Overview
Empower Your Practice with Sex-Positive Expertise
It can be hard to discuss sex, especially in healthcare and therapy settings. It can feel taboo or embarrassing, and without support, relationship struggles can go unresolved. Many people are now recognizing it’s time to stop hiding away parts of themselves. To finally have their needs met so they can feel fulfilled in their relationships. That’s why the demand for sexual health professional development is higher than ever.
When you build your expertise in sexual wellness, you can:
- Support people in building healthy, open communication around sex and relationships.
- Help patients and clients understand what they want and feel confident voicing it.
- Create a practice centered on work that aligns with your values and the impact you want to make.
This certificate provides a pathway to close the gap in continuing education in sexual health and helps you normalize discussions about sexual health.
What you’ll learn
Designed for therapists, counselors, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, educators and other wellness professionals seeking career advancement, improved patient outcomes, and greater professional confidence, this certificate will allow you to:
- Apply evidence-based frameworks to support sexual wellness in clinical practice.
- Understand desire, arousal, libido, and relational intimacy through scientific and psychosocial perspectives.
- Address stigma and foster open, informed dialogue about sexual health.
- Address stress impacts on sexual function.
Why choose UVM
You’ll find lots of sexual and intimacy coaching programs online, but very few carry the trusted reputation of university-level research, and even fewer are designed for clinicians.
4 Weeks | ~40 Hours | $725
Faster, more affordable training than typical 6-to-12-month programs that cost thousands, and designed for busy clinicians.
Evidence-based, Sex-positive Professional Training
Grounded in research, UVM holds Carnegie R1 research status, a distinction held by only 3% of universities nationwide.
Credibility: CEUs + Digital Badge
Earn credentials you can showcase to build trust with sexual health professional development CEUs.
Taught by Sexual Health Practitioners
You’ll review case studies and learn practical tools from clinicians actively working in the field.
Made for Busy Schedules
100% online and asynchronous. Learn on your time with optional live touchpoints for more guidance.
Professional-first Focus
Unlike programs focused on sex coaching certification to launch a business, UVM’s is built for clinical, educational, and wellness settings as an add-on to your existing training.
Who should enroll
- Therapists and counselors integrating sexual health discussions into therapy.
- Physicians and healthcare practitioners seeking a sex-positive healthcare course to enhance patient well-being.
- Educators and coaches expanding their expertise in human sexuality.
- Holistic wellness practitioners incorporating intimacy and relationship coaching into care, including bodyworkers, yoga teachers, and doulas.
Why sex-positive professional training?
- 43% of women & 31% of men report some form of sexual dysfunction (Cleveland Clinic).
- Fewer than one in four couples (24%) facing sexual health issues feel they can always be honest with their partners about their sex lives (American Sexual Health Association).
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$30.9 billion was the estimated size of the sexual wellness market in 2024.
It’s expected to more than double to $69.3 billion by 2033 (Market Data Forecast).
This reflects a widespread unmet need for sexual health support. This certificate provides the necessary sexual health professional development to help you close that gap.
Course experience
This four-week certificate is:
- Delivered fully online with engaging, self-paced modules designed for working professionals.
- Rooted in multimedia learning, including video lectures, clinical case examples, and guided reflection.
- Taught by expert faculty actively practicing in sexual health, counseling, and integrative medicine.
- Focused on real-world application, helping you translate intimacy concepts directly into patient care.
- For clinicians who want to expand their scope of practice with evidence-based skills.
- Designed to foster confident, stigma-free communication around sexual health and intimacy.
Professional outcomes
Completing Sex and Intimacy Foundations for Professional Practice can set you apart in multiple practice areas.
- Expand your clinical competence in sexual health and patient communication.
- Improve patient satisfaction and outcomes by integrating intimacy frameworks into care.
- Advance your professional standing in healthcare, education, or holistic wellness fields.
Practitioners are poised for career advancement and can differentiate themselves as specialists in an area of rapidly growing demand.
FAQ
Therapists, counselors, physicians and healthcare practitioners, educators and coaches, and holistic wellness practitioners.
No specialized prior training required. This certificate is considered a sex-positive healthcare course/sex-positive professional training.
~7 to 10 hours per week for 4 weeks (~40 hours total).
Yes. Upon the completion of the certificate, you will receive instructions on how to claim continuing education units.
Yes. You’ll receive both a UVM Professional Certificate and a Credly digital badge that can be added to LinkedIn or your resume.
Yes. This program is 100% asynchronous with optional live touchpoints.
Brightspace Learning Management System will be used.
Students who successfully complete a UVM Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) course or program approved for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will receive an official UVM certificate reflecting the earned CEUs.
Many professional organizations, licensing boards, or certifying bodies accept CEUs from accredited providers like the University of Vermont, but acceptance is not automatic and varies by organization. Professionals should always verify in advance with their specific regulating body or association whether the CEUs from the particular UVM course you are taking will count toward their requirements.
To request recognition of UVM CEUs with your professional organization:
Download or request an official certificate or verification letter for the completed course/program.
Submit the official UVM documentation directly to your professional organization, licensing board, or certifying body through their required process (often an online portal, application form, or mailed packet). Include any additional materials they may require, such as course descriptions, agendas, or learning objectives (available on the program webpage or by request to PACE).
If your organization requires specific formatting or additional verification, contact UVM PACE at learn@uvm.edu or (802) 656-2085, and we will be happy to assist with documentation. Early confirmation with your professional body is recommended to avoid any delays in CEU approval.
If a student needs to cancel their attendance they must do so at least 10 business days prior to the start date of the course to receive a 75% refund. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this 10-business day deadline.
Advising and Student Support
You have the goal; we’ll help you achieve it
We are dedicated to helping you access UVM. It is our role to get to know your experience and goals, assist you in choosing courses, guide you through registration, and serve as your resource throughout your time at UVM.
Curious if your past college credits apply at UVM? Want to understand where a program will take you after completion? Looking for resources for financial aid, tutors, or UVM policies? We’re here to help.
