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Educational therapist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an educational therapist. Educational therapists usually study psychology, special education, or education. 56% of educational therapists hold a bachelor's degree, and 31% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 442 real educational therapist resumes to see exactly what educational therapist education sections show.

The most common colleges for educational therapists are the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

There are also many online educational therapist courses to help get the education required to be an educational therapist.

What education do you need to become an educational therapist?

What degree do you need to be an educational therapist?

The most common degree for educational therapists is bachelor's degree, with 56% of educational therapists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 31% and master's degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 56%
  • Master's, 31%
  • Associate, 7%
  • Doctorate, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become an educational therapist?

You should major in psychology to become an educational therapist. 19% of educational therapists major in psychology. Other common majors for an educational therapist include special education and education.

Most common colleges for educational therapists

Educational therapists often get their degrees at University of California, Santa Barbara, California State University - San Bernardino, and New York University. Here are the most common colleges for educational therapists in the US based on their resumes.
Educational therapist common collegePercentages
University of California, Santa Barbara7.46%
California State University - San Bernardino5.97%
New York University5.97%
San Francisco State University5.97%
Florida International University5.97%

Best majors for educational therapists

Best colleges for educational therapists

The best colleges for educational therapists are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Johns Hopkins University.

An educational therapist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for educational therapists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become educational therapists.

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

5. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

6. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

8. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

9. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

10. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

20 best online courses for educational therapists

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1. Critical Issues in Urban Education

coursera

Urban school reform in the United States is characterized by contentious, politicized debate. This course explores a set of critical issues in the education and educational reform space, with a focus on aspects of the field that have sparked controversy and polarized views. We will dig into these debates, situating them within the larger history of public education and school reform, and considering the viewpoints, the evidence, and translation of issues into educational policy. We will...

2. Music Education for Teachers

coursera

In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...

3. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)

udemy
4.4
(876)

Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...

4. Google Certified Educator Level 1 Technical Training

udemy
4.5
(294)

Google Apps for Education...

5. Online Learning Design for Educators

coursera

This specialization is for educators seeking to improve and expand their repertoire of online teaching skills related to the design, development and delivery of effective and engaging online courses and lessons for school age and adult learners.\n\nLearning in the 21st century no longer takes place exclusively between the four walls of a physical classroom. With advances in technology, learners now expect to be offered flexible study modes outside of the traditional face-to-face model. This...

6. Aboriginal Worldviews and Education

coursera

Intended for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners, this course will explore indigenous ways of knowing and how they can benefit all students. Topics include historical, social, and political issues in Aboriginal education; terminology; cultural, spiritual and philosophical themes in Aboriginal worldviews; and how Aboriginal worldviews can inform professional programs and practices, including but not limited to the field of education...

7. Introduction to Early Childhood Montessori Education

udemy
4.7
(626)

Learning Montessori Philosophy and Materials by visiting classrooms across the U.S...

8. Seth Godin on learning and education

udemy
4.6
(679)

Build the future of community, culture and possibility...

9. ICT in Primary Education: Transforming children's learning across the curriculum

coursera

Why and how are teachers integrating ICT (Information and Communication Technology) into primary education? In this course we analyse examples from schools in different parts of the world, and bring professional teachers, headteachers and policymakers together to share their best ideas and inspiring stories. The materials in the course are based on studies carried out for the UNESCO Institute of IT in Education, Moscow. Learning Outcomes: to be aware of the range of reasons for using ICT to...

10. What future for education?

coursera

Through this course you will start to critically examine your own ideas about education, teaching and learning. The critique will be developed through engagement with theories and ideas developed through educational research. You will be encouraged to use these ideas to challenge or support your own ideas about education. Each week we will focus on one key question, using video lectures, key readings and challenges to explore some commonplace notions about education. With the guidance of the...

11. Complete Google Certified Educator Level 1 and 2 Masterclass

udemy
4.2
(590)

Google Certified Educator Level 1 and 2 Training - Mastering Google Classroom - G Suite - Teaching Online - Google Drive...

12. Outcome Based Education (OBE) & Academic Quality Assurance

udemy
4.4
(1,390)

Master Course for Teachers' Development: Grow Your Teaching-Learning Expertise to World-Class Level...

13. Diversity and Inclusion in Education

coursera

Student diversity is becoming the rule rather than the exception in education systems across the world. Students bring to classroom different characteristics such as ability and disability, socio-economic background, race, ethnicity, and cultural background, beliefs and religion, and gender characteristics. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (United Nations, 2015)...

14. Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher

coursera

Many Deaf children around the world still leave school functionally illiterate. In some cases, there is no allowance made for the education of Deaf children at all. This 4-week course provides you with invaluable knowledge and skills about teaching Deaf children. You will learn about the importance of Deaf culture and community, the need for a language-rich environment for the Deaf child from as young as possible, and that having access to sign language can help Deaf children academically,...

15. Train the Trainer Foundation: Adult Education Mastery Course

udemy
4.6
(1,679)

Deploy a repeatable system for employee learning to ensure you reach every learner…every time...

16. Financial Education from 0: Learn Quick and Easy

udemy
4.2
(256)

Learn the Basics of Personal Finance. Build Healthy Financial Habits! Financial Education from Beginner to Advanced!...

17. Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education

coursera

This course provides those involved in educating members of the health professions an asynchronous, interdisciplinary, and interactive way to obtain, expand, and improve their teaching skills. These skills can then be applied within their own professional context, with a variety of learners, extending across many stages. After completing this course, learners will: 1. Understand educational theory as it relates to health professions education 2. Match instructional methods with desired...

18. Health, Housing, and Educational Services

coursera

Course 5 discusses policies in four areas: housing, education, healthcare, and immigration, with an optional fifth module in child protection. This course addresses issues of power, oppression, and white supremacy. -First we’ll look at housing policy, with its contrasting supports for homeowners and renters. -Then we’ll interpret the structure that provides education and examine debates about its future. -The third module will differentiate the issues in the U.S. healthcare system and develop...

19. Climate change education

coursera

This specialization offers tools and resources developed as part of the "Rise up" initiative by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to combat climate change and improve the sustainability of the planet. Through the three courses that make up this specialization, you will learn what we can do individually, as a school, and as a community to lead a more sustainable and healthier life. You'll also delve into the primary ethical and social issues related to climate change, how to use games to...

20. American Education Reform: History, Policy, Practice

coursera

Discover what shapes how we talk about schools today by exploring the history of U.S. education reform. Engage with the main actors, key decisions, and major turning points in this history. See how social forces drive reform. Learn about how the critical tensions embedded in U.S. education policy and practice apply to schools nationally, globally— and where you live...

Top 10 most affordable universities for educational therapists

The most affordable schools for educational therapists are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for educational therapists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for educational therapists.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for educational therapists

The hardest universities for educational therapists to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for educational therapists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for educational therapists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

9. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for educational therapists

The easiest schools for educational therapists to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an educational therapist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for educational therapists.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

5. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

6. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

7. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

8. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

9. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,065

10. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,059

Average educational therapist salary by education level

According to our data, educational therapists with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $61,088 annually. Educational therapists with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $56,769.
Educational therapist education levelEducational therapist salary
Master's Degree$56,769
Bachelor's Degree$51,679
Doctorate Degree$61,088

Educational therapist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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