Course FAQ

Should you decide to apply, please complete the online application form directly with APAC in the link below:

APAC Enrolment Application Form

Your application form will then be assessed by the Admissions team, if you meet all requirements and criteria, you will be offered an online interview.

The work experience required to be eligible for the Certificate Course can include both paid and voluntary work and can be completed in any setting (or across multiple settings), provided that the role(s) involve working directly with children aged between four and 12 years old and the total amount of experience equates to a minimum of two years’ full time.

Students are not required to undergo personal therapy as part of their Certificate or Diploma level studies. However, as both programmes involve experiential training during which students will experience the media and interventions used in Therapeutic Play themselves, this can occasionally trigger underlying or dormant emotional challenges that a student is living with. In this case, the Course Director may recommend that the student would benefit from some personal therapy, however this would merely be a suggestion on the part of the Course Director and not a pre-requisite for the student to successfully complete the Course.

Time required for self-study (completing assignments etc.) varies depending on the individual student and their circumstances. We usually suggest allowing a minimum of 120 hours in addition to the training weekends and time allowed for your clinical hours and supervision per stage of the programme.

We have students in all different types of employment – some work full-time alongside their studies, others are employed on a part-time basis and some are not currently employed at all. As long as you effectively manage your time it is possible to work alongside this programme.

With regard to the placement, students are required to source this themselves and we usually suggest approaching local primary schools or charities in the first instance. As all placement hours must be carried out on a voluntary basis, these types of organisation tend to be quite receptive to taking on a Trainee Play Therapist as it wouldn’t have any impact on their budget. Kindly note that it is not necessary for you to have a confirmed placement prior to applying for a Course and should you decide to make an application, the process of sourcing this would be discussed in further detail with you during your online interview.

Students are able to complete their placement hours within their usual place of work, however please be aware that in this case, all hours must be carried out with children whom they have had no previous involvement with or responsibility for. At Certificate level, placement hours must be carried out on a one-to-one basis with children with low to moderate therapy need (i.e. SDQ scores of 21 and under).

Many of our students have work/ family/ life commitments, you start with one child for one hour per week and then increase, under the guidance of your Supervisor – to a maximum of four children (so four hours) per week for the certificate course and a maximum of six children for the diploma course (so six hours) per week. You have the duration of the course to complete your clinical hours.

In a *student survey, 98% of 255 students stated they had a placement set up and 41% of 220 students see clients in their workplace.

*Placement survey data – April 2023

Tip for current students:

Due to bank holidays and inset days try arranging your placement day on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

You will require supervision with a PTUK/Play Therapy International Supervisor whilst you are undertaking your clinical hours – one hour of supervision for every six hours of practice, or one hour per fortnight, whichever comes soonest. Your Supervisor would not attend the Play Therapy sessions with you as these need to be carried out on a one-to-one basis to maintain confidentiality, but you will meet with them regularly to discuss your progress, cases and any concerns you or they may have. Should you make an application, you would be given access to our Register of Supervisors in order for you to source someone based as close to you as possible. If there isn’t a Supervisor in your area you are able to request online supervision from the Clinical Team.

Unfortunately, due to the experiential nature of the training in which group dynamics play an integral role, it is not possible for students to miss any part of the course due to pre-existing engagements. Different subject matter is covered on each day meaning that if a day is missed, the student will be untrained in all of the theories and techniques discussed on the date in question.

Click here to see all of the benefits to becoming a PTUK Member.

As a member of PTUK we will list you on our accredited Register. This is an effective marketing tool once qualified as many parents and schools use this register to find a Play Therapist. The Register is a safe secure platform where you can be contacted for potential work.

Self-employed/Employed:

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