Key Takeaways
To become a sex therapist, you need a graduate degree in counseling, clinical training, and certification through organizations like AASECT.
Sex therapist certification typically requires at least 300 supervised clinical hours and specialized training in human sexuality and sex therapy.
Therapists specializing in couples or sex therapy earn a median salary of $66,940, and jobs in this field are projected to grow much faster than average.
Sex therapists occupy a unique niche among mental health professionals. They use clinical techniques, compassionate insights, and interdisciplinary expertise to help clients navigate deeply personal issues involving intimacy and sexuality.
To become a sex therapist, you must combine targeted academic training with field-specific professional development. The journey also involves licensure and specialized certifications. Explore requirements and pathways, and connect with opportunities to launch your learning journey.
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Education and Experience Required to Become a Sex Therapist
To become a sex therapist, you need a master's degree in a mental health field. Since dedicated master's programs in sex therapy are relatively rare, most aspiring sex therapists earn a graduate degree in counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, or psychology to meet the educational requirements for licensure.
Most master's degrees can be completed within two years for full-time students and include a clinical internship where you can gain valuable experience working with clients in the field. Graduate programs incorporate practicum and internship opportunities that can be tailored to your clinical interests.
Students interested in becoming a sex therapist should also familiarize themselves with the certification requirements established by theAmerican Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), which include specialized training and supervised clinical experience.
How to Become a Sex Therapist: 5 Key Steps
The process of becoming a sex therapist unfolds across five main steps. These steps begin with a bachelor's degree and conclude with AASECT certification.
1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree
As an undergraduate student, you will build knowledge foundations by earning a relevant degree that will support your future specialization.
A bachelor's degree in psychology is a popular option, but you can also study behavioral science, human development, human services, social work, or sociology. Degrees in gender studies may also transfer to the sex therapy field.
2. Earn a Relevant Master's Degree
Even at the master's level, programs that specifically and exclusively cover sex therapy are uncommon. Therefore, aspiring sex therapists usually earn a master's degree that leads to professional licensure in mental health.
Consider graduate programs in:
Some such programs offer sex therapy courses or concentrations. Seek these out as you compare schools. You can also work with your academic advisor to design a degree plan that advances your career goals.
3. Satisfy Any Remaining AASECT Required Coursework
Schools often design their graduate programs to meet state-level licensing standards in mental health fields. As a result, they may not directly align with AASECT coursework requirements.
To bridge any academic gaps, you may need to supplement your master's degree with workshop courses, continuing education, or certificate programs in sex therapy.
4. Become a Licensed Mental Health Professional
After completing all academic requirements, you must earn a state-level license to work as a mental health professional. Specific requirements vary among jurisdictions and pathways, but the process involves supervised clinical training under a licensed mental health professional. You'll also need to pass one or more licensing exams.
Depending on your educational background and your state's regulatory standards, you could pursue a licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) designation.
5. Complete AASECT Sex Therapist Certification Requirements
To get certified as a sex therapist by AASECT, you must satisfy all of the organization's field-specific requirements. AASECT updates these from time to time, so review the latest standards at an early stage.
AASECT standards broadly include:
A qualifying graduate degree
1-2 years of post-graduate experiential training
State-level licensure or clinical certification
An AASECT membership
What Does a Sex Therapist Do?
A sex therapist is a licensed mental health professional who specializes in helping individuals and couples navigate emotional or psychological barriers to sexual fulfillment. Whether it is performance anxiety, intimacy issues, or other relationship challenges, a sex therapist utilizes psychotherapeutic interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients achieve their goals.
Sex therapists do not treat medical reasons for sexual dysfunction, such as low testosterone. These physical concerns are addressed by a medical physician. However, sex therapists play a vital role in improving a person's sexual relationship(s) by overcoming psychosocial challenges impacting their sexual health.
Key Skills for a Sex Therapist
Key skills for a sex therapist include:
Active listening and empathy for clients' sexual struggles
In-depth knowledge of sexual health, physiology, and anatomy
Understanding of couples' communication techniques
Discernment to refer to appropriate medical physicians when necessary
Proficiency in a variety of evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including CBT, mindfulness-based therapy, and emotion-based therapy
Healthy professional boundaries
Sex Therapist Licensure and Certification
Each state has different licensing requirements for the number of supervised clinical hours mental health professionals need to become fully licensed in their discipline, whether that be social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling, or psychology. Licensure in these fields typically requires completing an advanced degree, supervised experience, and national exams.
While there is no state licensure specific to sex therapists, mental health professionals who want to become sex therapists typically pursue certification with a professional organization.
Professional organizations for sex therapists include:
Career Outlook for Sex Therapists
Therapists who work with couples, including sex therapists, make a median annual wage of $66,940, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 data. And with a projected growth rate of 13% between 2024 and 2034, this profession is expected to grow more than four times faster than the average for all occupations (3%).
In general, specialized therapists earn more due to their advanced skills and expertise, suggesting that a specialization as a sex therapist can increase earning potential.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Sex Therapist
Yes, a sex therapist is a licensed mental health professional who provides evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions to help people struggling with intimacy, performance anxiety, or other barriers to sexual health.
As a distinct field, sex therapy emerged in the 20th century as human sexuality entered the mental health domain after operating for centuries within the confines of religion and morality. This change reflected a growing recognition of sexuality as an important element of personal well-being.
