Sex therapists help people address sexual health and relationship issues and find pleasure. These mental health practitioners go through advanced education and training programs to gain expertise in human sexuality.
Generally, sex therapists need a master’s degree that includes psychotherapy training, supervised clinical experience, a state license and specialized sex therapy training and/or certification.
Forbes Advisor explains each step of the process in detail in our research-backed guide. We also talked to a clinical sexologist to get personal insight and tips for entering this field.
Steps To Become a Sex Therapist
If you want to become a sex therapist, you must earn a graduate degree, complete clinical experience hours and obtain a mental health practitioner license. Sex therapists also undergo specialized sex therapy training and may pursue certification.
Before you begin this process, give thought to what draws you to this field and “understand your ‘why,’” recommends Stacey Diane Arañez Litam, a clinical sexologist with the American Board of Sexology and an associate professor of counselor education at Cleveland State University.
Really think about what you hope to accomplish and consider that “there is always something new to learn, and cultural humility combined with a willingness to journey alongside our clients represents powerful strategies that promote healing, sexual health and pleasure liberation,” she says.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
First, earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college. Undergraduate majors in psychology, social work or counseling prepare you for graduate programs in sex therapy. In many cases, you don’t need a specific undergraduate major, but you may need to complete prerequisites.
Complete a Master’s or Doctoral Degree
Next, earn an advanced clinical degree that includes psychotherapy training from an accredited college. This is necessary to qualify for licensure. Options include a doctorate in psychology. Some programs offer a concentration or track in sex therapy.
Most master’s degrees take about two years to complete. Doctoral program lengths vary, but may take four to seven years.
Meet Postgraduate Clinical Experience Requirements
After finishing graduate school, complete supervised clinical hours. The number of required clinical hours varies by state, licensure type and degree. You may need to pass a clinical exam after completing your clinical experience hours to meet licensure requirements.
Obtain Licensure to Practice Psychotherapy
After finishing clinical experience requirements, apply for licensure to practice counseling or therapy in your state. The type of credential depends on your state and degree. Sex therapists may hold a license in marriage and family therapy, counseling, social work or psychology.
Consider Certification
Most states don’t recognize or require a separate credential for sex therapists beyond one of the mental health practitioner licenses described above. However, earning a voluntary sex therapist certification proves that you completed sex therapy training and coursework and ensures clients of your expertise.
The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) offers the best-known credential: the Certified Sex Therapist certification. Sex therapists can also pursue certification from other credentialing bodies, like the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute and the International Board of Sexuality Professionals.
What Is a Sex Therapist?
Sex therapists are licensed mental health professionals who help clients with sexual health issues and concerns through psychotherapy or counseling. Sex therapy can improve sexual health and relationships. Sex therapists address issues like low libido, sexual addiction, intimacy problems in relationships and sexual dysfunction.
When asked about the most common issues that she has helped people with, clinical sexologist Litam mentions “working through desire discrepancies (also referred to as mismatched desire), recovering after sexual trauma and consent violations, decolonizing kink and BDSM, centering pleasure as BIPOC and People of the Global Majority (PGM) individuals, and exploring topics related to ethical nonmonogamy and opening up relationships.”
She also emphasizes, “It’s important to note that sex therapists aren’t just helpful for addressing concerns. We can also assist people in liberating sexuality and increasing pleasure.” The most surprising thing about being a sex therapist is “how rarely people give themselves permission to explore their wants, needs or desires.”
She goes on to say, “I’m often surprised at how quickly and deeply people can connect with themselves and their partner(s), achieve goals and strengthen relationships once they receive permission to explore what’s pleasurable and what’s possible.”
Sex Therapist Salary and Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not collect salary and job data specifically on sex therapists. However, it does report on marriage and family therapists, a job category that includes many sex therapists.
According to the BLS, marriage and family therapists earn a median annual salary of $63,780. The agency projects 16% job growth for these professionals between 2023-33, a much faster than average rate.
Sex Therapist Certification Through AASECT
The AASECT offers the most popular certification for sex therapists: the Certified Sex Therapist certification. Although not required to practice sex therapy, earning certification can improve your reputation among fellow professionals and clients. Requirements for AASECT sex therapist certification include:
- AASECT membership
- Agree to the AASECT Code of Conduct
- A master’s or doctoral degree that includes psychotherapy training from an accredited college or university
- One year (for doctorate-holders) or two years (for master’s degree-holders) of professional sex therapy clinical experience. Clinical experience must include diagnosis and treatment of psychosexual functions and therapy with patients of all genders and couples
- A valid state license or certificate for the state you practice in and the ability to independently practice psychotherapy in psychology, medicine, social work, counseling, nursing or marriage and family therapy
- A minimum of 90 hours of human sexuality education coursework
- A minimum of 60 hours of sex therapy with clients that include diagnoses of psychosexual disorders
- A minimum of 14 hours of attitude and values training
- A minimum of 50 hours of supervision with an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor
- $300 application fee
In addition to certification, Litam encourages sex therapists to consider “trainings, workshops, coursework and other specialized forms of training that equip practitioners with the awareness, knowledge and skills to serve clients with issues related to intimacy, pleasure, relationships, attachment, trauma, sexual health, reproductive health, BDSM/kink and more.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sex Therapists
How long does it take to become a certified sex therapist?
Sex therapists need a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, which usually takes about six years total to complete. Completing postgraduate clinical training hours (the amount varies by state and degree), applying for licensure and pursuing voluntary certification also takes some time. It usually takes six to seven years minimum to become a sex therapist.
Can I become a sex therapist without a degree?
No, you can’t become a sex therapist without earning a mental health practitioner master’s degree. Qualifying degrees include a master’s in counseling, marriage and family therapy or social work, or a doctorate in psychology.
What qualifications do I need to become a sex therapist?
To become a sex therapist, you need a graduate degree in counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work or psychology. You also need to earn a state-issued mental health practitioner license that allows you to provide psychotherapy services to clients. Although voluntary, consider a sex therapy certification.
