Frequently Asked Questions
General information about the College, the Canadian Certified Sex Therapist designation, professional standards, and the certification development process. For more detail on any topic, use the links at the end of this page.
About the College
What is the Canadian College of Sex Therapy?
The Canadian College of Sex Therapy is an independent national certification body being developed to establish competency standards, ethical expectations, and a certification pathway for regulated health professionals who practice sex therapy in Canada. It is not a regulatory college, a professional association, or a training program. Its primary mandate is public protection.
Why was the College created?
Canada currently has no nationally recognized specialty standard for sex therapy practice. Professionals across many disciplines provide sex therapy without any verified specialty training, and the public has no reliable way to distinguish generalist therapists from those with substantive sexual health preparation. The College was created to address that gap.
Is the College a regulatory body?
No. The College does not have legislative authority and cannot license, discipline, or revoke a practitioner's right to practice. Regulatory colleges are established by provincial law and carry legal authority the College does not hold. Certified practitioners remain fully accountable to their provincial regulatory college for the full scope of their professional conduct.
What is the purpose of the College?
The College defines what competent sex therapy practice looks like in Canada, certifies regulated professionals who demonstrate they meet that standard, and maintains ethical accountability mechanisms that serve the public. It operates independently of training organizations, professional associations, and regulatory colleges.
Certification
What is a Canadian Certified Sex Therapist?
A Canadian Certified Sex Therapist is a regulated health or mental health professional who has demonstrated advanced competency in sex therapy, sexual health assessment, ethical practice, and evidence-informed intervention. The designation is under development and is not yet available. It will not be awarded on the basis of completing a single training program.
Is certification currently available?
No. The College is in its development phase. Competency standards, application processes, and governance structures are being finalized. Applications are not yet open. Professionals interested in pursuing certification are encouraged to join the mailing list for updates.
Who may be eligible for certification?
Certification is anticipated to require a master's degree or equivalent graduate-level qualification in a relevant health or mental health discipline, and active registration in good standing with a recognized provincial regulatory college. Eligible registrations are expected to include R.Psych, RSW, RP, RCC, CCC, RMFT, MD, RN, NP, and other regulated health professionals. Final eligibility criteria are under development.
Will certification be mandatory?
No. The College is a voluntary certification body and does not have legal authority to require any practitioner to hold certification. Any mandatory requirements in the future would be established by regulatory colleges or governments, not by the College.
How is certification different from licensure?
Licensure is administered by provincial regulatory colleges under provincial legislation. It is mandatory, carries legal authority, and governs the broad scope of a profession. Certification is a voluntary specialty credential that recognizes advanced competency in a defined practice area. Both serve public protection, but with different scope and authority.
Will certification replace provincial registration?
No. Certification operates alongside provincial registration, not in place of it. Active registration in good standing is an eligibility requirement for certification and must be maintained throughout the certification period. If a practitioner's registration is suspended or revoked, certification does not authorize continued practice.
AASECT and Canadian Certification
What is AASECT?
AASECT (American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists) is a US-based professional membership association that offers certification in sex therapy, sex counselling, and sex education. It is one of the most widely recognized sex therapy credentialing organizations in North America. AASECT operates under US professional standards, is governed by a US organizational structure, and is not a Canadian body.
Is AASECT recognized in Canada?
AASECT is not a Canadian regulatory or credentialing authority and has no formal standing within Canada's provincial regulatory systems. Some Canadian practitioners hold AASECT certification, and it is recognized within professional communities as evidence of specialized training and commitment to the field. However, it is a US credential governed by US standards. There is currently no Canadian equivalent. The Canadian College of Sex Therapy is being developed to fill that gap.
How is the CCST different from AASECT?
The CCST is a Canadian certification body designed specifically for the Canadian regulatory, legal, cultural, and professional context. AASECT is a US organization. The two differ in jurisdiction, governance, standards framework, and the regulatory environment they operate within. AASECT certification is not a prerequisite for the CCST, and AASECT does not govern or confer the CCST designation. The two organizations are fully independent of one another.
I already hold AASECT certification. Will it count toward the CCST?
AASECT certification will not automatically transfer to the CCST. The two credentials have different standards, requirements, and evaluation processes. However, training, supervised practice, and professional experience completed toward AASECT certification may be relevant when documenting competency for CCST purposes. Specific recognition of prior credentials will be addressed in the application guide when published. There is currently no formal reciprocity agreement between the two organizations.
Why does Canada need its own certification instead of using AASECT?
Canada's healthcare system, regulatory structure, professional landscape, and legal frameworks are distinct from those in the United States. A certification standard designed for the US context does not map directly onto Canadian practice realities, including provincial regulatory variation, bilingual service delivery, Indigenous communities and histories, and interdisciplinary healthcare delivery. Canadian practitioners and the public they serve benefit from standards developed within and for the Canadian context.
Professional Standards
What is a competency framework?
A competency framework defines the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional behaviours expected of practitioners in a specialty area. It describes outcomes rather than course content: what a practitioner must be able to demonstrate, not only what they have studied. The College's competency framework forms the foundation for certification standards and ethical expectations.
Why do competency standards matter?
Without shared standards, there is no consistent basis for the public or the profession to evaluate whether a sex therapist has substantive preparation for the work. Standards create transparency, support accountability, and give clients a meaningful way to understand what a certified practitioner has demonstrated.
How are standards developed?
The College's standards are informed by published research in sexology, sexual medicine, ethics, and cultural competency, and by professional consensus among practitioners with recognized expertise in sex therapy. No training organization shapes the standards. Draft standards will be made available for professional consultation before they are finalized.
Will standards change over time?
Yes. Competency frameworks are reviewed regularly to reflect evolving evidence and practice. The College is committed to a formal review cycle following initial publication. Changes to standards will be communicated to certified practitioners in advance of any changes to certification maintenance requirements.
Education and Training
Will specific training programs be required?
No. The College does not prescribe specific programs, institutions, or training providers. Certification is competency-based: what matters is whether an applicant's education and training, in aggregate, addresses the required competency domains at an appropriate standard. Applicants may have acquired relevant knowledge through various educational pathways.
Will supervision or consultation be required?
Clinical experience in sexual health practice, supported by appropriate consultation or supervision, is anticipated to be a component of certification requirements. Specific qualifying formats and documentation expectations are under development and will be published with the application guide.
Does the College provide training?
No. The College is a certification body, not a training organization. It defines competency standards and certifies professionals who meet them. Training programs may align their curriculum with the College's competency framework, but completing an aligned program does not confer or guarantee certification.
How is certification different from course completion?
Course completion demonstrates that a practitioner attended a defined program. Certification demonstrates that a practitioner has met an independently assessed national standard of competency. Certification evaluates whether a practitioner can integrate knowledge, clinical judgment, and ethical reasoning in practice, not only whether they completed coursework.
Public Information
Will there be a public directory?
Yes. A public-facing directory of certified practitioners is planned as part of the College's public protection mandate. It will allow individuals to verify that a practitioner holds current certification in good standing. The directory will be available once the certification program is operational.
How can members of the public identify a qualified sex therapist?
Until the certification program launches and the public directory is available, ask any prospective therapist directly about their specific training and experience in sexual health. Once available, the College's public directory will confirm whether a practitioner holds current certification in good standing.
How does certification support public protection?
Certification establishes a published competency standard, a Code of Ethics with binding obligations, an absolute prohibition on sexual contact between certified practitioners and clients, and a future complaints process. Transparent published standards also give the public a concrete basis for understanding what certification means.
Future Development
When will certification applications open?
A launch date has not been set. The College is finalizing competency standards, application procedures, and governance infrastructure. Applications will open once these elements are complete and publicly available. Joining the mailing list is the most reliable way to receive notice when the process launches.
How can professionals stay informed?
Joining the College's mailing list is the best way to receive updates on standards development, consultation opportunities, and the launch of the certification application process. Updates will also be published on this website as milestones are reached.
How can organizations collaborate with the College?
Professional associations, training organizations, regulatory colleges, healthcare institutions, and researchers with an interest in national sex therapy standards are welcome to contact the College. The College values professional input in the standards development process and will publish opportunities for formal consultation.