Licensure & Disclosures
If you are considering an academic program that leads to obtaining professional licensure or certification in your state, please note the following information.
Sacred Heart University, as a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), is authorized to offer distance programs in all states that participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Approval for institutional participation was granted by the State of Connecticut Office of Higher Education on January 11, 2017. California is the only state that does not participate in SARA therefore Sacred Heart University is exempt from approval from the California Bureau of Post-Secondary Education.
Prospective students are also encouraged to review Sacred Heart University’s Disclosures & Student Complaint Process for additional information.
The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Play Therapy (CAGS) offered by Sacred Heart University (SHU) is designed to meet APT Credentialing Standards. However, APT has the final say in all education and training. The program is designed for you to be able to meet the play therapy instruction and clinical experience requirements for play therapy. It is your responsibility to ensure your graduate degree coursework meets current APT requirements.
SHU does not guarantee that the completion of this program will result in RPT™ credentialing. In addition to successfully completing the educational and clinical experience requirements, once you graduate from your degree seeking program, you will need to meet other state licensure requirements in order to meet credentialing standards for APT. Most states require substantial post-master’s clinical experience hours and passing scores on a licensure examination prior to your initial and/or terminal licensure. States may have further licensure requirements such as a background check and minimum age requirements to be licensed. It is your responsibility to determine if your own circumstances pose any barriers to licensure. You should be aware that clinical experience sites also generally require background checks before accepting students for a practicum or residency position. Clinical experience sites often have stricter criteria regarding criminal histories than state licensing boards.
Please know that you may not become an RPT until you are licensed in your respective field.
You are responsible for knowing your state’s licensure requirements and being aware of any changes to those requirements. If you move to another state, the requirements for licensure will likely be different from the state where you currently reside and could change your curricular requirements. Also, if you move to another state, your specific clinical experience site approval criteria may change as well. You are responsible for determining the licensure requirements in the state to which you relocate.
Information on our Specific Program
The online Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Play Therapy program is authorized to operate in all states that participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Sacred Heart University has determined that the program’s curriculum does meet the educational requirements, for certification, in all states and the District of Columbia.