Therapist Certification Programs

At the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA), we are committed to advancing the highest standards of care for individuals with PTSD, OCD, and related disorders. As an international leader in the development and dissemination of evidence-based treatments, the CTSA offers comprehensive training, consultation, and certification programs in Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Exposure and Response Prevention (Ex/RP).

Our certification pathways are designed to move beyond workshop-based learning, providing clinicians with structured, hands-on experience, individualized expert consultation, and performance-based feedback. This ensures that therapists not only understand these gold-standard treatments, but can deliver them with confidence, fidelity, and clinical excellence.

A Gold Standard Approach to Training

CTSA certification programs emphasize applied learning through real clinical practice. Following completion of an intensive workshop, clinicians engage in ongoing consultation with expert trainers and consultants at the birthplace of these gold standard treatments.

CTSA’s Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Exposure and Response Prevention (Ex/RP) certification programs are the official training and certification pathway created by Dr. Edna Foa, developer of these treatments. This distinction ensures that all certified clinicians have received training that is consistent with the treatment’s original model and supported by decades of research.

Why Pursue Certification Through CTSA?

Clinicians who pursue certification with CTSA benefit from:

• Expert Guidance During Early Cases. Ongoing consultation supports clinicians as they begin delivering PE or Ex/RP, helping translate knowledge into effective clinical practice.

• Feedback That Builds Competence and Confidence. Detailed review of session recordings and case presentations helps refine clinical skills and ensure adherence to treatment protocols.

• Connection to a Global Network of Providers. Certified clinicians are included in CTSA’s public “Find a Therapist” directories, increasing visibility, referrals, and access to evidence-based care for patients.

• Commitment to Treatment Fidelity and Outcomes. Our certification standards ensure that clinicians are delivering interventions as intended—ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing the availability of effective care.

A Structured Pathway to Expertise

CTSA certification pathways include a combination of intensive workshop training, supervised clinical cases, and expert consultation, culminating in certification upon demonstrated competence.

For more detailed information about specific certification requirements, processes, and costs for Ex/RP and PE programs: