How do I apply for the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy? 

You must apply online through the UNC Charlotte Graduate School.
These links will take you to the application:

• Apply Now!
• Online Application Login

What are the admission requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy?

• A master’s degree in counseling, social work, or psychology from an accredited university or a current student admitted to the Department of Counseling
• Online application to Graduate Admissions accompanied by the application fee in effect.
• GPA required for entry into a master’s degree program.
• Official transcripts
• A statement of purpose as to why the applicant seeks admission to the program

What courses are required for the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy?

Students must take four (12 credits) of the courses below to complete the Graduate Certificate. All courses must be taken at UNC Charlotte and must be completed within four years.

1 CSLG 7142 is a pre-requisite for all of the courses except CSLG 6200. 
2 The format for CSLG 7144 is a two Friday evening/Saturdays during the semester with the remaining work using a distance learning format. 
3 CSLG 7145 may be repeated for credit 
4 CSLG 7430/7435 is only an option for students enrolled in the Department of Counseling with the approval of the coordinator.

What is the Sample Sequence of Courses for the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy?

Beginning in Spring

Beginning in Summer

If I am a student in the Department of Counseling at UNC Charlotte, can my Practicum or Internship count towards the Certificate?

The following conditions must be met for your Practicum or Internship class to count as a part of the Certificate:

• You may only count one semester of a clinical course for the Certificate.
• The course must be taught by Dr. Post or Dr. Ceballos.
• Students must have 40 documented play therapy sessions.
• Students must be able to videotape play sessions for supervision purposes.
• Dr. Post or Dr. Ceballos must complete a form indicating that the conditions above were met.

When is the application deadline for the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy?

There is no deadline for admission to the program. The admissions review will use a “rolling admissions” which means that completed applications will be reviewed within several weeks of when they are submitted.

However, be advised that one can only begin taking classes in either the spring semester or summer semester. This is the semester that the Introduction to Play Therapy class (CSLG 7142) is offered, and this class is a pre-requisite to the other classes in the curriculum.

If I am already a student in the Counseling program, do I need to apply for the Graduate Certificate?

Yes. Students who are already students in the Department of Counseling MUST be apply for and be accepted into the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy prior to enrolling in their third class in the program. 

How many courses are required for the Graduate Certificate?

4 courses (12 credit hours)

Can I take all 4 of the classes in one semester?

No you cannot take all the classes at once. There is a rotation for the classes, one each semester and/or summer session.

Do I have to take all of the courses for the Certificate Program at UNC Charlotte?

Yes.

What do I do if I am accepted in to the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy?

Upon admission to the program, contact the Coordinator of the Graduate Certificate, Dr. Post (ppost@uncc.edu). You will complete a Program of Study outlining your plan for completion of the program. Dr. Post will also advise you about the paperwork required as you progress through the program.

Is the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy an online program?

No. Several of the courses have an online component, but the Certificate is an on-campus program.

When are the courses for the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy offered?

The courses are offered during the day and in the evenings. In general, one course in the Graduate Certificate is offered each semester.

Will there by “hands on” training in the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy curriculum?

Yes. In several of the classes, you will work with children/parents and receive supervision on your work. However, only students currently admitted to the Department of Counseling will be able to do a Practicum or Internship as a part of the Graduate Certificate.

Do I have to have a master’s degree already to apply for the Graduate Certificate?

Yes. Unless you are currently in the Department of Counseling, you must have a master’s degree in counseling, social work, or psychology to be considered for the program.

Does the coursework for the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy count towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist?

Yes. Each course for the Graduate Certificate will count as 67.5 hours toward the RPT. However, the Graduate Certificate includes very few hours of the clinical component required for becoming an RPT. 

What are the requirements for becoming a Registered Play Therapist?

For this information, consult the website for the Association for Play Therapy at www.a4pt.org. 

How will the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy help my career?

The Graduate Certificate will help the therapist get a better understanding of what play therapy is, why it is used, and how to integrate it into one’s practice.

Are there any courses offered in the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy that are “McLeod Institute” style?

Yes. This summer there will be a course offered much like the “McLeod Institute.” The course is open ONLY to students who are either current students in the Department of Counseling or accepted students in the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy. The course is in summer session 1 (Special Topics in Play Therapy: Conference. CSLG 7142/8142). The Intro to Play Therapy is a prerequisite for the course. All assignments will be due prior to the 4 day conference (June 28 - July 1). Students must attend all four days of the conference to receive credit for the course. Students enroll in the summer session course, NOT for the conference.

What are the forms required to complete the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy?

The information about forms to complete are on the UNC Charlotte website at this link:

Graduate School Forms

To graduate with your Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy, you must do the following:

1. Complete the Application for Candidacy for a Graduate Certificate (Click Here to Download)
   Have the hard copy signed by the Coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy. Please carefully attend to the deadlines for their completion. The completed form must be taken to the Graduate School.

2. Complete the Application for Graduate Certificate on-line through Banner Self Service. Below are the steps in accessing the online graduation application:

   1. Log into 49er Express

   2. Choose Banner Self Service

   3. Choose Student Services

   4. Choose Student Records

   5. Choose Online Graduation Application Read the Directions

   6. Click on “Continue” if this is the first time you have applied for graduation

   7. Click on “Create a New Application” if you have applied previously

After I complete the requirements, how do I get my Certificate?

After the forms have been completed, your Certificate will be signed by the Dean of the College of Education, Chair of the Department of Counseling, and Coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy. Then the Certificate will be mailed to you.