Certification
We are bringing in Certification to ensure quality of practice and competent therapists and practitioners in Learn To Play Therapy and play assessment. Certification is designed to support therapists, practitioners and teachers to not only use the content in play and play assessment, but to go beyond this and use it creatively for the children and families in their professional care. Learn To Play Therapy is an evidence-based therapy.
This certification process is only available through Learn To Play Therapy (www.learntoplaytherapy.com). There are 3 different Streams, depending on the work setting and needs of the therapist/practitioner/teacher.
This page contains an overview of the 3 Steams, guidelines if Part 1 and Part 2 training were completed before 2025, information for Deakin graduates of Master of Child Play Therapy, and Grandfather Clauses.
Please be aware that completion of the any of these streams does not qualify you to be a Learn To Play Therapy supervisor, trainer or workshop facilitator. All Learn To Play Therapy workshops, supervision and training are run through Learn To Play Therapy by our certified team.
Orange Stream
Certified Learn To Play Therapist/Practitioner
Orange Stream Certification is open to those with a minimum of a bachelor tertiary degree in Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Social Work, Psychology, Play Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, and for those with a bachelor’s degree who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Therapeutic Play or Master of Play Therapy at Deakin University (see the section below on Deakin graduates and recognition of prior learning).
Steps to become certified:
Step 1:
Part 1 and Part 2 training with 90% pass rate on final quizzes
Step 2:
ChIPPA2 training
Step 3:
20 hours supervision and 30 logged practice hours
Step 4:
5,000 word assignment on 2 case studies
Outcome:
Recognised competence to practice Learn To Play Therapy.
Use of Therapist/Practitioner Certification logo from Learn To Play for work purposes.
Certified Learn To Play Therapist/Practitioners listed on our website by geographical area (with permission).
Blue Stream
Certified Learn To Play
Support Role
Blue Stream Certification is open to anyone who works in a supportive role within health or early childhood services or special education and whose work does not involve individual therapy.
Steps to become certified:
Step 1:
Part 1 training with 90% pass rate on the final quiz
Step 2:
15 hours supervision comprising:
- 5 hours supervision on PPE-DC,
- 7 hours of supervision on use of the principles and process of Learn To Play Therapy within a school setting, early childhood services setting, or support roles within a clinic setting,
- 3 hours supervision on therapeutic skills.
Outcome:
Certification recognises competence in a supporting role that includes Learn To Play principles within their work, such as working and supporting families in early intervention services with groups of children (for example, playgroups, family support programs), special school settings, and work in support roles with other health professionals.Â
Green Stream
Certified Learn To Play
Educator
Green Stream Certification is open to kindergarten or preschool educators who are trained at a tertiary level.
Steps to become certified:
Step 1:
Teachers complete the The Learn To Play Approach for Early Educators 2 day training, including the Pretend Play Checklist for Teachers
Step 2:
• Q&A 1 – Assessment
• Q&A 2 – Self -Regulation and play
• Q&A 3 – Social Competence and play.
Step 3:
10 hours of supervision, which could include group supervision.
Outcome:
Recognised competence as a Learn To Play Educator.Â
Further Opportunities for Green Stream:
Once Certified as a Learn To Play Educator, there are options to progress into the Blue Stream or the Orange Stream with completion of extra bridging courses.
To progress to Orange Stream
1. Complete a half-day online self-study training in the PPE-DC.
2. Complete Part 2 training with a 90% pass rate.
3. Progress to Step 2 in the Orange Stream.
To progress to Blue Stream
1. Complete a half-day online self-study training in the PPE-DC.
2. Progress to Step 2 in the Blue Stream.
What if I have already completed Part 1 and Part 2 training?
For the Certification process, the training for Learn To Play Therapy over the past 23 years has changed, deepened, and expanded. Below is the guideline for those who wish to be Certified, with reference to your past attendance at a Part 1 and Part 2 training workshop.
*It is important to note that just completing Part 1 and Part 2 training does not include any recognition of ability to use Learn to Play Therapy competently in practice.
Those who attended Learn To Play Training from 2024
The training from 2024 is in line with the Certification process. You will only need to complete the final quizzes for Part 1 and Part 2 with a minimum pass rate of 90% to complete Step 1 of the Orange Stream, and progress to Step 2.
For access to these quizzes, please contact us.
Those who attended Learn To Play Training from 2015 to 2023
For those who attended Part 1 and/or Part 2 Learn To Play Training workshops during this period, you need to:
- complete the final online quiz for Part 1 with a minimum of 90% pass rate (For access to the quiz, please contact us.)
- complete or redo Part 2, which is 3-day training (completion of Part 2 before 2024 does not count towards certification, you will need to do the new 3-day Part 2 training)
- then progress to Step 2 of Orange Stream
If you have also been using principles of Learn To Play Therapy in your practice, you may begin to log practice hours for Orange Stream. For those who have not regularly used principles of Learn to Play Therapy in your practice, you cannot log practice hours, and you will need to progress to Step 2, 3 and 4 in the Orange Stream in order to start logging practice hours.
Those who attended a workshop prior to 2015
The training since 2015 has deepened and the new Learn To Play Therapy book was published in 2021. It is recommended that those who completed training prior to 2015 undertake Part 1 and Part 2 training. For those who have used principles of Learn To Play Therapy in their work since their attendance at a workshop prior to 2015 and who wish to be Certified within Orange Stream, practice hours can begin to be logged for Orange Stream. For those who only attended the workshops and have not regularly used the principles of Learn To Play Therapy, you cannot log practice hours and it is recommended that you begin with Part 1 and Part 2 training.
Deakin Students who have completed the Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Play or Masters of Play Therapy
Deakin Graduates of the above courses are eligible to enter into the Orange Stream with credits for their previously completed work. Orange Stream certification for Deakin graduates requires the following training with recognition of prior learning:
Step 1:
ChIPPA2 training
Step 2:
Complete the Part 2 final quiz with a pass rate of 90%. If a pass rate of less than 90% is reached, you will be required to complete the full 3-day Part 2 training
(contact us for access to the Part 2 quiz)
Step 3:
Minimum of 5 hours supervision
More supervision hours may be required based on supervisor assessment of skills
Grandfather Clause
If you have received Learn To Play Therapy supervision (either via zoom or in person) since attending a workshop (regardless of year), you may be eligible to be grandfathered in to begin certification in Orange Stream or Blue Stream. To be grandfathered into Orange Stream, please contact Jessica Stagnitti to enquire whether you would need to meet with a trainer before being grandfathered in to Orange Stream, and what supervision hours can be credited towards Orange Stream or Blue Stream.
Related training run by Learn To Play Therapy
We recognise that Learn To Play Therapy offers more training than Part 1 and Part 2. For example:
Parent Learn To Play:
Train the Trainer
Play in Schools for Teachers and Therapists
The Imagine Create Belong social program for neurodivergent adolescents –
Part 1: Foundation
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Most of these workshops rely on the person having completed Part 1 and Part 2 training to fully benefit from this further training. These workshops also relate to specific work environments. While these workshops are not included in the Certification process, they do expand the knowledge of those who complete a certification stream with reference to particular work settings and clientele.