Become a Member
Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the APTA. There are three steps to completing the process of application:
Decide on a membership level - You will begin by reviewing the information below to decide which level is most suitable for your experience.
Complete the online application form - Once you have decided on a membership, you will click the link to complete the online application form. This form will collect the personal information and proof of certifications required for membership. You will be required to login to your Google account so that we can store your information securely (you can create one for free if you do not already have one). Please have all relevant documentation ready to upload prior to commencing your application. These documents DO NOT need to be certified copies, however certificates, academic transcripts, statutory declarations, and/or signed letters from supervisors will be required.
Pay the membership fees - Once this form is completed, a member of the APTA board will review your application. When your application has been approved you will receive an email inviting you to make payment of the membership fee and finalise your registration.
After your payment has been confirmed by the APTA you will receive your registration certificate and accompanying documentation.
Note: All information collected during this process, including payment details, is encrypted and stored securely. No information will be shared with a third-party.
Membership Levels
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 Board.
Eligibility Requirements
All interested parties are invited to become an Affiliate Member.
Benefits of Membership
Belong to a professional association.
Emails and Newsletters keep you informed of training and developments in Play Therapy.
Networking opportunities with Play Therapists and individuals and organisations with an interest in Play Therapy.
Opportunity to actively participate in APTA and to further contribute to the advancement of the field of Play Therapy in the community.
$135 per year on acceptance of Affiliate Member Application
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 Board.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet minimum requirements relating to:
Mental Health Professional Qualification *For those wishing to progress towards full membership, please review the level of tertiary qualification needed under the Registered Play Therapist category below.
Registration with a Regulation body
Working with Children Check or Police Clearance
Evidence of a contracted Supervisor and their credentials to commence or continue supervision. All Supervision must be undertaken by a RPT or RPT-S with APTA, APPTA, APT, or BAPT, with 5 hours of Play Therapy Supervision required for annual renewal.
Benefits of Membership
Belong to a professional association (ACA, PACFA, AASW, AHPRA, ANZACATA).
Emails and Newsletters to keep you informed of training and developments in Play Therapy.
Networking opportunities with Play Therapists and individuals and organisations with an interest in Play Therapy.
Opportunity to actively participate in APTA and to further contribute to the advancement of the field of Play Therapy in the community.
Voting rights at APTA meetings and eligibility for membership on the APTA Board.
$145 per year on acceptance of Associate Member 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 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:
· Mental Health Qualifications, in line with those relevant to Registered Play Therapist.
· Specific Play Therapy Training
· Play Therapy Clinical Supervision – 50 hours
· Liability Insurance
· Working with Children & National Police Checks in line with country of residence
Benefits of Membership
Voting rights at APTA meetings and eligibility for membership on the APTA committee.
Belong to a professional association.
Emails and Newsletters to keep you informed of training and developments in Play Therapy.
Networking opportunities with Play Therapists and individuals and organisations with an interest in Play Therapy.
Opportunity to actively participate in APTA and to further contribute to the advancement of the field of Play Therapy in the community.
$185 per year on acceptance of Provisional International Professional Member 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.
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.
10 hours Play Therapy specific supervision with a Registered Play Therapist or Registered Play Therapist Supervisor of APTA, APPTA, APT, or BAPT.
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.
• Voting rights at APTA meetings and eligibility for membership on the APTA Board.
• 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.
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:
o Psychology (Post Graduate Degree or Masters level)
o Social Work (Bachelor or Masters level)
o Occupational Therapy (Bachelor or Masters level)
o Mental Health Nursing (Grad Dip, 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 (and not Consultation) with a Certified Synergetic Supervisor will be accepted if evidenced.
9. 22 hours of supervision training in your mental health field plus 6 hours of Play Therapy specific supervision training OR 24 hours of Play Therapy supervision training with an approved provider. All hours of supervision training must be attended face to face or live online. Pre-recorded videos, readings and other self-paced course materials will not be counted towards the total hours. All supervision training must be competency assessed (i.e. QIPT, Psychology and Play Therapy Australia, APT, Deakin University).
Annual Renewal Requirements
• 10 hours of professional development specific to the practice of play therapy and 3 hours of professional development related to play therapy supervision (13 total). 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.
• 10 hours Play Therapy specific supervision and 10 hours of Supervision Specific supervision (20 total) with a Registered Play Therapist or Registered Play Therapist Supervisor of APTA, APPTA, APT, or BAPT.
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.
• 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.