Fully approved by the Association for Play Therapy
The Beyond the Box training pathway
Clarity, structure and continuity through the RPT certification process. You move through instruction, supervision and experiential hours in phases, without unnecessary confusion, delays or added expense.
How the pathway works
A clear, three-part training model
Instruction
Required academic coursework through online learning and live workshops, building a strong theoretical and practical foundation in play therapy.
Supervision
Clinical supervision gives reflective guidance, ethical support and professional development as you apply play therapy in real-world settings.
Experiential
Direct client contact using play therapy, completed at your place of work or by contracting with Outside of the Box Therapy.
Finish in two years, and no more than three
Three phases, eight months each
To support timely completion within two years, the program runs in three sequential phases of eight months each. Limited flexibility in the timeline is available, and each phase adds depth, responsibility and clinical integration.
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Phase one
8 months
Online coursework and live workshops, with limited supervision.
- Instruction
- 3 workshops (45 hours)
- Supervision
- 8 hoursTwo 1.5-hour groups* and five 1-hour individual meetings, plus 1 video observation
- Experiential
- 50–75 hours
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Phase two
8 months
Continued workshops, with more supervision support.
- Instruction
- 4 workshops (60 hours)
- Supervision
- 13.5 hoursFive 1.5-hour groups* and six 1-hour individual meetings, plus 2 video observations
- Experiential
- 100–150 hours
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Phase three
8 months
Advanced workshops focused on integration and specialization.
- Instruction
- 3 workshops (45 hours)
- Supervision
- 13.5 hoursFive 1.5-hour groups* and six 1-hour individual meetings, plus 2 video observations
- Experiential
- 100–175 hours
*Each 90-minute group provides at least 0.3 hours of individual supervision within the group and 1.2 hours of group supervision.
Course catalog
The 150 academic hours
Everyone takes the three online courses. You choose the rest of your hours from the workshops below, and more workshops are added as new instructors join.
Required online courses
75 hrs- Foundations of Play Therapy25 hrs
- Theories of Play Therapy25 hrs
- Social & Cultural Considerations25 hrs
Elective live workshops
Choose yours- Ethics in the Playroom8 hrs
- Neurodiversity in the Playroom8 hrs
- Playing in the Schools8 hrs
- Trauma in the Playroom16 hrs
- Filial Play Therapy8 hrs
- Play Diagnosis & Assessment8 hrs
- Psychodynamic Play Therapy8 hrs
- Expressive Media & Sandtray16 hrs
Ready for phase one?
Pick the package that fits your path
Bundles are priced for the full training sequence, with pay-in-full savings and monthly payment plans.