All About AASECT Certification:
Free Webinar

Mystified by the AASECT certification process? Let Dr. Stephanie Buehler, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor, enlighten you!
Get your questions about AASECT certification answered right away by either watching the video or scrolling down to the FAQ's below!

This recording applies to anyone seeking AASECT certification, but please note that The Buehler Institute is an "Institutional Provider" for AASECT, which means when you finish our Comprehensive Sexology Program you can just upload your certificate of completion and transcript and voila! Your application is DONE!


*Note: This is a recorded webinar.
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No continuing education credit is provided for this webinar, it is designed to be a free resource for future sex therapists and counselors.

Course Content

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AASECT?

AASECT is the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. It is the largest organization to certify sexuality professionals.

Who should get AASECT certification?

If you are passionate about helping people regarding sexual issues, or you know that you want to make sexuality your niche, then you should consider AASECT certification. Here at The Buehler Institute, we primarily assist those interested in certification as a sex therapist (for mental health clinicians) or a sexuality counselor (for allied professionals like healthcare providers or members of the clergy). AASECT also certifies sexuality educators. You can read more about each type of certification on AASECT's website.

Why should I get AASECT certified?

AASECT certification requires you to attain a thorough foundation of study and clinical or fieldwork so that you can provide competent and ethical services concerning sexuality. Other professionals respect AASECT certified professionals as being experts in the field.

I notice there are different types of certifications. Which one is right for me?

Basically, there are four certifications: therapist, counselor, educator, and supervisor. A sex therapist is someone who has at minimum a Master’s degree in psychology or related area and a license to practice psychotherapy. A sexuality counselor is generally a healthcare provider with at minimum a Master’s degree in an appropriate area and is licensed to practice. A sexuality educator also has a Master’s degree in education and experience in teaching or training. A supervisor already has to have one of these certifications and needs to be certified for three years before they can work on this certification.

What is involved in certification?

First, you will need to be a member of AASECT. You can read about membership benefits on the AASECT site. Second, you will need to attain education in core knowledge areas and practice areas. All certifications require 90 hours of core knowledge and additional educational hours in the area of specialization. You will need to take a 14-hour experiential workshop called a SAR, or Sexual Attitude Reassessment. And you will need to complete a designated number of hours of supervision and fieldwork as follows: 50 hours of supervision and 300 clinical hours for sex therapists; 30 hours of supervision and 100 hours of supervision for sexuality counselors. We recommend that you watch Dr. Buehler’s free recorded presentation or attend a free live workshop regarding the certification process where you can ask questions about this process; find this on the course catalog page.

What is The Buehler Institute and how is it involved with AASECT?

The Buehler Institute was founded by psychologist and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist/Supervisor Dr. Stephanie Buehler. Dr. Buehler called her practice an “Institute” because she knew teaching others would be a major part of her career as a psychologist. The Buehler Institute offers continuing education opportunities primarily for postgraduate professionals, although graduate students are welcome to attend courses.

Can I use my hours of education toward license renewal?

The Buehler Institute is approved to offer continuing education by the APA, NBCC, California BRN, and of course, AASECT. Every license and state have different requirements, so we recommend contacting your licensing board just to be sure.

Do I have to get AASECT certified in order to practice sex therapy?

The truth is that there is no law requiring anyone to have AASECT certification to practice. And, at The Buehler Institute, we believe that every mental health professional and wellness provider needs to be able to address sexual issues with their clients. However, if you want to make human sexuality the center post of your career, then we highly recommend that you undergo the process of becoming AASECT certified.

How do I find an AASECT supervisor?

AASECT maintains a list of supervisors on the AASECT website, and we are happy to provide additional guidance to those enrolled in one of our programs. There are supervisors for each area of certification, though there can be some overlap, i.e., a sex therapy supervisor can supervise a sexuality counselor. You may want to hang out on the listserv or visit the websites of various supervisors to get a feeling for how they work.

Created by

Dr. Stephanie Buehler
Psychologist, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor of Sex Therapy

 Newport Beach, CA
As the author of What Every Mental Health Professional Needs to Know about Sex (third edition coming in 2021), Dr. Buehler has lectured all over the US and around the globe. She has been a member of AASECT for over 15 years and has supervised many people through the process of certification. Dr. Buehler is Director of The Buehler Institute, which is approved by the APA, AASECT, NBCC, and CA BRN as a provider of live and online continuing education. Check out the hybrid Blended Learning Program to fulfill AASECT educational requirements. (Please note fulfilling educational requirements is not a guarantee of AASECT certification. Refer to the AASECT website for more information or email info@aasect.org.)
As the author of What Every Mental Health Professional Needs to Know about Sex (third edition coming in 2021), Dr. Buehler has lectured all over the US and around the globe. She has been a member of AASECT for over 15 years and has supervised many people through the process of certification. Dr. Buehler is Director of The Buehler Institute, which is approved by the APA, AASECT, NBCC, and CA BRN as a provider of live and online continuing education. Check out the hybrid Blended Learning Program to fulfill AASECT educational requirements. (Please note fulfilling educational requirements is not a guarantee of AASECT certification. Refer to the AASECT website for more information or email info@aasect.org.)

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The Buehler Institute

The Buehler Institute was created to provide the highest quality training in human sexuality for mental health professionals and healthcare providers. Its founder, Dr. Stephanie Buehler, is a licensed psychologist and author of a bestselling sex therapy textbook, among others. Our educational programs are designed to help people seeking AASECT certification in an effective and engaging format.

We are located virtually but our mailing address is:
31677 Virginia Way, #9327
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

The best way to reach us is by email:
info@learnsextherapy.com

Here is our phone number.
800-769-0342

You may receive a text message about contacting us via email when you call this number. Standard rates may apply. 
The Buehler Institute is approved as a provider of continuing education by the following agencies. Many states licensing boards will accept CEs from these agencies for license renewal. It is, however, the responsibility of the enrollee to inquire with their state licensing board.
The Buehler Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Buehler Institute maintains responsibility for all programs and their content.
The Buehler Institute has been approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider. The Buehler Institute is
solely responsible for all aspects of
the programs.
The Buehler Institute is an institutional provider for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT).
Provider #12-138-Q.
The Buehler Institute is approved as a continuing education provider for the California Board of Registered Nursing. Provider #CEP 16394.