Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Therapist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a therapist. Therapists usually study psychology, social work, or school counseling. 47% of therapists hold a bachelor's degree, and 42% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 42,179 real therapist resumes to see exactly what therapist education sections show.
The most common colleges for therapists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online therapist courses to help get the education required to be a therapist.
There are certain therapist certifications that you should consider. These therapist certifications include Certification in Forensic Social Work (CFSW) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
What education do you need to become a therapist?
What degree do you need to be a therapist?
- Bachelor's, 47%
- Master's, 42%
- Associate, 6%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a therapist?
- Psychology, 25%
- Social Work, 22%
- Other Majors, 38%
Most common colleges for therapists
| Therapist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 7.64% |
| Argosy University | 6.99% |
| Capella University | 6.93% |
| New York University | 6.01% |
| Wayne State University | 5.71% |
Best majors for therapists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychology | 25.0% |
| 2 | Social Work | 22.0% |
| 3 | School Counseling | 7.5% |
| 4 | Counseling Psychology | 7.2% |
| 5 | Mental Health Counseling | 6.1% |
Best colleges for therapists
The best colleges for therapists are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Washington University in St Louis.
A 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 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 therapists.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Enrollment
16,205
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
6. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
8. SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$10,011
Enrollment
13,434
9. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Enrollment
27,125
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
20 best online courses for therapists
Advertising disclosure
1. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff
Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...
2. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers
This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...
3. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): The Complete Course
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)...
4. [Accredited] Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Counselor
Learn DBT in depth, start conducting sessions with ready to use templates, and set up counseling practice within weeks!...
5. Advanced Training for Trauma Treatment of Complex PTSD
Complex PTSD...
6. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Therapists & Coaches
Comprehensive CBT Therapy Training Cognitive Behavior Therapy Practitioner Level Treat Anxiety, Depression & More...
7. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Counselling and psychology approaches, theoretical knowledge and practice for counsellors to be, work from home / online...
8. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
9. The Complete EMDR Therapy Course - Accredited Certification
International EMDR Training for Self-Healing, Trauma Therapy, Childhood Healing, PTSD, Grief, and Counseling...
10. Crisis Intervention Seminar
The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...
11. Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy
Learn Solution Focused Therapy To Empower Clients & Improve Outcomes Ideal For Social Workers, Coaches & Therapists...
12. The Comprehensive PTSD Course
**The Only Dedicated & Comprehensive PTSD Course On The (UDEMY) Platform! – Everything You Need To Know About PTSD**...
13. Managing mental health issues in the workplace
Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...
14. Treating PTSD, Trauma & Phobias With The Rewind Technique
Learn to treat phobias, PTSD & trauma underlying many problems (depression, anxiety, addictions) often in one session...
15. Metacognitive Therapy
Learn MCT, a cognitive psychotherapy based on CBT, that helps clients tackle the root of their anxiety and depression...
16. Introduction to CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Online Counselling & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Training Course...
17. EMDR Therapy and PTSD
An Introduction to Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and the Neuropsychology of PTSD...
18. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Certificate
Become a certified CBT practitioner and learn to use cognitive behavior therapy to improve people's mental health...
19. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...
20. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Certificate
Become a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) practitioner and help people improve their mental health...
Top 10 most affordable universities for therapists
The most affordable schools for therapists are Hunter College of the City University of New York, baruch college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for 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 therapists.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
8. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
9. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
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 therapists
The hardest universities for therapists to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Washington University in St Louis.
Some great schools for 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 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. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for therapists
The easiest schools for therapists to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, mount saint mary's university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a 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 therapists.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
5. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,059
6. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
7. College of New Rochelle, The
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
982
8. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
9. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
10. Marymount University
Arlington, VA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,065
Average therapist salary by education level
| Therapist education level | Therapist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $61,407 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $57,143 |
| Doctorate Degree | $59,444 |
Therapist education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
Search for therapist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025