Play Therapy, Post-Baccalaureate Advanced Certificate

The Graduate Certificate Program in Play Therapy will allow students to obtain a comprehensive authentic learning experience in play therapy. This program offers a broad sequence of courses in play therapy that build upon one another in a coherent fashion. Students begin with CPS 592. Students are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the certificate program. Students who complete the certificate program qualify for training to become Certified Play Therapists through the National Institute for Relationship Enhancement (CPS 592) and earn the necessary educational credits toward certification as Registered Play Therapists (CPS 592, 692, 603 and 604) and/or Certified Play Therapist and Child Psychotherapists through the Association for Play Therapy and Play Therapy International (CPS 592, 692, 603, 604 and 590) respectively. These represent all the ways individuals can become credentialed play therapists. There is no one standard.

The certificate program welcomes current students and practitioners in the fields of psychology, social work, education, counseling, and human development. Participants must have an earned Bachelor’s degree. Courses will be offered on a rotating basis such that participants in the graduate certificate program will be able to complete the program in one full year. Students will receive a certificate that states the completion of the program as well as an annotation on his or her student transcript. This is not a degree program.

Admission

The student must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. The student’s undergraduate grade point average should be 3.0 or higher. The following materials can be submitted any time throughout the academic year, admission to this program is on a rolling basis.

1. Prospective students should submit to the Graduate Office:
   1. Evidence of scholarship and academic potential:
      1. Undergraduate academic record and completed graduate course work
   2. Evidence of potential for developing effective human relationships and professional commitment
      1. Three letters of reference, at least one of which is from an academic source
      2. Student statement about goals, prior related experience, and future plans
      3. Professional resume
2. All  credentials must be submitted and then reviewed by the staff prior to the completion of nine hours of graduate study in the program.
3. Credentials are viewed in a holistic manner such that strength in one area might offset a weakness in another. The holistic review on each individual’s materials helps avoid the exclusion of qualified students that may serve the field well but whose particular circumstances result in submission of admission credentials that fall below those of the typical entering student.

Certificate Candidacy

It is the responsibility of the student to file for certificate candidacy when six hours of course work have been completed. A cumulative average of 3.0 or better, completion of CPS 592, and demonstrated professional competence is required to qualify for the awarding of certificate candidacy status. Candidacy applications can be obtained form the Graduate Office.

Additional Information

The Graduate Certificate Program in Play Therapy is a part-time program of study. Model Curricular Sequence:

• Fall:
  CPS 592
    and
  604
    
• Spring:
  CPS 590
    and
  692
    
• Summer:
  CPS 603