Continuing Education at PAPI

The Philadelphia Area Psychodrama Institute is committed to offering training that counts — toward your license renewal, toward national certification, and toward the kind of professional development that actually changes how you work.

NAADAC Approved Education Provider

PAPI is a NAADAC Approved Education Provider (Provider #268696). NAADAC — the Association for Addiction Professionals — is the nation's largest addiction-focused professional association, and its CE approval program is recognized by licensing and certification boards across the country.

What NAADAC approval means for you: CE hours earned through approved PAPI trainings are accepted toward national credentialing by the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP), and by many individual state licensing and certification bodies for addiction and helping professionals. In Pennsylvania, NAADAC CE hours are accepted by the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.

We only submit trainings for NAADAC CE approval that have already met their content standards — meaning every training that carries NAADAC CE credit has been reviewed for its applicability to substance use, co-occurring disorders, and related helping professions practice. When a PAPI training lists NAADAC CEs, it's documented and legitimate.

CE documentation is provided to all participants upon completion of approved trainings. Check individual event listings to confirm CE availability and hours for a specific offering.

Psychodrama Certification Hours:
CP and TEP

The American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy (ABE) is the national certifying body for psychodrama practitioners in the United States. The ABE offers three levels of certification: Certified Practitioner (CP), Practitioner Applicant for Trainer (PAT), and Trainer, Educator, and Practitioner (TEP). Training hours through PAPI — including training groups, intensives, and workshops — are applicable toward both CP and TEP certification.

Certified Practitioner (CP)

CP certification requires a total of 780 hours of face-to-face training in psychodrama, sociometry, and group psychotherapy. The majority of those hours must come from ABE-certified TEPs, though up to 160 hours may be provided by Practitioner Applicants for Trainer (PATs) — ABE-certified practitioners formally enrolled in the process of becoming TEPs.

CP certification also requires a minimum of 52 weeks of supervised practice, at least 40 supervision sessions (at least half with a TEP), and endorsement from a primary and secondary trainer, both of whom must be TEPs.

A few things worth knowing: training hours toward CP do not expire, so you can accumulate them over time. A master's-level licensed mental health professional may be eligible for a waiver of up to 100 of the required 780 hours.

Practitioner Applicant for Trainer (PAT)

PAT is not a separate certification — it's a formal status held by CPs who have enrolled in the process of becoming a TEP. A CP who has submitted a PAT Initiation form to the ABE and been enrolled is designated CP, PAT, and may begin offering psychodrama training hours to students working toward their own CP certification.

The PAT process requires a minimum of three years, during which the PAT must conduct at least 144 hours of progressively responsible training under supervision, receive a minimum of 48 hours of consultation from a TEP, and engage in ongoing professional development. Annual updates to the ABE are required throughout.

Trainer, Educator, and Practitioner (TEP)

TEP is the highest level of psychodrama certification. TEPs are the primary providers of training hours and supervision for individuals working toward CP and PAT/TEP certification. Only TEPs can serve as primary trainers for PAT candidates.

PAPI's lead faculty hold CP, PAT, and TEP credentials, meaning training hours earned through PAPI are fully creditable toward ABE certification at every level.

Documentation

Participants in PAPI trainings that offer psychodrama certification hours receive documentation upon completion. Keep this documentation — the ABE requires it as part of the certification application. Documentation typically includes the date, location, title of the training, the name and credentials of the trainer(s), and the number of hours offered.

For Clinicians Tracking License Renewal CEs

Beyond NAADAC, many of our trainings are relevant to licensed social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists seeking continuing education for license renewal. CE eligibility varies by state licensing board and by the specific training.

If you're unsure whether a specific PAPI training will meet your state board's CE requirements, we recommend checking with your board directly. We're happy to provide whatever documentation your board requires, including learning objectives, training descriptions, and attendance verification.

Questions About CEs

Reach out at info@philapsychodrama.com. We'll give you a straight answer about what a specific training offers and how it fits into your professional development plan.