What educational background is required to become a licensed therapist?
Let us break it down for you! Below is the educational background needed to become a therapist and TLT tips & summaries.
Undergraduate degree
Master's degree
Supervised clinical hours
Law & Ethics + Clinical exams
To become a therapist, you will first need an undergraduate degree. The good news is that ANY degree is acceptable! While it can be helpful if your degree is psychology-related, it is not necessary. Some master's programs may require specific undergraduate courses, such as statistics, but if you haven't taken them, they can often be fulfilled through an online accredited course.
After earning your undergraduate degree, you will need to pursue a master's or doctoral degree in one of the following fields:
Master of Family Therapy (MFT)
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
PhD in Psychology
Additional coursework specific to your degree may be required, but this can often be completed during your master's program by taking electives that cover the necessary topics, or afterward through Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
After completing your master's degree, you will need to complete supervised clinical hours, which vary depending on your degree. Finally, you will need to pass law and ethics exams, as well as clinical exams.
In summary, the best news is that it doesn’t matter what your majored was, in your undergraduate program! Once you pick a degree, you can learn more about the details of what the degree entails. View Most Common Degrees FAQ to get a better sense of each degree.