Earning RPT Instructional Hours at Texas State
Degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students can earn all or some of the play therapy instructional hours required for the RPT™ credential by taking graduate play therapy courses at Texas State. The Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT™) credential is administered through the Association for Play Therapy (APT). Please refer any questions regarding RPT™ requirements to APT. For individuals who obtain their play therapy training through graduate programs, APT provides some flexibility in the three-phase approach described in the RPT™ requirements. Read their letter to universities for more information.
APT requires that RPT applicants have a certain number of hours of play therapy instruction across several content areas. The table below shows the number of instructional hours for each domain required by APT as of January 1, 2026 as well as the breakdown of instructional hours for classes offered at Texas State. Visit the APT website for more information and to view the most up-to-date standards.
Earning Play Therapy Instructional Hours at TXST
Degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students can earn all or some of the play therapy instructional hours required for the RPT™ credential by taking graduate play therapy courses at Texas State. The Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT™) credential is administered through the Association for Play Therapy (APT). Please refer any questions regarding RPT™ requirements to APT. For individuals who obtain their play therapy training through graduate programs, APT provides some flexibility in the three-phase approach described in the RPT™ requirements. Read their letter to universities for more information.
APT requires that RPT applicants have a certain number of hours of play therapy instruction across several content areas. The table below shows the number of instructional hours for each domain required by APT as of January 1, 2026 as well as the breakdown of instructional hours for classes offered at Texas State. Visit the APT website for more information and to view the most up-to-date standards.
Minimum Play Therapy Instructional Hours Required by APT
| APT Requirements | History | Theories | Skills and Methods | Special Topics | Diversity | Applicant's Choice | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Hours Required by APT | 5 | 55 | 50 | 25 | 6 | 9 | 150 |
Play Therapy Instructional Hours Offered by Course
| Course | History | Theories | Skills and Methods | Special Topics | Diversity | Applicant's Choice | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COUN 5369 - Child & Adolescent Counseling | 2 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 50 |
| COUN 5373 - Intermediate Methods in Play Therapy | 3 | 25 | 30 | 6.5 | 3 | 0 | 67.5 |
| COUN 5370 - Intermediate Methods in Counseling Adolescents | 0 | 20 | 30 | 12 | 0 | 5.5 | 67.5 |
| COUN 5346 - Filial Therapy | 0 | 20 | 35 | 3.5 | 0 | 9 | 67.5 |