What is Expected of AASECT Certified Diplomates

In order to maintain certification as an AASECT Certified Diplomate, and to Renew Certification, the member is required as follows:

To maintain membership with AASECT in good standing as defined in Article III, Section G of the AASECT Bylaws at www.aasect.org [1].

1. To adhere to the AASECT Code of Conduct [2] posted at www.AASECT.org [1].
2. Only licensed individuals obtained Diplomate status after a minimum of 5 years certification as a Certified Therapist. (If the member is not licensed and/or licensure is not needed for the member to practice, he/she should provide an appropriate explanation of such). AASECT reserves the right to decline to renew Diplomate certification to otherwise qualified Members who do not hold licenses in the jurisdiction(s) in which they practice. Inaccuracy will require immediate corrective measures, including possible revocation of certification. The Diplomate should have demonstrated additional service to the field of sexology and to AASECT.
3. To respond to and provide full and accurate information about pending or actual actions against any license or surrender of a license that serves as a partial condition for certification.
4. To respond truthfully, accurately and completely to any and all questions on initial and renewal applications.
5. To stay up-to-date on new developments in the field of sexuality and sex therapy.
6. To earn a minimum of 20 AASECT approved Continuing Education credits/hours every three years.
7. For those Diplomates who wish to supervise candidates for AASECT certification as Sex Therapists or Sexuality Counselors, application for Supervisor status is required.

Failure to comply with any of the above may result in actions against the Certified Professional’s membership. The AASECT Board reserves the right to investigate and take actions against Certified Professional’s membership/certifications when other complaints (not listed above) are introduced against an AASECT certified Diplomate.

Falsification of information provided in an application, or any other information related to certification (e.g., continuing education credits earned) shall be grounds for either action against a membership/certification or report to a licensing board. Inaccuracy will require immediate corrective measures, including possible revocation of certification.

Any person may, in good faith, lodge a complaint with AASECT against a certificate holder, as long as it is in writing, signed, and with an agreement to be contacted by AASECT to provide any necessary clarification or supporting documentation available.

A complaint may allege that a certificate holder has violated either the requirements for certification or the Code of Conduct [2] of AASECT or the Bylaws [3].

Any complaint will be reviewed by AASECT for substance. The name of the member shall be known only to the Directors or other appropriate body designated by the AASECT Board or Executive Committee. AASECT will make an educational advisory regarding any ethical or practice issues or Bylaw violations regarding the case, which shall be shared with the Member. The Member will be required to read and respond to the advisory giving assurance that it was understood, and that the Member will only practice in accordance with its recommendations.

The Board of Directors may also consider action against a certificate holder if it learns in any manner (e.g., national clearinghouse) about an action against the certificate holder’s license. The Board may take action against a certificate holder who has received an educational advisory from AASECT if AASECT later learns that problematic practices identified therein persist.

If the Board of Directors decides to pursue a complaint, both the certificate holder and the relevant licensing board shall be contacted to ascertain, in writing, if any action is pending or has been taken.

If action is pending before a licensing board or other similar body, the Board of Directors may choose to await the decision of the licensing board or other agency of authority before considering further action. The relevant body and/or the certificate holder shall be contacted on a reasonably regular basis to determine the status of the case.

If action is taken against a license, the Board of Directors shall consider parallel action. A license revocation should result in an automatic revocation of a certificate (and possibly AASECT membership as well). A license suspension should result in a suspension of a certificate(s). Depending on the sanctions imposed by the licensing board, the Board of Directors may impose additional requirements for reinstatement if deemed appropriate (e.g., education, supervision).

If a serious complaint is lodged against a certified therapist or a flagrant violation is reported, the member’s certification status is considered “Pending” until the time the inquiry or complaint is satisfactorily resolved, or there is a 2/3 vote by the Board of Directors to utilize the Pending status. This constitutes a limited abridgment of good standing in AASECT.

A Pending status implies that the member may not renew any certification within AASECT until the status is resolved. The Pending status will prohibit the member from running for AASECT elected or appointed positions, or from displaying the AASECT Therapist or Diplomate certification, or having referrals made by AASECT to the Pending status until the status is resolved. AASECT Office will maintain a list of all certificate holders who are assigned Pending status.

The Pending status has no authority to prevent the member from practicing as a therapist in their licensed state or for practicing another profession which AASECT does not certify. Confidentiality of the member is respected and only the Board of Directors is aware of the circumstances surrounding the Pending status. The responsibility for resolving the Pending status rests on the member.

If action against a certificate holder’s license is neither pending nor has been taken, the Board of Directors may choose to initiate a complaint to a licensing board based on direct evidence at its disposal. (It should be noted here that most if not all states grant immunity from liability to anyone participating in a Board case in good faith.)

If conditions warrant (such as, failure to meet CE requirements or falsification of CE information), the Board of Directors may choose to take action against a certificate holder whether or not action has been taken against his or her license. Such actions could include probation with conditions for reinstatement (e.g., education, supervision), suspension, or revocation. A 2/3 vote by the Board is required in order to revoke membership in AASECT.

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. Procedures described could include the possibility of lodging complaints with AASECT and/or the relevant licensing board.

I _________________________________ have read and agree to the above terms.

_______________________________________________ __________________

(Member’s Signature)                                                   (Date)