After Play Therapists register with the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT), the career prospects are very good.

Qualified Play Therapists should have a choice in the way they are paid. Social Workers who become Play Therapists are often paid as social workers on their scales as this benefits both employee and employer. Similarly, Teachers who become Play Therapists should be able to be paid as teachers using the national teachers' pay scales (www.teachernet.gov.uk/pay).
The Agenda for Change bands and pay scale has caused a lot of discussion and controversy. Currently, employees working in the NHS are no longer paid by the Whitley scales but are assessed for the appropriate band and job description of the Agenda for Change. This has left some Play Therapists vulnerable to pay cuts with the danger of being inappropriately assessed: for example, as a 'play specialist in hospitals' who only earns approximately £16,000.
BAPT continues to be part of a steering group on this issue, especially for employees in education. However, as at November 2007 good guidelines for Agenda for Change are:

l. Any Play/Arts Therapist who is at entry level should begin at band 7, NOT band 6

2. If the Play/Arts Therapist is the only one of his/her kind at the facility, this should be recognised (financially) within the Agenda for Change banding

If the job situation does not utilise the social work, teachers', or Agenda for Change pay scales, our recommendation is a starting salary for a newly qualified Play Therapist of £28,000.
Experienced Play Therapists should earn £32,000 and upwards depending on length of experience and level of responsibility.
Sessional work rates for those in private practice vary greatly according to geographical area, but start at £35 per session for newly qualified Play Therapists and range from £45-£70 for experienced Play Therapists.
Most charge extra for travelling time / mileage

This information relates only to qualified Play Therapists registered with BAPT.

LONDON ALLOWANCE

Since the abolition of the London Pay Board, no organisation has been responsible for setting London Weighting. Currently the amounts paid by employers as London Weighting, or London Allowance, or in some cases both, vary greatly.
As of March 2007, the London Weighting is worth between £3,000 and £4,000.

(page last updated Nov 2007)