Sexuality is a shared human experience, and sex therapy can promote positive sexual health and wellness.

Sex therapists give their clients a safe space to learn about and talk through their sexual concerns. A sex therapist is a licensed therapist with rigorous training in sex education and human sexuality.

This article gives you a step-by-step guide on how to become a sex therapist. Read on to learn about this career’s required education and certification process.

How to Become a Sex Therapist

A sex therapist is a licensed professional who treats clients with sexual concerns. These therapists hold advanced degrees in psychology, psychotherapy or other clinical professions and have undergone extensive sex therapy training.

Becoming a sex therapist requires a graduate-level education and clinical experience as a licensed counselor or psychologist. You also need specialized certification and training from an accredited organization to pursue a career as a sex therapist. We explore specific steps below.

Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for graduate school, which is required to become a sex therapist. Typically, prospective sex therapists pursue a bachelor’s in psychology, a bachelor’s degree in counseling or a similar diploma. Some graduate programs may accept applicants with bachelor’s degrees in unrelated subjects.

A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to complete. Kick off your search with our rankings of the best online degrees in psychology and the best online counseling degrees.

Complete Graduate School

To qualify for certification to become a sex therapist, you must obtain an advanced degree from an accredited university. Students may pursue graduate programs in psychology, counseling, social work or therapy. Your degree may be a master’s or doctorate and must include psychotherapy training.

A master’s degree typically takes two years to complete. Completion times for doctoral degrees vary widely. If you’re unsure where to start, consider our ranking of the best online psychology master’s degrees.

Complete Postgraduate Clinical Experience

Upon finishing a doctoral or master’s program, you must gain experience as a counselor or therapist. If you hold a master’s degree, you must complete two years of clinical experience to qualify for certification. With a doctorate, you only need only one year.

Earn Licensure to Practice Psychotherapy

The next step is to obtain the necessary credentials to practice therapy or counseling in your state. Depending on your state’s requirements and your graduate degree level, you may earn licensure in any of the following specialties: social work, counseling, nursing, psychology, or marriage and family therapy.

Become an AASECT Member

The American Association of Sexuality, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) administers professional certification for sexuality educators and therapists. Obtaining AASECT certification is required to practice as a sex therapist.

Complete Human Sexuality Education

Applicants for AASECT certification must complete 90 hours of coursework in sex education. Core knowledge areas include the following:

• Cybersexuality and social media
• Developmental sexuality across the lifespan
• Diversities in sexual expression and lifestyles
• Ethics and ethical behavior
• Health factors influencing sexuality
• History of sex research, theory, education, counseling and therapy
• Intimacy skills, intimate relationships, interpersonal relationships and family dynamics
• Issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity
• Learning theory and its application
• Pleasure enhancement skills
• Principles of sexuality research and research methods
• Professional communication and personal reflection skills
• Range of sexual functioning and behavior
• Sexual and reproductive anatomy/physiology
• Sexual exploitation, including sexual abuse, harassment and assault
• Sociocultural and familial influences on sexual values and behaviors
• Substance use and sexuality

Undergo Sex Therapy Training

AASECT certification applicants must undergo 60 hours of sex therapy training, which simulates therapy sessions with clients who have psychosexual disorders.

Complete an AASECT-Approved Sexuality Attitude Reassessment (SAR)

SAR is a seminar for mental health providers and educators designed to challenge their beliefs and attitudes toward sexuality topics. It’s required to complete 14 hours of SAR professional development to qualify for AASECT certification. You may complete these hours virtually or in person.

Complete AASECT-Supervised Clinical Experience

Applicants for AASECT certification must complete 300 hours of supervised clinical treatment. This supervised clinical experience involves acting as the primary therapist for clients, exposing candidates to various psychosexual disorders.

Complete Supervision Hours

Prospective sex therapists must also provide 50 hours of sex therapy under the watch of an AASECT-certified supervisor. Applicants with at least 10 years of qualifying clinical experience may complete only 25 supervision hours.

Apply for AASECT Sex Therapist Certification

AASECT prefers certification applicants to submit their applications via email, though mail is also an option. Below we list everything you’ll need to submit with your application. Note that applying incurs a $300 nonrefundable fee.

• Signed and dated AASECT sex therapist certification application
• Copy of transcript
• Proof of AASECT membership
• Documentation of 90 hours of education in core knowledge areas
• Evidence of 60 hours of training in sex therapy, including attendance certificates and syllabi
• Documentation of a group SAR experience
• Proof of 300 hours of clinical experience as the primary therapist in the form of letters from supervisors
• Letters verifying the supervised clinical work from an AASECT-certified supervisor
• Two letters of endorsement from professional colleagues

Renew Certification

AASECT membership lasts three years before renewal is needed. The processing fee associated with the renewal is $150 for most certification holders. You must complete 20 hours of continuing education to qualify for certification renewal.

Other AASECT Certifications

In addition to the sex therapist credential, AASECT offers certifications in multiple areas of sexual health. You might also pursue certification as a sexuality counselor or educator.

Sexuality Counselor

Counselors work to provide their clients with information and techniques to help resolve sexual issues. Sexuality-trained counselors can include school counselors and physicians.

Sexuality Educator

These educators teach various subjects concerning sex and sexual health. Sexuality educators may work with students one on one or in classroom settings.

Sex Therapist Salary and Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not report data for sex therapists specifically, but it does report on marriage and family therapists (MFTs). Many sex therapists are MFTs.

According to the BLS, MFTs earn a median annual salary of $56,570. The BLS projects demand for these professionals to grow by 14% from 2021 to 2031.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About How to Become a Sex Therapist

Where do sex therapists make the most money?

MFTs, including sex therapists, make the most money in Utah, where they earn an average of $89,980 per year, according to the BLS.

Is sex therapy a good career?

Sex therapy is a specialized aspect of mental healthcare that helps people work through sexual issues and concerns. Though this career can be challenging, many also find it rewarding.

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