AASECT Categories for Events
AASECT recognizes both Core Knowledge training, and Skills Training. Core Knowledge is general information about a topic. Skills training is how to apply knowledge about a topic to the participants' work. For more information on how to choose the categories, please see our Understanding AASECT Categories brief video.
Core Knowledge Areas and Training
To indicate how the content of training meets AASECT Certification requirements for educators, counselors and therapists, indicate which of the following your training addresses. (Note: the CKAs should also be included next to each learning objective listed on the next page For more detailed description of the categories, please see the AASECT website.
a. Ethics and ethical behavior.
b. Developmental sexuality from a bio-psycho-social perspective across the lifespan.
c. Socio-cultural factors (e.g. ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socio-economic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.
d. Topics related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity: issues and themes impacting lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual people; heterosexuality; gender identity and expression.
e. Intimacy skills (e.g., social, emotional, sexual), intimate relationships, and family dynamics.
f. Diversities in sexual expression and lifestyles including, but not limited to relationship structures (e.g., polyamory, swinging, consensual non-monogamy) and sexually diverse communities (e.g., BDSM, kink).
g. Sexual and reproductive anatomy/physiology.
h. Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDSS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury, and safer sex practices.
i. Range of sexual functioning and behavior, from optimal to challenging including, but not limited to, common issues such as: desire discrepancy, lack of desire, difficulty achieving or maintaining arousal, sexual pain, penetration problems, and difficulty with orgasm.
j. Sexual exploitation, including sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.
k. Sexuality and technology (e.g., social media, generative AI).
l. Substance use/abuse and sexuality.
m. Pleasure enhancement skills.
n. Learning theory and its application.
o. Professional communication and personal reflection skills.
p. History of the discipline of sex research, theory, education, counseling, and therapy.
q. Principles of sexuality research and research methods.
Sexuality Education (SE) Skills Training
a. Theory and methods of general education (including curriculum development, delivery, and evaluation
b. Theory and methods of sexuality education (including curriculum development, delivery, and evaluation).
c. Ethical issues in sexuality education.
d. Theory and methods of approaches to sexuality education with specific populations (e.g., youth, older adults, couples, ethnic/cultural/faith-based populations, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities).
e. Approaches to sexuality education delivery (e.g., small group work, one-on-one education, large group lectures or interaction, online delivery or use of other electronic means).
Sexuality Counseling (SC) Training
a. Theory and methods of personal/individual counseling.
b. Theory and methods of sexuality counseling approaches to specific populations (e.g., youth, older adults, couples, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, ethnic/cultural/faith-based populations).
c. Theory and methods of different approaches to intervention in relationship systems.
d. Theory and methods of decision-making concerning sexually-related medical interventions.
e. Ethical issues in sexuality counseling.
f. Theory and practice of consultation, collaboration, and referral.
Sex Therapy (ST) Training
a. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.
b. Techniques of sex-related assessment and diagnosis of the 'Psychosexual Disorders' described in the current edition of the DSM.
c. Theory and methods of approach to intervention in relationship systems experiencing sex and intimacy problems.
d. Theory and methods of approach to medical intervention in the evaluation and treatment of psychosexual disorders.
e. Principles of consultation, collaboration, and referral.
f. Ethical decision-making and best practice.
Values and Attitudes Training (SAR)