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So you want to be certified?

Jul 1, 2001

You've read Poetic Medicine. You've read all the information you can find on the Internet about Poetry Therapy. You've talked to a few folks who are working in the field, and it sounds like a perfect fit for what you want to do with your life and art. So now what?

Well, you go to the National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT) website at:
http://www.poetrytherapy.org/
and you read about "Trainings and Education." In this section, you will find all kinds of information about becoming a Poetry Therapist, about the difference between Certification (CPT) and Registration (RPT), about Training Institutes and more. On this page you will find the information you need to get a CPT/RPT Training Guide which will cost you $25. The NAPT website now has a shopping cart feature which you can use with a credit card to get the Training Guide as soon as possible. But there is also mailing information available on this page to which you can send a check or money order as well. I requested the guide via check, and it was delivered to me within one week.

Okay, so the package arrives, and you are thinking you are set. Well, not exactly. You are just at the beginning of the process really. But this Training Guide is thorough, so be sure to cozy up with a cup of tea and settle in for some detailed reading. You will find many things in this guide such as:

An overview of Poetry Therapy
Summary of Requirements
Steps to Complete Training
What to Include in your Application
Completing Documentation for Application
FAQ
Forms
Code of Ethics
Approved Mentors
Bibliography

All of this is very helpful. One thing to note immediately is that you must have an appropriate Bachelor's Degree previously to get your CPT. And you must previously have a Master's Degree in a clinical field to go for your RPT.

That said, you will then learn up front that you will need to be ready to make a monetary investment immediately to get started. You will need to file the certification processing fee which can be anywhere from $60 to $145 depending on your starting point in the process. This fee will need to be sent along with your application to get started.

Part of getting started will also require that you set up a relationship with

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