Child Centered Play Therapy(this may include some hours related to Filial Therapy note, total hours cannot relate to Filial Therapy exclusive

2. Narrative Play Therapy

3.  Relationship Play Therapy

4. Psychoanalytic Play Therapy

5.  Psychodynamic Play Therapy

6.  Object Relations Play Therapy

7.  Jungian Play Therapy

8.  Experiential Play Therapy

9. Gestalt Play Therapy

10.  Structured Play Therapy

11.  Adlerian Play Therapy

12. Sand Play Therapy

13. Synergetic Play Therapy

14. • Other – other Play Therapy modalities will be considered where the Play Therapy modality is a form of counselling or psychotherapy for children such as Theraplay. 

All applicants for APTA Registered Play Therapist must demonstrate completion of approved Play Therapy specific training in the following areas and meet the following criteria:

1. Social - emotional developmental stages of children linked with play therapy

2.  Ethical issues in working with children in play therapy

3. Theoretical model/s of play therapy and the application of 1 or more systematic model/s to the practise of play therapy

4.  Play therapy skills based training

5. The therapeutic relationship including issues of transference and countertransference in the play therapy relationship

6.  Attachment theories linked with play therapy

7.  Play therapy case conceptualisation and assessment

8. History of Play Therapy

Benefits of Membership

• Advertise their membership status with the post nominals Australian Play Therapists Association Registered Play Therapist (APTA-RPT).

• Advertise as a Registered Play Therapist of the Australian Play Therapists Association.

• Listing on the APTA Register of Play Therapists “Where to 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.

• Advertising of your professional details on the APTA “Where to find a Registered Play Therapist” webpage.

• Voting rights at APTA meetings and eligibility for membership on the APTA committee.

• Display APTA’s logo on advertising material.

• $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 and Supervisor you are recognised as having an advanced level of expertise, as evidenced by ongoing practice and continued education, in the field of play therapy. As with one’s primary license, it is important to recognize experience informs supervisory practice and that advanced clinical skills are needed before one may supervise others under the RPT-S designation. This also 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.

Note: This membership also infers all of the recognition, benefits, and eligibility requirements of a Registered Play Therapist.

To be accepted by APTA, the applicant must complete Play Therapy training that meets the following requirements:

150 hours of Play Therapy training with a minimum of 100 hours face to face training and no more than 50 hours of distance or online learning

• The 150 hours of Play Therapy training accepted by APTA for Clinical Membership must be Play Therapy specific and focused on Play Therapy as a form of counselling or psychotherapy for children.

• APTA only accepts Play Therapy specific training for clinical member training hours

e.g. A workshop on Trauma and Attachment linked with Play Therapy practice is accepted by APTA whereas a Trauma and Attachment workshop that is general and not relating specifically to Play Therapy is not accepted by APTA for the Play Therapy training hours required for Clinical Membership.

Play Therapy approaches that are accepted by APTA and where the Play Therapy training is focused on specializing in working with children include:

• Child Centered Play Therapy(this may include some hours related to Filial Therapy note, total hours cannot relate to Filial Therapy exclusive

• Narrative Play Therapy

•  Relationship Play Therapy

• Psychoanalytic Play Therapy

•  Psychodynamic Play Therapy

•  Object Relations Play Therapy

•  Jungian Play Therapy

•  Experiential Play Therapy

• Gestalt Play Therapy

•  Structured Play Therapy

•  Adlerian Play Therapy

• Sand Play Therapy

• Synergetic Play Therapy

• • Other – other Play Therapy modalities will be considered where the Play Therapy modality is a form of counselling or psychotherapy for children such as Theraplay. 

All applicants for APTA Registered Play Therapist must demonstrate completion of approved Play Therapy specific training in the following areas and meet the following criteria:

• Social - emotional developmental stages of children linked with play therapy

•  Ethical issues in working with children in play therapy

• Theoretical model/s of play therapy and the application of 1 or more systematic model/s to the practise of play therapy

•  Play Therapy skills based training

• The therapeutic relationship including issues of transference and countertransference in the play therapy relationship

•  Attachment theories linked with play therapy

•  Play therapy case conceptualisation and assessment

• History of Play Therapy

Eligibility Requirements

The Australian Play Therapists Association confers the designation of Australian Play Therapists Association Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (APTA-RPT-S) to individuals who have provided APTA with documentation that they have:

1. Mental Health qualification.

2. Registration with a regulation body related to Mental Health qualification. Level 3 ACA, Clinical Member with PACFA, AASW, AHPRA, ANZATA, ACATA.

3. WWCC or National Police Certificate.

4. Professional Indemnity Insurance.

5. 150 hours Play Therapy training. 100 hours live contact, 50 hours non contact. RENEWAL 10 hours PD

6. 300 hours post training Play Therapy specific client hours. RENEWAL 50 hours

7. 50 hours post training Play Therapy specific supervision (max. 10 hours group supervision may be included) Your Supervisor must be– RPT or RPT-S (min)

8. 22hrs training in field with 6hrs PT or 24 hrs PT supervision training)

9. RENEWAL for Registered Play Therapist Supervisor– 10hrs OF SUPERVISION OF YOUR SUPERVISEES, & 10hrs of Play Therapy supervision.

   3HRS PD related to PT supervision, 10HRS PD related to Play Therapy

*Supervision training can be delivered online but must be synchronous. Pre-recorded videos, readings and other self-paced course materials will not be counted towards the total hours.

The designation as an APTA-RPT-S does not certify, imply, or affirm the knowledge or competency of such individual but only confirms that the education and training requirements identified herein have been satisfied.

Benefits of Membership

• Advertise their membership status with the post nominals Australian Play Therapists Association Registered Play Therapist (APTA-RPT-S).

• Advertise as a RPT-S of the Australian Play Therapists Association.

• Listing on the APTA Register of Play Therapists “Where to 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.

• Advertising of your professional details on the APTA “Where to find a Registered Play Therapist” webpage.

• Voting rights at APTA meetings and eligibility for membership on the APTA committee.

• Display APTA’s logo on advertising material.

• $245 per year on acceptance of the RPT-S Application

• Membership fees are set according to the category application. Membership will run for (1) year from the date the application is approved.