Behavioral Therapy Certification in Connecticut

The National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists offers several different behavioral therapy certifications for Connecticut residents. Obtaining a certification in the field is an excellent way to increase your salary or to make yourself a more likely candidate for the most prestigious positions in the field. Having a certification shows that you know your stuff and that you are among the best and the brightest in your area of expertise. Of course, certification does take a lot of hard work and effort on your part, but if you are willing to put that in, you can enjoy all the success that certification offers.

Your first step is to decide exactly which certification you wish to receive. The National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists actually offers two different types of certification. These include the Diplomate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the title of Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. You should research the exact position you are hoping to obtain to see which certification is required or preferred and to decide which of these will be the best and most helpful fit for you and your personal and career goals. Once you’ve decided, it’s time to get to work making sure you meet all of the requirements and filling in any that you do not meet.

For the Diplomate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, you must have either a master’s degree or a PhD in behavioral therapy or a related field from a fully accredited college or university. Possible majors outside of behavioral therapy include psychology, counseling, social work, or psychiatry. You will also need to have at least ten provable years of experience working as a cognitive behavioral therapist. In addition to the right combination of education and experience, you must obtain three letters of recommendation from other professionals in the field, and you must complete a cognitive behavioral therapy program that has been approved by the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists.

If you want to obtain the title of Certified Cognitive Behavioral therapists, there is a different set of requirements that must be met. These include a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in behavioral therapy or a related field from an accredited college or university and at least six years of provable experience working as a cognitive behavioral therapist. As with the above certification, you must have three letters of recommendation from your peers, and you must complete an introductory certification program that has been approved by the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists.

Obviously, obtaining your certification in the state of Connecticut takes quite a bit of work, but for many, it is well worth the effort. In the end, however, only you can decide if certification is right for you. It is fully possible to enjoy a long and fruitful career without every obtaining certification, but it can help you significantly in the long run. If you are unsure as to whether or not you wish to become certified, continue working in the field and building a professional reputation until you are ready to come to a decision.