What Are the Education Requirements To Be a Therapist?

Working as a therapist is a fulfilling career if you're an empathetic person who loves helping people with their problems.

Therapists are not only highly educated, they also complete thousands of hours of hands-on training before they're eligible for licensure.

Read on to learn about the different types of therapists and the education and training requirements to become one.

Types of Therapists

Before you enroll in a degree program, it's a good idea to think about what type of therapist you want to be so you can focus on your education.

In addition to these general types of therapists, many therapists specialize in something specific, such as addiction.

Child Therapists

Child therapists work with children and young adults who face mental health or behavioral issues.

Some child therapists work directly in public and private schools, while others work in hospitals or open their own private practice.

This can be a challenging career, but if you love working with children you'll find it extremely rewarding and fulfilling.

Couples Therapists

If you're more interested in interpersonal relationships, working as a couples therapist might be best for you.

These therapists typically work in private practice on their own or with other couples therapists in a group practice.

Most of their work involves mediating between couples who are having problems communicating effectively.

Group Therapists

Group therapists typically see small groups of adults who are all struggling with the same mental health or behavioral issues.

Group therapists often work in private practice, but many also work in treatment or rehabilitation facilities counseling the patients there.

Group therapists usually spend most of their time facilitating open conversations between the members of the groups they lead.

Individual Therapists

Individual therapists are probably what most people think about when they hear the word 'therapist' ?one therapist and one patient.

These therapists work primarily in private or group practice and often specialize in a certain therapy model or type of problem.

Individual therapists typically see their patients or clients over a longer term than other types of therapists and help them with everyday issues.

Bachelor's Degree

To become a licensed therapist, you need at least a master's degree. However, you can't earn a master's degree until you have a bachelor's.

Degrees in psychology, counseling, sociology, human behavior, education, or childhood development are best for aspiring therapists.

Admission Requirements

All colleges and universities require applicants to have a high school diploma or the equivalent in order to be admitted.

Many colleges and universities no longer require undergraduate students to submit standardized test scores, such as the SAT or ACT.

If you're getting your degree as an adult (or non-traditional) student, you typically won't need to submit standardized test scores either.

Time Frame

A bachelor's degree is also referred to as a four-year degree because it's designed to be completed in four years of full-time study.

If you're only studying part-time while working, it could take you five or six years to complete your degree even if you go to school year-round.

Typically, the first two years are spent on general education requirements and the last two years on major requirements.

Online Options

Many colleges and universities offer accredited online bachelor's degree programs in disciplines suitable for an aspiring therapist.

Some of these programs have accelerated options so that you can finish your degree in fewer than four years and get into your career faster.

Choose a program with asynchronous classes if you don't want to worry about needing to attend classes at specific times.

Master's Degree

Because state licensure requires a master's degree, many therapists start their master's immediately after finishing their bachelor's degree.

A master's degree in counseling, psychology, or clinical psychology is most appropriate if you want to be a therapist.

Admission Requirements

Master's degree programs can be highly competitive and typically require a relatively high GPA, especially in courses within your major.

Additional volunteer work that shows your commitment to mental health or to the field in which you plan to specialize is also helpful.

Some master's degree programs require applicants to submit their scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Time Frame

A master's degree is typically designed to take two years. If you take a program that includes fieldwork, it might take three years.

Some universities offer accelerated '4 + 1' programs that allow you to complete both degrees in five years instead of six.

These time frames assume full-time study. If you're getting your master's degree through part-time study, it could take four or five years.

Online Options

There are many colleges and universities where you can earn your master's degree entirely online.

If the master's program includes a fieldwork component, however, that must be completed in-person.

Online programs are often designed with the adult professional learner in mind and have flexible classes so you can study at your convenience.

Fieldwork

All states require between 2,000 and 4,000 hours of supervised practice as a professional therapist before you're eligible to be licensed.

Specific requirements vary from state to state, but all require work under the supervision of a therapist licensed in that state.

Finding a Practicum

Start looking in the state where you want to practice, since you'll need to work under the supervision of a therapist licensed in that state.

If you went to school in a different state than the state where you want to practice, this can sometimes be challenging.

However, most programs have a placement office that can help you find a licensed therapist or practice where you can complete your fieldwork.

Time Frame

Most therapists work under supervision for at least two years before becoming licensed to work on their own without supervision.

Some master's programs include a fieldwork component, but this may or may not count towards the hours required for licensure.

Some states only apply the hours you work under supervision after you've earned your master's degree towards this requirement.

Training as a Specialist

If you intend to become a specialist, you might need even more hours of supervised clinical experience before you can sit for a certification exam.

At the same time, you can often apply the hours you worked towards licensure as long as that fieldwork was with a certified specialist.

Becoming certified as a specialist gives potential patients the confidence to know that you're particularly trained to help with their problems.

Learn More About Counseling Degrees

If you're interested in becoming a therapist, get a bachelor's and master's degree in psychology, counseling, or a related discipline.