STA Certification for RSP, CST, and CST-T

Sandplay recognizes four levels of membership. Anyone may become an Associate. After that, there are three levels of membership requiring application and training: Registered Sandplay Practitioner; STA/ISST Certified Sandplay Therapist (CST); and STA/ISST Certified Sandplay Therapist – Teaching Member (CST-T). See the STA Handbook for complete details on each level.

Overview of Requirements for RSP, CST, and CST-T

As shown in the chart below, once pre-qualifications are met, therapists have the choice of whether to pursue RSP or CST certification. Those pursuing the RSP level may choose later to continue their sandplay training and attain CST certification, or may choose to remain as Registered Sandplay Practitioners. Anyone wishing to become a Teaching Member must be a Certified Sandplay Therapist for 2 years prior to completing the additional requirements for Teaching Member. The section below provides further details on the steps to become a Certified Sandplay Therapist.

	Pre-Qualifications RSP & CST	Associate Member of STA Proof of post-graduate degree Licensure in a mental health field Malpractice insurance
	Registered Sandplay Practitioner (RSP)	Personal sandplay process 36 education & training hours 15-25 case consultation hours 2 letters of recommendation
	Candidate for STA/ISST Certified Sandplay Therapist	100 hours of analysis / psychotherapy / personal sandplay process 120 education & training hours 40 case consultation hours Advisor agreement 1st paper (symbol) Advisory interview
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	STA/ISST Certified Sandplay Therapist (CST)	2nd paper (symbol or theory) 80 case consultation hours Final case paper
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	STA/ISST Teaching Member (CST-T)	2 years experience as CST Present additional case study Co-teaching Co-facilitating Attend STA/ISST conference Present at STA/ISST conference or publish article Familiarity with statutes, rules, code of ethics

Certified Sandplay Therapist

The process for becoming a Certified Sandplay Therapist (CST) includes a set of pre-qualifications that builds on the requirements for Registered Sandplay Practitioner, followed by education and training, personal development, and case consultation. The trainee applies to become a CST after having met all of the education/training and approximately half of the additional requirements, including the first symbol paper. The Admissions Chair then arranges an advisory interview. After the interview is complete, the applicant is advanced to Candidate for CST status and then completes the remaining hours of training and writing to become certified, as shown in the diagram below.