Best institutions to study Play Therapy/Therapist
A program that prepares individuals to be a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or a School Based-Registered Play Therapist (SB-RPT).
6 U.S. institutions graduated 93 Play Therapy/Therapist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2317, a specialization of Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (CIP 51.23), and leads most directly to the Therapists, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 29-1129).
About Play Therapy/Therapist programs
A program that prepares individuals to be a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or a School Based-Registered Play Therapist (SB-RPT). Includes instruction in child development, theories of personality, psychotherapy, child and adolescent psychopathology, and ethics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Play Therapy/Therapist program is designed for individuals aspiring to become Registered Play Therapists (RPT) or School Based-Registered Play Therapists (SB-RPT). This program falls under the broader field of Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, focusing on the therapeutic use of play to support children's mental health and development.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in child development, psychotherapy, theories of personality, and child and adolescent psychopathology. Ethical considerations in therapy are also a critical component of the curriculum, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for their roles in supporting young clients.
Credentials awarded
What Play Therapy/Therapist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate84 graduates / yr · 5 institutions90%
- Post-master's certificate9 graduates / yr · 1 institution9.7%
Graduates over time
Play Therapy/Therapist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 56 |
| 2022 | 52 |
| 2023 | 52 |
| 2024 | 65 |
| 2025 | 93 |
CIP 51.2317 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 6 institutions for Play Therapy/Therapist, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capella University Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitPost-degree cert. | 63 | 20% | $19,369 |
| 2 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicPost-degree cert. | 11 | 59% | — |
| 3 | Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 73% | $42,705 |
| 4 | Bethel University Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 7 | 71% | $25,225 |
| 5 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 48% | $25,407 |
| 6 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 71% | — |
Offered in 5 states
Where Play Therapy/Therapist graduates come from. Each state links to all Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 2 | 70 | Capella University63 / yr |
| Wyoming | 1 | 11 | University of Wyoming11 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 9 | Sacred Heart University9 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 2 | Missouri Baptist University2 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | University of Kentucky1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1129, Therapists, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Play Therapy/Therapist program can pursue careers as therapists, among other roles. The job outlook for this field is promising, with an expected growth rate of 11.5% and approximately 4,100 annual openings. The median wage for related occupations is $65,010, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2317
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Therapists, All Otherprimary SOC 29-1129 | $77,930 | +11.5% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Related careers
Other Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions specializations
The 16 other 6-digit CIP codes under Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (CIP 51.23).
- Physical Therapy/CIP 51.2308
Therapist 13,795 graduates / yr277 institutions - Occupational Therapy/CIP 51.2306
Therapist 9,796 graduates / yr250 institutions - Rehabilitation ScienceCIP 51.23141,023 graduates / yr47 institutions
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/CIP 51.2310
Counselor 935 graduates / yr58 institutions - Art Therapy/CIP 51.2301
Therapist 675 graduates / yr62 institutions - Therapeutic Recreation/CIP 51.2309
Recreational Therapy 640 graduates / yr49 institutions - Music Therapy/CIP 51.2305
Therapist 635 graduates / yr70 institutions - Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsCIP 51.2399582 graduates / yr38 institutions
- Orthotist/CIP 51.2307
Prosthetist 302 graduates / yr17 institutions - Animal-Assisted TherapyCIP 51.2313108 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Kinesiotherapy/CIP 51.2311
Kinesiotherapist partial data96 graduates / yr6 institutions - Assistive/CIP 51.2312
Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering partial data52 graduates / yr8 institutions - Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsCIP 51.2300partial data51 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Dance Therapy/CIP 51.2302
Therapist partial data39 graduates / yr5 institutions - Horticulture Therapy/CIP 51.2316
Therapist limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Drama Therapy/
Therapist51.2315
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions programs →
Common questions
What credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate or a Post-master's certificate.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 6 colleges offering the Play Therapy/Therapist program in the U.S.
What is the average number of graduates per year?+
Approximately 93 graduates complete this program each year.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as therapists or health specialties teachers, with a strong job outlook in the field.
What is the CIP code for Play Therapy/Therapist?+
Play Therapy/Therapist is CIP 51.2317 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (CIP 51.23). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to be a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or a School Based-Registered Play Therapist (SB-RPT). Includes instruction in child development, theories of personality, psychotherapy, child and adolescent psychopathology, and ethics.
How many institutions offer Play Therapy/Therapist programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Play Therapy/Therapist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 93 credentials in the year. That is 0.3% of all Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions graduates.
How much do Play Therapy/Therapist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Therapists, All Other occupation, which Play Therapy/Therapist most directly leads to, pays a median of $77,930 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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