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Becoming a certified cognitive behavioral therapist requires a license to practice therapy, training, and practice. Certification can be obtained through classes or professional agencies, but it is not required to use CBT. Different types of certification may require experience and case reviews.
A mental health professional can become a cognitive behavioral therapist through training and practice, taking classes that offer certification, or applying to one of the many certification agencies. The path to certification in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) varies by region and agency, and there is more than one way to achieve this goal. No certification of any kind, other than a license to practice therapy, is required to use CBT with individuals or groups. It is highly recommended that anyone wanting to use CBT have sufficient training and practice in this form of therapy.
The basic requirement for becoming a cognitive behavioral therapist is a license to practice therapy. Licensed professional psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors meet this requirement. Marriage and family therapists and licensed clinical social workers can also specialize in CBT. If possible, any of these professionals should attend CBT classes at school and have the opportunity to use this therapy in supervised practice.
College training provides a solid foundation for using CBT once a person has a license. Occasionally, school-level training can lead to provisional certification in CBT. The British Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies follows this model.
Not everyone practices much in grad school or internship. Fortunately, there are numerous graduate seminar and continuing education unit opportunities that will give people who are already licensed the necessary skills to become a cognitive behavioral therapist. Some of these programs lead to certification.
There are no requirements other than license and competency when it comes to practicing cognitive behavioral therapy at a professional level. Many professionals are content to be competent and work skillfully in this modality with clients. Some professionals want to become a cognitive behavioral therapist to demonstrate their competency to clients, align themselves with specific therapy techniques, and/or join a professional group of CBT therapists. Regardless of the reason for certification, professionals may have a variety of options.
CBT classes are one way to become a certified cognitive behavioral therapist. Another method is to apply to professional agencies that offer certification. For example, in the United States, individuals can obtain certification through the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists (NACBT) or the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (ACT).
Applications from certification agencies can be a little expensive and may require letters of recommendation from peers. Certification to become a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist may also depend on a certain amount of years of experience and demonstrating CBT skills with case reviews or videotapes. There are different types of certification, and specific types may depend on the practitioner’s area of expertise, such as in group therapy versus individual therapy.
Any professional should carefully review certification agencies. The benefit of certification from any professional organization depends on its reputation. The best agencies should include recognized members of the CBT field as experts.
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