Skip to main content

Accredited Courses - Training Resources

About the Training Courses Section

The PTI Accredited therapeutic play and play therapy course programme is unique. It is the only one that is offered internationally that is:

  • Comprehensive – covering the main therapeutic play approaches – the “Play Therapy Tool-KitTM”, offering progression from trainee to practitioner to Certified Play Therapist, to Clinical Supervisor, to a Trainer of Play Therapy (PTI Professor) and with the option of a Masters (MA) in Practice Based Play Therapy.
  • Competency based – on the rigorous PTI International Standards, including the competencies required for each level of practice
  • Cohesive – rather than attend a number of different, disjointed training days, which have a narrow specialist focus you will benefit seeing how the different approaches may be used in an integrated way
  • Consistent – wherever you undertake the courses you may be assured that the content and learning methods are the same. If you decide, for example to continue to the Diploma course and wish undertake this next stage of training in another country or venue you will be joining others who have had the same prior training. Employers in any country can be assured that candidates who have received PTI accredited training will have had the same learning opportunities.
  • Fully evaluated – all PTI stage2, 3 and 4 courses are evaluated at the four levels required by the international standards. This includes the standard measurement of students’ clinical work.

Courses listed in this section have all been accredited by PTI. They have been designed by the Academy of Play and Child Therapy (APAC), a sister organisation of PTUK and in close collaboration. PTI is responsible for the quality of the practice/clinical work. The courses are run in a number of centres in a collaborative partnership with Leeds Beckett University who are responsible for the academic quality of the courses. The University undertakes inspection of the sites where the courses are held and of the facilities. Some of the more recently opened centres may be awaiting the University’s inspection and approval. Check the latest situation with your chosen training provider. Courses are accredited by PTUK and meet the requirements of the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (www.playtherapyregister.org.uk).

At the moment only APAC and PTUK are the only training providers accredited by PTI.

The APAC MA in Practice Based Play Therapy course, as accredited by Play Therapy International has been or will be delivered in (subject to change and availability):

  • Australia – Sydney
  • Canada – London Ontario
  • Hong Kong – Kowloon
  • Malta
  • New Zealand – Hamilton
  • Singpore
  • Jakarta
  • Kuala Lumpur

For training in Canada and the United States please email either Tonia Crittenden or contact@ptiworldwide.org.

For training in Europe including the UK and Ireland, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand (www.playtherapy.org.uk, www.apac.org.uk, www.playtherapy.ie)

Both the Certificate and Diploma courses provide a qualification to practise. Participants are able to work, under clinical supervision, therapeutically, with children after they have completed the first 3-day module of the Certificate course.

The APAC accredited training provides a consistent and coherent programme across the world. The course content is the same wherever you choose to train. The APAC faculty is used to deliver the courses in all venues. The work is examined by the same professional staff and External Examiner. This is a different and more equitable approach than that used by courses accredited by other play therapy organisations.

These courses are designed to produce safe and effective play therapy practitioners hence the emphasis on experiential and practical work to balance the theory. They are the only ones in the world with published clinical outcomes using a standard measure. The courses are practice based and will prepare you for the eventuality of the registration of Play Therapists by governments.

It is not necessary to be in personal therapy, to undertake a course, although the Course Director may require this if issues arise during the course that impede the student’s ability to work with children.

Normally applicants for the Diploma course will only be accepted if they have satisfactorily completed the Certificate course or a very close equivalent.

Other Learning Resources are available for users and commissioners of play therapy as well as for CPD Continuing Professional Development. These include:

It is not necessary to be in personal therapy, to undertake a course, although the Course Director may require this if issues arise during the course that impede the student’s ability to work with children.

Normally applicants for the Diploma course will only be accepted if they have satisfactorily completed the Certificate course or a very close equivalent.