Child-Parent Relationship Therapy Certification

CPRT Overview

Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT, Landreth, 1991; Landreth & Bratton, 2006, 2020) is a play-based treatment program for young children presenting with behavioral, emotional, social, and attachment disorders. At the heart of CPRT is the premise that a secure parent-child relationship is the essential factor for children's well-being. In a supportive group environment, parents learn skills to respond more effectively to their children's emotional and behavioral needs. In turn, children learn that they can count on their parents to reliably and consistently meet their needs for love, acceptance, safety, and security.

The goal of CPRT is to strengthen the quality of the parent-child attachment bond as a means of reducing child behavior problems and stress in the parent-child relationship. CPRT was developed for children ages 3- 8 but has been adapted for use with toddlers and preadolescents. In CPRT, parents are taught specific skills grounded in the principles and procedures of Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) that focus on establishing or enhancing a secure attachment with their child and helping parents attune to and respond to their child's underlying needs rather than focus on symptoms. Parents also learn to effectively limit their child's misbehavior, while demonstrating empathy and respect for their child. In CPRT, parents implement the CCPT-based skills in weekly videorecorded play sessions with their child under the direct supervision of a certified CPRT facilitator/practitioner who is also trained in CCPT.

CPRT is typically administered in 10-weekly, 2-hour group sessions with 5-8 parents. CPRT includes three key components: a didactic component, a supervision component, and a group process component. During sessions 1-3, parents learn CCPT skills, concepts, and attitudes. In weeks 4-10, parents practice their new play skills in play sessions with their child and the therapist reviews the videos of parents' play sessions to provide focused supervision and feedback for parents in the small group format. The CPRT treatment manual (Bratton et al., 2006; Bratton & Landreth, 2020) contains all materials that the therapist needs to conduct the 10-session CPRT model, including parent handouts, homework, and worksheets, organized by training sessions. The treatment manual is accompanied by a CD-ROM of downloadable and reproducible CPRT training materials. 

In the 1980s and 1990s, Garry Landreth was instrumental in developing skills and training methods for CPRT, including the unpublished CPRT training protocol. Landreth and Bratton formalized the CPRT model in a text (Landreth & Bratton, 2006, 2020) and Bratton et al. (2006) and Bratton and Landreth (2020) published an expanded CPRT protocol and treatment manual to allow for replication and treatment fidelity.

CPRT Effectiveness

CPRT is a well-researched therapeutic group parenting model with numerous studies investigating its effectiveness. Since the first published study almost two decades ago (Bratton & Landreth, 1995), the evidentiary base for CPRT has grown as studies' methodological rigor increased. All CPRT research and meta-analyses since the mid-1990s can be found here. 

For more detailed information about CPRT outcome research studies, please visit Evidence Based Child Therapy, an online searchable database for play therapy research.

Levels and Requirements

Attainment of all levels of CCPT, CCGPT, and CPRT-Level 2 and Level 3 Certification require mental health licenses. Individuals who do not have mental health licenses or are not currently pursuing mental health licensure are eligible to complete CCPT 101 and CPRT 101. Individuals who do not have mental health licenses are eligible to attain certification as a Level 1- Certified CPRT Associate/Parent Educator. Play therapy CE credit is only eligible for mental health professionals or full-time graduate students in the mental health field.

International CPRT Certifications

The Center for Play Therapy offers international CCPT, CCPT-S, CCGPT, CCGPT-S, CPRT, and CPRT-S certifications for mental health professionals working in other countries. The Center for Play therapy ensures that internationally certified CCPT, CCGPT, and CPRT therapists and supervisors are knowledgeable and experienced in CCPT, CCGPT, and CPRT, respectively; however, we do not ensure that international therapists are licensed in their field of study. The designation for international certification is Certified I-CCPT, Certified I-CCPT-S, Certified, I-CCGPT, Certified CCGPT-S, Certified I-CPRT, and Certified I-CPRT-S.

Certified CPRT Practitioners

Please send us an email at cpt@unt.edu to request a list of all certified Level 2 and Level 3 CPRT Practitioners. 

Steps to Certification

Welcome to CPRT Certification!

We are so happy that you have chosen to promote quality mental health intervention for children by becoming recognized as a provider of evidence-based CPRT. On this site, we will take you through the steps to become certified in CPRT. The requirements and steps to certification are separated into Level 1 – Certified CPRT Associate/Parent Educator, Level 2 – Certified CPRT Practitioner, and Level 3 – CPRT Supervisor. Please follow the steps and requirements for the certification you are seeking below:

Level 1 - Certified CPRT Associate Parent Educator

Certified to use didactic content in the CPRT manual, not to conduct full CPRT protocol

Step 1: Educational/Training Requirement - minimum 36 hours (required)

The UNT Center for Play Therapy offers Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) training according to the evidence-based model recognized by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse and California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. Training in the evidence-based model of CPRT requires following approved treatment protocols. The UNT Center for Play Therapy advises therapists to consider where they seek CPRT training as some trainings do not teach according to the evidence-based model. For more information on the recognized protocols and training, search Child-Parent Relationship Therapy at Title IV or CEBC.

The educational requirement options are listed below:

  • Prior education/training in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) equivalent to CCPT 101 12-hour workshop
  • Workshop series from an approved trainer: CPRT 101: Foundations in CPRT (12 hours; 1 History, 8 Seminal or Historically Significant Theories, 3 Skills & Methods) - 2 days toward CPRT certification AND CPRT 102: Advanced CPRT Practice and Application (12 hours; 2 Seminal or Historically Significant Theories, 10 Skills & Methods) 2-day intensive workshop training on application of CPRT protocol.

If you believe you have already completed any of the educational requirements, please send your transcript and course syllabus or certificate of completion and training materials to Stephanie Carr at cpt@unt.edu. Your documents will be reviewed to see if they match equivalency to CCPT 101 and/or CPRT 101 and 102. 

Step 2: Completion of CPRT Certification Exam (required)

Upon completion of the educational requirements, complete the CPRT Certification Exam, purchasable here ($25.00). First click the link to purchase and once the payment processes, return to this step and select the link for the exam to complete the test. To complete the exam, you will need to be signed into your CPT account. The exam is also available in Simplified Chinese here, purchasable here ($25.00 USD).

  • The CPRT exam has 39 multiple choice questions. A score of 90% is needed to pass the exam.

Step 3: Complete Application and Application Fee of $95 (required)

Upon completion of all educational and exam requirements, complete the Level 1 CPRT application and pay $95 application fee.

Step 4: Submit Application.

Submit completed Level 1 CPRT application to Stephanie Carr at cpt@unt.edu

Step 5: CPT Processes Submitted Materials

The Center for Play Therapy will review all materials and submit a decision regarding certification within 4 weeks.

Step 6: Level 1 CPRT Certification Complete

Receive confirmation of Level 1 CPRT Certification and become a Level 1 Certified CPRT Associate/Parent Educator!

In order to maintain certification status, CPRT certification must be renewed every 5 years. All renewals will take place November 1 on the year of your given renewal. Requirements for renewal include the Level 1 CPRT renewal application and a $95 renewal fee.

Level 2 - Certified CPRT Practitioner

Certified to conduct the Evidence-Based CPRT 10-session protocol

Step 1: Obtain Child-Centered Play Therapy Certification (required)

Clinicians interested in obtaining Child Parent Relationship Therapy Level 2 Certification must first apply and obtain CCPT Certification prior to applying for CPRT Certification.

Why is CCPT Certification required as a prerequisite for CPRT Certification? 
Child-Centered Play Therapy is the theoretical foundation for Child Parent Relationship Therapy. Therefore, a solid foundation and understanding of the theoretical and practical components of Child-Centered Play Therapy is essential to understand and facilitate CPRT sessions with caregivers. 

  • Applicants can begin the steps to Level 2 CPRT Certification prior to completing CCPT Certification.
  • Applicants may complete the CPRT trainings (CPRT 101 and CPRT 102) prior to completing CCPT Certification. However, applicants must apply and obtain CCPT Certification prior to applying for and obtaining CPRT Certification.

Step 2: Educational/Training Requirement - minimum 24 hours (required)

The UNT Center for Play Therapy offers Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) training according to the evidence-based model recognized by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse and California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. Training in the evidence-based model of CPRT requires following approved treatment protocols. The UNT Center for Play Therapy advises therapists to consider where they seek CPRT training as some trainings do not teach according to the evidence-based model. For more information on the recognized protocols and training, search Child-Parent Relationship Therapy at Title IV or CEBC. 

The educational requirement options are listed below:

  • Prior education/training in Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) equivalent to CCPT 101 12-hour workshop
  • Workshop series from an approved CPRT trainer: CPRT 101: Foundations in CPRT (12 hours; 1 History, 8 Seminal or Historically Significant Theories, 3 Skills & Methods) AND CPRT 102: Advanced CPRT Practice and Application (12 hours; 2 Seminal or Historically Significant Theories, 10 Skills & Methods) intensive training on application of CPRT protocol

If you believe you have already completed one or both of the educational requirements, please send your transcript and course syllabus or certificate of completion and training materials to Stephanie Carr at cpt@unt.edu. Your documents will be reviewed to see if they match equivalency to CPRT 101 and/or CPRT 102. 

Step 3: Completion of CPRT Certification Exam (required)

Upon completion of the educational requirements, complete the CPRT Certification Exam, purchasable here ($25.00). First click the link to purchase and once the payment processes, return to this step and select the link for the exam to complete the test. To complete the exam, you will need to be signed into your CPT account. The exam is also available in Simplified Chinese here, purchasable here ($25.00 USD).

  • The CPRT exam has 39 multiple choice questions. A score of 90% is needed to pass the exam.

Step 4: Supervised Clinical Experience (required)

Completion of three CPRT groups under supervision with an approved CPRT supervisor; minimum of 8 hours of supervision per group (two groups can be conducted simultaneously with a minimum of 12 hours of supervision). Although face to face supervision is preferred, distance supervision may be approved to accommodate those in locations where approved supervisors are not available. Supervision requirements include observation of a minimum of 8 CPRT group sessions.

  • Facilitation of supervised CPRT groups may begin following completion of CCPT 102 and CPRT 101.
  • A list of supervisors is available HERE. 

Step 5: Licensed mental health professional at time of certification (required)

A mental health professional is required to hold a current, active, and unconditional individual state license to independently provide clinical mental health services in one of the following general practice disciplines: counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychiatry, psychology, or social work.

Step 6: Complete Application and Application Fee of $95 (required)

Upon completion of all educational, supervision, and exam requirements, complete the Level 2 CPRT application and pay the $95 application fee.

Step 7: Submit Application (required)

Submit completed Level 2 CPRT application to Stephanie Carr at cpt@unt.edu

Step 8: CPT Processes Submitted Materials

The Center for Play Therapy will review all materials and submit a decision regarding certification within 4 weeks.

Step 9: Level 2 CPRT Certification Complete

Receive confirmation of Level 2 CPRT Certification and become a Level 2 Certified CPRT Practitioner!

In order to maintain certification status, CPRT certification must be renewed every 5 years. All renewals will take place November 1 on the year of your given renewal. Requirements for renewal include 12 continuing education hours specific to CCPT and/or CPRT and facilitated by a Certified CCPT-S/CPRT-S/CCGPT-S, the CPRT Level 2 renewal application, and a $95 renewal fee.

Level 3 - Certified Advanced CPRT Practitioner/Supervisor

Step 1: Hold Level 2 CPRT Certification (required)

Hold a level 2 CPRT Certification or meet the requirements for Level 2 CPRT Certification.

Step 2: Supervisor License (required)

Hold a mental health professional license as a supervisor.

Step 3: Educational/Training Requirement - minimum 24 hours (required)

More information coming soon!

Step 4: Supervised Clinical Experience (required)

  • Completion of 2 additional CPRT groups under supervision with approved CPRT supervisor; minimum of 8 hours of supervision per group (two groups can be conducted simultaneously with a minimum of 12 hours of supervision)
  • Supervisor assessment of supervisee's adherence to CPRT protocol and process for the 2 groups
  • Provision of 8 1-hour supervisory sessions for a beginning CPRT practitioner, while participating in weekly supervision from an approved CPRT supervisor, preferably the same supervisor of supervisee's clinical CPRT experience, for a minimum of 5 supervision of supervision hours

Step 5: Completed CPRT-S Supervisor Agreement (required)

Complete the CPRT-S supervisory agreement and submit it with your completed application. 

Step 6: Complete Application and Application Fee of $95 (required)

Upon completion of all educational and supervision requirements, complete the Level 3 CPRT-S Application and $95 application fee.

Step 7: Submit Application (required)

Submit completed Level 3 CPRT application and CPRT-S supervisory agreement to Stephanie Carr at cpt@unt.edu

Step 8: CPT Processes Submitted Materials

The Center for Play Therapy will review all materials and submit a decision regarding certification within 4 weeks.

Step 9: Level 3 CPRT Certification Complete

Receive confirmation of Level 3 CPRT Certification and become a Level 3 Certified CPRT Supervisor!

In order to maintain certification status, CPRT certification must be renewed every 5 years. All renewals will take place November 1 on the year of your given renewal. Requirements for renewal include 12 continuing education hours facilitated by a Certified CCPT-S/CPRT-S/CCGPT-S and specific to CCPT and/or CPRT, the CPRT Level 3 renewal application, and a $95 renewal fee.