Certification by AASECT as a sexuality educator, sexuality counselor or sex therapist is a crucial step in one's professional advancement, demonstrating to all that stringent requirements for training and experience have been met. AASECT offers certification of sexual health practitioners in four categories: sexuality educator, sexuality counselor, sex therapist and supervisor. For the vast majority of professionals in healthcare and human services, certification is a prerequisite to practice. AASECT credentials sexual health professionals on the basis of rigorous standards for academic preparation, supervised training and consultation, field-related experience and applied skills.

Requirements such as academic degrees, specific core subject areas and clock hours of education and field-related experience and training are identified for each category of certification. Field experience and practical application of skills and competencies carried out under trained and approved supervision or consultation are crucial aspects of certification.

Applicants must substantiate completion of certification requirements with academic transcripts and other formal documentation, and must also undergo peer review of their credentials.

AASECT currently accepts certification applications from individuals from the U.S., Canada, Israel, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Getting Started

Membership

The first step in becoming a part of the AASECT family is to join as an AASECT member. As a member, you will become a part of the AASECT community and have access to our member listserv (google group) where our members are active in sharing ideas, thoughts, recommendations and information about the industry. Please feel free to review our additional member benefits and become a part of our community today!

Certification

If you are interested in pursuing AASECT Certification, we invite you to first review the Certfication types (below) and decide which Certification sounds like the best fit for your career path. We also suggest you also review the FAQs which answer a lot of common questions and provide information on the Certification process. From there you can review the different requirements for Educators, Counselors and Therapists. We also suggest reviewing the Guide to Completing your AASECT Certification Application document on the website which has more in-depth information about the requirements and application process as well.

Education/Courses/Programs

If you are looking for courses/training programs to meet the requirements for certification, we suggest reviewing our listing of AASECT Approved Continuing Education Providers. You will find a listing of individual and organizational providers that offer a wide range of courses, training programs and continuing education that can be used toward meeting the coursework requirements for AASECT Certification and Certification Renewal. Feel free to visit their websites and contact them directly for more information on how their courses and programs can help fulfill the requirements you are looking to meet. You can also review our Continuing Education Calendar, which contains a listing of the upcoming courses that are approved for AASECT CE credits – both online and in-person.

Supervision

If you have additional specific questions about your qualifications or are ready to begin the the certification process, we would encourage you connect with an AASECT Certified Supervisor who will be able to guide you through the process of AASECT Certification. In addition to the required hours of Supervision needed for Certification, part of the role of the AASECT Supervisor is to guide and mentor their supervisees through the process of AASECT Certification and assist with the application process when you are ready to submit your Certification application. Most AASECT Certified Supervisors will meet remotely or in-person, so it is not necessary to limit your search to your area.

Mentoring Program

Once you are an AASECT member, we also would encourage you to check out the AASECT Mentoring Program.

Certification Types

Sex education, sexuality counseling and sex therapy are separate disciplines, not levels of expertise within one discipline or field. When considering which certification for which you wish to apply, you should consider your existing field of expertise and work. Are you primarily an educator, perhaps leading workshops, teaching classes, or organizing and facilitating seminars? Are you primarily a counselor, perhaps working in a clinical or medical setting, giving specific suggestions and advice? Are you primarily a therapist, working with people in individual, partners or family sessions on various sex-related issues? Each of these disciplines requires its own set of skills and knowledge. Use these questions to guide you in your choice of application, or ask a Certified Supervisor, perhaps one that you hope to have as your supervisor, for help with this decision.

AASECT Certified Sexuality Educators teach and train about a range of topics, including but not limited to sexual health; sexual and reproductive anatomy and physiology; family planning, contraception, and pregnancy/childbirth; sexually transmitted infections; sexual orientation; gender identity; sexual function and dysfunction; sexual pleasure; sexual variation; sexuality and disability; sexuality and chronic illness; sexual development across the lifespan; sexual abuse, assault, and coercion; and sexuality across cultures. Sexuality educators may teach in the classroom at the elementary, secondary, and higher education levels. They may also provide education for groups of children, adolescents, or adults, training for professionals, and outreach and education in community-based, healthcare, corporate, and faith-based settings. Sexuality educators also may design and conduct workshops, courses, and seminars; contribute to the sexuality education literature, develop curriculum; plan and administer programs; deliver lectures and provide one-on-one client education sessions.

AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselors represent a variety of professions, ranging from medicine to the clergy. Examples of sexuality counselors are Planned Parenthood counselors, nurses and other health professionals, school counselors, and clinical pastoral care and counseling providers. Counselors assist the client to realistically resolve concerns through the introduction of problem solving techniques of communication as well as providing accurate information and relevant suggestions of specific exercises and techniques in sexual expression. Sexuality counseling is generally short term and client centered, focusing on the immediate concern or problem.

AASECT Certified Sex Therapists are licensed mental health professionals (or the equivalent in approved countries), trained to assess, diagnose, and provide in-depth psychotherapy, who have specialized in treating clients with sexual issues and concerns. Sex therapists work with sexual concerns, including, but not limited to: sexual function and dysfunction; sexual pleasure; sexual variation; sexuality and disability; sexuality and chronic illness; sexual development across the lifespan; sexual abuse, assault, and coercion; sexual orientation; gender identity. In addition, where appropriate, are prepared to provide comprehensive and intensive psychotherapy over an extended period of time in more complex cases. 

For more information on AASECT Certification, click here to visit our FAQ page!

Academic Qualifications

Academic qualifications for certifications for Sexuality Educator and Sexuality Counselor have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree. Those pursuing certification as a Sex Therapist require, at minimum, a Master’s Degree in a clinical specialty that includes psychotherapy training. All of these degrees must be awarded  by regionally accredited colleges or universities or by nationally accredited, faith-based institutions.

This information can be found by searching a college or university’s website for “accreditation.”

Visit this link for more details on regional vs. national accreditation: https://www.edsmart.org/regional-vs-national-accreditation/

In addition to the academic requirements, professional experience, supervision, and academic (credit bearing) coursework specific to the field (sexuality, as well as education, counseling, and/or therapy) must be officially documented. Finally, all candidates MUST be supervised by AASECT certified professionals for the indicated number of hours. The specific coursework and supervision are clearly detailed on our website. Pursuit of more than one certification requires supervision and coursework in each.

AASECT cannot recommend any specific academic programs; however, candidates are encouraged to pursue a regionally accredited college or university or a nationally accredited, faith-based institutions.

The following websites may be helpful in your search:

http://www.chea.org/

https://www.edsmart.org/regional-vs-national-accreditation/

AASECT does not provide student visas nor funding to international applicants.

Professional Guidelines and Expectations

What is Expected of AASECT Certified Professionals? Review details of the Professional Conduct Guidelines below:

AASECT Professional Conduct Guidelines

To acquire, maintain or renew AASECT Certification, the certified member is required:

1. To maintain membership with AASECT as defined in Article III, Section B, of the AASECT Bylaws including continuing education (CE) as required.
2. To adhere to the AASECT Code of Conduct.

 *Vision of Sexual Health
 *AASECT Policy on Touch

3. To be licensed or credentialed in the state of practice as mandated by law and be knowledgeable and aware of the limitations of such licensure or credential.
4. To respond to and provide full and accurate information about pending or actual actions against any license or credential or surrender of a license or credential, that serves as a partial condition for certification.
5. To truthfully, accurately and completely respond to any and all questions on initial and renewal applications.
6. To remain current on new developments in the field of sexuality and sexuality counseling.
7. To earn a minimum of twenty (20) AASECT CE Credits every three (3) years for AASECT Certification Renewal. CE credits used for Certification Renewal are subject to the review and approval of the certification committee and must align with AASECT policies, ethics and positions. 

The AASECT website and other appropriate documents state clearly what conditions are expected of a certificate holder to earn or retain said certificate, and what procedures may be
followed if a client/patient or other individual feels that the standards of AASECT may have been violated. Bylaws, Code of Conduct and AASECT Certification Renewal Policies

NOTE: AASECT Supervisor status pertains solely to the supervision process of those seeking AASECT Certification status as a Sexuality Educator, Sexuality Counselor, Sex Therapist or
Practitioner Supervisor. AASECT does not condone or encourage anyone to provide supervision that is beyond the scope or jurisdiction of their professional license or credentials. Each person
who does supervision is responsible for knowing the limitations of their license and/or credentials. 

While working toward AASECT certification and prior to beginning Supervision, AASECT membership must be maintained at all times. After certification, AASECT membership must always be maintained to continue certification.