Sex Therapy Certificate

To practice therapy, you will need to be licensed in your home state or country. Requirements for this vary based on jurisdiction. The Sex Therapy Certificate on its own does not qualify the holder to practice therapy. It is designed for professionals who a) are already licensed therapists or counselors or b) plan to become licensed practitioners. It provides a body of knowledge focused specifically on sex therapy that complements a professional’s existing training in therapy, psychology, social work, nursing, counseling, etc.

The Sex Therapy Certificate partially fulfills requirements for becoming an AASECT Certified Sexuality Therapist or Counselor. Up to 30 hours of the AASECT-required training can be fulfilled with online learning; these hours may be earned in HSEX 6212 Sex and Relationship Therapy. The courses in this certificate may also fulfill some Core Knowledge Area requirements. Completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification. Visit the AASECT website to learn more about specific requirements.

Certificate students are not eligible for federal financial aid but may have other options for funding. For example, SELF loans are low-interest, long-term student loans available exclusively to students taking courses online or in person at Minnesota institutions. In addition, the University recommends FASTChoice as a tool to explore private loan possibilities. You may also look into the University’s payment plan options to spread payments throughout the semester. Most domestic students are eligible to apply for need-based scholarships specific to the College. Also see the main financial aid page and select “Graduate Certificate Students” for more information.

Note: If you’re considering applying for the MPS in Sexual Health in addition to the certificate, keep in mind that only master’s degree students are eligible for federal financial aid.

Letters of recommendation are an additional way to share your story with the admission panel, but not submitting letters of recommendation will not decrease your chances of admission. If you’re concerned that some areas of your application are not particularly strong, you may want to include a letter of recommendation that supports that area of your application. For example, if you feel that your resume doesn’t show the extent of your professional experience, you might ask a supervisor of a recent volunteer position to write a letter of recommendation about the impact you’ve made in their organization.


If your grades are below the 3.0 requirement, you will need to submit an extenuating circumstances statement describing why you feel you can succeed in the program. In addition, you may want to include a letter of recommendation from someone, such as a former professor, who can speak to your writing and research abilities and potential for academic success. Read more about graduate admission to CCAPS.

Yes! We have had several students at the University of Minnesota and other institutions use the sexual and gender health certificates as a supplement to their other graduate work. For example, if your home university does not offer courses in human sexuality, the certificates may be a good solution for earning an additional credential remotely. University of Minnesota students in various programs have also taken the courses as electives or as an alternative to a graduate minor, or have earned the certificate alongside their graduate program.