So, You Want to Be a Play Therapist in South Africa?

Understanding the path, the studies, and the truth about registration

Play is a child’s natural language, and those who feel called to work with children know that healing often begins through imagination, movement, and play. It’s no wonder so many psychology students, social workers, and counsellors dream of becoming “play therapists.”

But before you enrol in a course with that title, it’s important to understand what play therapy really means in the South African context, and how to build a legitimate and ethical career in this field.

There is no official “Play Therapist” registration in South Africa

In South Africa, “Play Therapist” is not a legally recognised registration category.
To practise play therapy as a modality, you must first be registered in a profession that allows therapeutic or counselling intervention with children – such as Social Work, Psychology, or Wellness Counselling.

Your professional registration determines your scope of practice; play therapy is a specialised way of working within that scope – not a separate professional title.

Let’s look at the different routes available.

Route A: Social Worker (SACSSP)

Study Path

• Complete a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) – four years.
• Register with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).

Practice
As a registered social worker, you can integrate play-based approaches within your statutory and therapeutic work with children. Many social workers later pursue postgraduate specialisation in play-based intervention, such as the MSW Play-Based Intervention or non-academic specialisation courses.

Route B: Registered Counsellor (HPCSA)

Study Path

• Obtain a BA or BSc in Psychology.
• Complete an Honours/BPsyc Equivalent programme with a 720-hour supervised practicum.
• Write the Professional Board exam and register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Registered Counsellor.

Practice
Registered Counsellors work preventatively and developmentally. You can use play and creative interventions to support children’s emotional regulation, coping, and social skills – while referring on when the child’s needs fall outside your scope.

Route C: Psychologist (HPCSA)

Study Path

• Complete a BA/BSc in Psychology → Honours → Master’s in Clinical, Counselling, or Educational Psychology, followed by an internship and board exam.

Practice
Psychologists may integrate play-based techniques within formal therapy processes, particularly in Educational and Counselling Psychology, where play forms part of assessment and treatment with children.

Route D: ASCHP Counsellor

Study Path

• BA/BSc in Psychology / Counselling → Honours → ASCHP → proof of relevant experience → application reviewed by panel → PBI
• BA/BSc in Psychology → Humanitas Counselling Course → ASCHP → PBI

Practice
ASCHP is a SAQA-recognised professional body offering designations such as Supportive Counsellor, Wellness Counsellor and Specialist Wellness Counsellor. Registration with ASCHP allows you to offer wellness counselling within a clearly defined scope of practice. You then add further specialisation – such as a Play-Based Intervention (PBI) course – to work ethically and effectively with children.

Postgraduate Study Options: Master’s in Play-Based Intervention

At present, the University of Pretoria (UP) is the only South African university offering a Master of Social Work (Play-Based Intervention) programme.
This one-year coursework degree (NQF 9) combines advanced theory with supervised practical training. It includes modules such as Play Therapy with the Child, The Child in the Family, The Child in the Community, and a 150-hour practical component.

This programme is open to students with a BSW (or equivalent) who meet the admission requirements and are registered with a relevant professional body (such as the SACSSP).

While other universities offer master’s degrees with strong child- or family-focused components, none currently offer a dedicated “Play Therapy” or “Play-Based Intervention” qualification beyond UP’s programme.

Short Courses and Alternative Training: What to Look For

If you are not yet ready for a master’s programme, or want to deepen your skills within your existing registration, you can pursue a specialist Play-Based Intervention course, such as Humanitas’ PBI Programme.

When choosing a course, be an informed consumer. Look for:

1. Transparency about registration
   • Reputable courses will clearly state that completion does not lead to statutory registration as a “Play Therapist.”
2. Accreditation clarity
   • Understand whether the course is SAQA/CHE credit-bearing, CPD-accredited, or a professional development course.
3. Supervision and practical experience
   • Does the course include structured supervision and documented practical hours?
   • The Humanitas PBI course, for example, includes six full child processes under supervision, with process notes, recorded sessions, and detailed feedback.
4. Ethics and legislation
   • Ensure the course covers South African child laws, Mandatory Reporting (Children’s Act Section 110), POPIA, scope of practice, and professional boundaries.
5. Presenter legitimacy
   • Instructors should hold recognised professional registrations (HPCSA or SACSSP) and have practical experience in child and play-based therapy.
6. Local relevance
   • Be cautious of international “Play Therapy” courses that link only to overseas registration bodies. These are excellent for skills development, but they do not provide legal registration to practise in South Africa.

How to Build a Career in Play-Based Work in South Africa

1. Start with a recognised base profession
   – Social Work, Psychology, or Counselling (ASCHP/HPCSA).
2. Add specialist play-based training
   – Enrol in a course that includes theory, supervision, ethics, and practical hours.
3. Work within your professional scope
   – Know when to refer; collaborate with psychologists, OTs, and social workers as and when needed.
4. Contract ethically
   – Use clear consent forms, define confidentiality limits, and comply with POPIA.
5. Uphold legal and ethical responsibilities
   – Be familiar with mandatory reporting duties, and always prioritise child safety.

The Heart of Play-Based Work

Becoming a play-based practitioner isn’t about titles, it’s about attunement, creativity, and relationship. Whether you are a social worker, counsellor, or psychologist, your role is to create a safe space where children can express, explore, and heal, through the natural language of play.

When you train through a programme that values ethical practice, supervision, and child-centred work, you’re not only learning to play – you’re learning to listen deeply.

Empowering professionals to bring healing through play.

The information shared in this article is based on the most accurate and up-to-date details available at the time of writing. Humanitas does not promote, endorse, or discredit any specific institution, career path, or training programme mentioned. No paid partnerships or sponsorships are associated with this publication. This article is intended purely for informational and educational purposes, to support informed decision-making within the field of play-based intervention in South Africa.