The education needed to be a psychotherapist is normally a master's degree. Psychotherapists usually study social work, psychology or mental health counseling. 55% of psychotherapists hold a master's degree and 37% hold a bachelor's degree. We found these by analyzing 5,979 psychotherapist resumes to investigate the topic of psychotherapist education more precisely. The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a
psychotherapist are New York University and Adelphi University. We also broke down what colleges provide the best overall education for a psychotherapist. Students have a great path to earning their psychotherapist qualifications at the following schools: If you're interested in getting a college degree in an affordable college for psychotherapists - Hunter College of the City
University of New York is an excellent option for you. If your SAT or ACT score aren't as high as you'd like, you can look at Mount Saint Mary's University, as the admission requirements aren't too selective. On the other end of that spectrum are the Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University and University of Pennsylvania. For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some
online courses that can help in psychotherapist education paths. We prepared a list of a psychotherapist certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that psychotherapists must have to succeed are Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) and Certified School Social Work Specialist (C-SSWS).
What Degree Should I Get to Become a Psychotherapist ?
The most common degree for psychotherapists is master's degree 55% of psychotherapists earn that degree. A close second is bachelor's degree with 37% and rounding it off is doctoral degree with 4%.
What Should I Major in to Become a Psychotherapist ?
Most psychotherapists, 28% to be exact, major in social work. Some other common majors for a psychotherapist include psychology and mental health counseling majors.
Check Jobs That Match To Your Education
Most Common Colleges for Psychotherapist
Here are the most common colleges for a psychotherapist career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in New York University, Adelphi University, and Fordham University .
New York University
Adelphi University
Fordham University
Temple University
Boston University
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Average Psychotherapist Salary by Education Level
Psychotherapists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $65,948 annually. With a Masters degree, psychotherapists earn a median annual income of $53,089.
Master's Degree
Doctorate Degree
$0
$14,000
$28,000
$42,000
$56,000
$70,000
Psychotherapist JOBS
10 Best Universities For Psychotherapists
In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for psychotherapists. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
2. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
6. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
9. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
20 Best Online Courses for Psychotherapists
Sometimes things are just better when you get to stay in your pajamas all day. That includes school. We found top courses for psychotherapists from Udemy, Coursera, EDX, and ed2go that will help you advance in your career. Here are essential skills you need to be a psychotherapist:
- Group therapy
- Crisis intervention
- Mental health
Advanced Training for Trauma Treatment of Complex PTSD
Complex PTSD...
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders ACCREDITE
ACCREDITED CERTIFIED course on CBT, Therapy and Counselling for Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder, work home...
Become Psychotherapist & Open Practice - ACCREDITED CERT
Learn about psychotherapy and counselling, approaches and types, working from home, open your own business & marketing...
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Advanced Level -ACCREDITED CERT
Learn about Psychology, counselling and therapy; how psychotherapy works; Freud and his followers, psychoanalysis & more...
Treating PTSD, Trauma & Phobias With The Rewind Technique
Learn to treat phobias, PTSD & trauma underlying many problems (depression, anxiety, addictions) often in one session...
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Mindfulness
Learn Skills to Live One Mindfully and Begin your DBT Journey...
CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Therapists & Coaches
Comprehensive CBT Therapy Training Cognitive Behavior Therapy Practitioner Level Treat Anxiety, Depression & More...
Existential Therapy, Psychotherapy & Counselling
Helping Individuals to Live Meaningful, Free & Authentic Lives...
Cannabis, Mental Health, and Brain Disorders
This Cannabis, Mental Health, and Brain Disorders course is designed to have you think critically about the health effects of cannabis (i.e, marijuana) in the context of several mental health and neurocognitive disorders. You'll be able to identify key features of several anxiety disorders (e.g, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, PTSD), major depression, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseas...
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Associate Life Coach
CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Life Coaching Associate Coach Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Coaching...
Introduction to CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Online Counselling & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Training Course...
EMDR Therapy and PTSD
An Introduction to Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and the Neuropsychology of PTSD...
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Counselling and psychology approaches, theoretical knowledge and practice for counsellors to be, work from home / online...
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Practitioner ACCREDITED
Combining Mindfulness and Cognitive Therapy to create Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy or MBCT for short - join now!...
Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy Course 101...
CBT for Depression, Anxiety, Phobias and Panic Attacks
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Depression, Anxiety, Phobias and Panic Attacks...
Colour Therapy Practitioner Certification
Learn to use the power of colour to promote health and wellbeing...
Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Practitioner Training
Become a Certified Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Practitioner and elevate your understanding of human behaviour...
Professional Cupping Therapy Massage Certificate Course
Learn Cupping Therapy Massage Today to Treat Your Own Pains, Your Friends, Family Or Massage Clients Effortlessly!...
Best Psychotherapist Certifications in 2022
1. Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP)
A Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) is a clinical mental health professional who meets internationally accepted criteria of education, training and experience in group psychotherapy. A CGP is an ethical practitioner who is an expert in group psychotherapy and is committed to group psychotherapy as an autonomous treatment modality. The International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists offers this certification in group therapy for practicing clinicians.
A Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) is a clinical mental health professional who meets internationally accepted criteria of education, training and experience in group psychotherapy. A CGP is an ethical practitioner who is an expert in group psychotherapy and is committed to group psychotherapy as an autonomous treatment modality. The International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists offers this certification in group therapy for practicing clinicians.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 2 year(s)
- Therapist
Details
3. Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
The National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists is an established certification board that has provided a respected credential to over three thousand of your colleagues. The National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists is unique in providing certification and networking opportunities to professionals from all mental health and medical disciplines who meet the Board's standards. Six certification categories are provided: 1) National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (NBCCH). 2) National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist in Public Service (NBCCH-PS). 3) National Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Hypnotherapy (NBCDCH). 4) National Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Hypnotherapy in Public Service (NBCDCH-PS). 5) National Board Certified Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy (NBCFCH). 6) National Board Certified Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy in Public Service (NBCFCH-PS).
The National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists is an established certification board that has provided a respected credential to over three thousand of your colleagues. The National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists is unique in providing certification and networking opportunities to professionals from all mental health and medical disciplines who meet the Board's standards. Six certification categories are provided: 1) National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (NBCCH). 2) National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist in Public Service (NBCCH-PS). 3) National Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Hypnotherapy (NBCDCH). 4) National Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Hypnotherapy in Public Service (NBCDCH-PS). 5) National Board Certified Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy (NBCFCH). 6) National Board Certified Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy in Public Service (NBCFCH-PS).
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? No
- Renewal Required? No
- Clinical Therapist
- Psychologist
- Therapist
Details
Entry Level Jobs For Becoming A Psychotherapist
Top 10 Affordable Universities For Psychotherapists
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for psychotherapists.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$13,998
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$21,034
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$14,046
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$18,306
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$18,136
6. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$16,714
7. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$17,645
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$21,623
9. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$13,991
10. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
Cost of Attendance Cost of attendance is the estimated annual cost of attending a particular college or university. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses.
$14,469
Top 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into For Psychotherapists
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
5. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
9. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
10. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Top 10 Easier To Apply Universities For Psychotherapists
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
3. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
4. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
5. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
6. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
7. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
8. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
9. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
10. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private