ASTO - Certification Process

Associate Membership

Current or recent graduate degree from a recognized university in a field such as social work, psychology, counselling, theology, nursing, medicine, etc.
An official transcript of program in which highest degree was earned.
Documentation of membership in a professional credentialing body.
Knowledgeable of and identifies with the ethical standards as established by the applicants credentialing body.
Proof of professional malpractice insurance with policy number.
You are welcome to apply to ASTO following graduation. Supervision will be required by a ASTO Approved Supervisor in the areas of relationship and sex therapy.
Current letters of recommendation from two professional colleagues or supervisors familiar with the applicant’s clinical experience and professional responsibilities.
Participation in and contribution to the clinical sessions of ASTO.
Once the full application has been submitted to the Registrar, it will be forwarded to the Documentation Committee for review. The chair of the documentation committee will then inform you on the status of your application for associate membership.

At this point, the Associate member may begin the certification process as outlined in the welcome letter and as noted below.

Application fee: $50 (Please Note: As of January 1st 2025, the application fee of $50 will increase to $100. )

Associate Member fee: $140/year

Certified Membership

Once you are an Associate Member, the certification process begins. The length of time to become certified depends of the following factors:

Up to 3 years if the applicant has 100 hours in the provision of relationship therapy, under supervision.
Up to 5 years if the applicant has no clinical experience.
Experience in sex therapy will also be evaluated, but experience in providing sex therapy is not necessary to begin the certification process, as it occurs with an approved ASTO supervisor. The number of supervision hours by a ASTO approved Supervisor will depend on the amount of sex therapy the applicant has provided under supervision prior to applying to ASTO.

Certification requires completion of the following:

A) Sex therapy training:

Current or recent graduate level study in the field of sex therapy, which can be met by taking a Graduate level intensive sex therapy course.
A Sexual Attitude Reassessment course (SAR) or equivalent. *Minimum 14hrs*
Read at the minimum four books on sex therapy covering areas of assessment, treatment, and intervention.
Regularly read at least one sex therapy journal.
100 hours in the provision of sex therapy under supervision (with a minimum of 25 hours supervision by an approved ASTO supervisor). The number of supervision hours will be determined by the Documentation Committee and provided to the associate member upon joining ASTO.

B) Relationship therapy training:

Clinical membership in AAMFT

OR

Graduate level course work in relationship therapy and theories satisfactory to the Documentation Committee.
At least 500 clinical hours of counselling/therapy for relationship problems/issues.
At least 100 hours of supervision of relationship therapy by an AAMFT approved supervisor, or equivalent as determined by ASTO.

Certified Member fee $225/year

C) Mid-term Case Presentation:

Within the first 2 years as an Associate, a case (assessment and treatment) will be presented to the ASTO membership. This is outlined on the website under “how to become a sex therapist”.

No fee

D) Certification Assessment:

The Certification Assessment can take place within 5 years as noted in the associate welcome letter. To clarify, the candidate can complete the Certification Assessment:

within three years if the associate began the process with 100 hours of relationship supervision and 500 direct clinical hours,
up to 5 years if the associate had the above-noted supervision and clinical experience.

Upon recommendation by the candidate’s supervisor, the candidate will be requested to present a clinical case to three certified Members; to respond to three standardized case vignettes; and engage in a discussion of general sex therapy issues.

Certification Assessment fee: $50.00

E) Readings in sex therapy:

The Bibliography is intended for your use and guidance; you are not expected to have read all of these references.

Members are to attend bi-annual meetings. Two missed consecutive meetings may result in suspension or termination of membership.

Associate Healthcare Affiliate Membership

An ASTO certified Healthcare Affiliate is a licensed healthcare professional, registered with a regulatory college in Ontario, who has met the standards and requirements for certification by ASTO (Assn of Sex Therapists in Ontario), has acquired the necessary education and training to demonstrate their ability to deal appropriately with sexual concerns within their scope of practice. Certified Healthcare Affiliate treat their patients or clients with the same degree of empathy, respect and non-judgmental values required of certified Sex Therapists.

Although not sex therapists themselves, ASTO Healthcare Affiliates demonstrate competence in assessing and treating a broad range of sexual concerns, and making referrals to another competent professional where necessary.

Qualifications:

This category of membership is separate and distinct from the Certified Sex Therapist stream of membership. It includes Regulated Health Professionals who are in good standing with their respective regulatory college, with no outstanding complaints; licensed to practice clinically in Ontario; have advanced graduate-level training (or equivalency) in human sexuality; and whose work has an inherent focus on the sexual health of patients or clients. Members of this category may include (but not limited to) physicians, registered nurses and nurse practitioners, pelvic health physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and naturopathic doctors.

Healthcare professionals who are members of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, or the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers are not eligible for membership in the Healthcare Affiliate category. They may apply to the Associate Membership category in the Certified Sex Therapist stream of membership

Documentation:

An official transcript of program in which your highest degree was earned.
Documentation of membership in a college regulating health professionals in Ontario. [https://www.regulatedhealthprofessions.on.ca/professionscolleges.html]
Knowledgeable of and upholds the code of ethics established by the applicant’s credentialing body.
Proof of professional malpractice insurance with policy number.
Current letters of recommendation from two professional colleagues or supervisors familiar with the applicant’s clinical experience and professional responsibilities.
Education already completed in human sexuality and other relevant coursework, as well as self-directed reading/study related to human sexuality.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend at least one ASTO meeting as a guest, prior to formal submission of their application, to determine if this organization is a good fit for them.

Requirements:

Once the full application has been submitted to the Registrar, it will be forwarded to the Certification and Membership Committee for review.

Application fee: $50 (Please Note: As of January 1st 2025, the application fee of $50 will increase to $100)

Upon completion of the review the applicant will be asked to meet for an intake interview with two ASTO certified sex therapists, at least one of whom will be a ASTO Approved Supervisor.

Prior to the interview, the applicant will receive a copy of ASTO(ASTO) “Core Competencies” document. These comprised the basic knowledge and the fundamental set of attitudes and skills required to practice as an ASTO Certified Healthcare Affiliate. The applicant’s understanding of the Core Competencies will be reviewed by the interviewers, and the applicant will be asked to identify their learning needs as relevant to the Core Competencies.

Upon completion of the interview, the chair of the certification & membership committee will then inform you of the status of your application for associate membership. If accepted, the applicant will be admitted as an Associate Healthcare Affiliate member of ASTO.

Supervision will be required by an ASTO Approved Supervisor in the integrative and comprehensive treatment of patients’ or clients’ sexual concerns. This will be limited to ability to apply the Core Competencies to their practice, and will not include the professional skills of the QHCA member that are regulated by their college.

Attendance at and contribution to the clinical sessions of ASTO is required of all members. Meetings are held bi-annually.

At this point, the QHCA member may begin the certification process as outlined in the welcome letter and as noted below.

Application Fee: $50 (Please Note: As of January 1st 2025, the application fee of $50 will increase to $100)
AHCA Member fee: $140/year

Certified Healthcare Affiliate Membership

The length of time to become certified will generally be not less than 18 months, but not more than 24 months, unless an extension is granted by the Membership & Certification Committee. This time frame recognizes the demands on the time of health care professionals in practice and is intended to allow completion of requirements at a reasonable pace.

Length of time to certification will be determined by the member’s level of professional development in treating sexual concerns and fulfillment of the requirements to become certified, as follows:

Supervision with an ASTO approved supervisor as determined in the intake interview. Supervision is part of ASTO’s due diligence in certifying members.
Advanced graduate-level training (or equivalency) in human sexuality[minimum number of hours TBD

A Sexual Attitude Reassessment course (SAR) or equivalent.

Read, or have read at minimum four (4) books on human sexuality.

Regularly read at least one sex therapy journal.

Members are to attend bi-annual meetings. Two missed consecutive meetings without explanation may result in suspension or termination of membership.

Mid-term Case Presentation:
At about the midterm mark in the AHCA’s supervision, as determined by the member and their supervisor, a case (assessment and treatment) will be presented to the ASTO membership at a bi-annual meeting. This will serve to introduce ASTO’s membership to the qualifying member’s practice, and permit clinical members to identify the AHCA’s potential as a referral resource. No fee.

Readings in sex therapy:

The Bibliography on our website is intended for your use and guidance; you are not expected to have read all of these references.

Certification Assessment:

The Certification Assessment can take place within 2 years. To clarify, the candidate can complete the Certification Assessment upon completion of the assigned hours of approved supervision and the requirements listed above. Extensions may be granted due to extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the Certification Committee.

The Certification Assessment may take place when the member and their supervisor agree the member is ready. At the assessment, the member will be asked to respond to two standardized case vignettes by outlining their assessment procedure and treatment plan, appropriate to their scope of practice, and make appropriate referrals for care beyond their skills set; and to engage in a discussion of general treatment of sexual issues.

Certification Assessment fee: $50.00

CHCA Membership Fee $225/yr