The path to becoming a cognitive behavioral psychologist differs depending on the type of organization from which one seeks employment. Typically, licensed psychologists who have studied and practiced in this area extensively will apply to a region’s accrediting agency for behavioral or professional psychologies to be formally recognized as having a specialty in cognitive behavioral work by that agency. The quickest route is to simply obtain some training in this area and apply it to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). If people want to specialize in CBT and be known as experts in the field, formal recognition may be useful.
A student who wishes to pursue a career as a cognitive behavioral psychologist must first earn a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. in psychology. The degree must be obtained from a school or organization that has been formally recognized by boards of behavioral science or that offers the opportunity to obtain the cognitive behavioral psychology designation. It is strongly recommended that people take many classes in the practice of CBT and participate in research programs or practicums that emphasize it while in a doctoral program. Boards that award this title look for strong skills in this area that were either learned in school or earned through recognized continuing education units (CEUs) and practice afterward.
People may also need to have a certain amount of experience after earning a doctorate, depending on the certifying board used to become a cognitive behavioral psychologist. People become experts through experiences that focus specifically on CBT practice. Before being certified as a cognitive behavioral psychologist in the United States, for example, The American Board of Professional Psychology requires significant reflection on how CBT has been implemented in practice, examples of interviews, and an oral examination. Because the requirements of various licensing boards differ, it’s critical to pay attention to the requirements of your local licensing board.
There are other ways to “become a cognitive behavioral psychologist” that aren’t always recognized as such. Some classes or exams may lead to membership in a professional organization of CBT therapists, which includes licensed professional therapists, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, and licensed clinical social workers, among others. Alternatively, psychologists can simply practice CBT after receiving training. A number of professionals may prefer not to pursue certification as a cognitive behavioral psychologist because they believe it will bind them too tightly to a single type of practice.
Those who are interested in becoming a cognitive behavioral psychologist usually have strong feelings about the advantages of this type of psychological treatment over others. Despite this, many practitioners prefer to obtain competency through CEUs and other training modalities in order to provide CBT and other treatments. Certification may be advantageous in terms of competing for clients from a professional standpoint; it confers a level of expertise in CBT that a merely trained and uncertified psychologist cannot provide.