A-CBT Diplomate Application Tips (CBT Certification)

Ready to begin your CBT Certification today? Here are some tips to get started.

 

Starting your path to CBT Certification is easy.

 

 

At A-CBT, we offer certification programs in Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies for mental health professionals. Applicants should hold a terminal degree in their field and have a license for independent practice. If licensing isn't applicable, alternative credentials can be reviewed. A minimum of 40 hours of cognitive therapy education is required, with training available in various formats. Applicants need at least one year of clinical experience using cognitive therapy with a minimum of ten patients. Eligible terminal degrees include M.S.W, M.D., Psy.D., and others. Malpractice insurance may be necessary. CBT certification demonstrates competence and expertise, requiring specialized training and an examination. The application process involves submitting documentation and fees, as well as a case conceptualization and session audio evaluation. The certification process takes approximately 8-12 weeks.


Application Tips:

  1. Ensure you have a terminal degree in a mental health discipline and the required license for independent practice.
  2. If you don't meet licensing requirements, prepare alternative credentials for review.
  3. Complete at least 40 hours of cognitive therapy education in any format.
  4. Gain one year of clinical experience using cognitive therapy with a minimum of ten patients.
  5. Verify that your terminal degree is eligible for the CBT certification program.
  6. Consider obtaining malpractice insurance if necessary.
  7. Thoroughly review the application requirements and submit all necessary documentation and fees.
  8. Prepare a case conceptualization and session audio for evaluation.
  9. Expect the certification process to take around 8-12 weeks.
  10. Keep in mind that CBT certification can enhance your career, demonstrate your expertise, and provide credibility in the field of cognitive and behavioral therapy.

 

 

Have additional questions? Email us at info@academyofcbt.org for more information.


We look forward to receiving your application soon.

 

Assessing AI Use in CBT: A Modern-Day Ritual

March 19, 2026
I became a new mom over the last year and, as many people know, that experience completely rewires your brain. For me, it was not just the sleepless nights or the existential panic over whether my baby would nap for more than 27 minutes. It was the hormonal wiring for danger, turned up to warp speed. I found myself thinking things I would have laughed off before parenthood. The number of times I imagined tripping down the stairs or wondered whether eating .25 fewer ounces could somehow derail my infant’s entire day was absurd. Yet in the moment, it felt so real and urgent. I looked for answers wherever I could find them: books, friends, our pediatrician, and increasingly, AI. Yes, I asked ChatGPT so many questions about my baby’s sleep, his health, his routine, development markers—you name it. Part of this stemmed from the lack of community many of us have as parents in today's world, ironically fueled by technology itself, and part of it stemmed from my desire to keep my son safe. And the irony wasn’t lost on me; as an exposure therapist, I spend my days helping people step out of reassurance loops. These questions were quietly reinforcing my anxiety. As I leaned on AI support more, I was relying less on my own intuition and more on a machine to tell me what to think and do. I’ve watched this dynamic unfold in my patients for years - using Google, symptom checkers, calorie apps, texts to partners, or late-night forum scrolling. While the medium shifts, the mechanism stays the same. Could AI be a new form of reassurance-seeking? A digital ritual maintaining anxiety in ways we had not fully accounted for in CBT assessment? The Modern Ritual: AI as a Safety Behavior

Religiosity/Scrupulosity OCD in Judeo-Christian Contexts

By Rachel Meyer • February 17, 2026
From the perspective of Dr. Curtis Hsia, a psychologist and a practicing Christian

Highlighting Mental Imagery in CBT

January 25, 2026
By Professor Emily A Holmes Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Sweden School of Psychology, University of Southampton, UK