High School

If you're planning to make hypnotherapy your career, take a college preparatory course of study in high school. Courses in health, biology, anatomy, and chemistry will give you a better understanding of the mind-body connection that is key to hypnotherapy. You may wish to study speech, communications, psychology, and sociology as well to help you learn to deal with clients and approach their treatments in the most effective manner. 

You may prefer to use hypnosis as part of another career. If this is the case, you should do course work pertaining to your future field, for example, if you plan to use hypnotherapy in a dental practice. Advanced science and math classes in high school will prepare you for college, dental school, and beyond.

Postsecondary Training

If you wish to work only as a hypnotherapist (not combining hypnotherapy with the practices of another profession), you do not need a four-year college degree. You will, however, need some postsecondary training. Many schools across the country offer training in hypnosis, but it will be a key factor in your future success to attend a respected and accredited program. Look for a school or program that has been accredited by a professional organization, such as the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) or the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), as well as approved by the state's department of education. If you attend a program without these credentials, you will have difficulty getting certification or licensing later on.

Course work tends to vary from school to school. NGH-certified instructors, however, teach a standard curriculum. If you want to use hypnosis with a medical, dental, psychological, social work, religious, or other profession, you will first need to earn your college degree and, in some cases, an advanced degree in the particular field that interests you and then pursue training in hypnosis. The major professional associations also provide certification in clinical hypnosis.

Other Education or Training

The ACHE, NGH, hypnotherapy schools, and other organizations provide continuing education classes and webinars. Contact these organizations to learn more.

Certification or Licensing

A number of associations offer certification, but the two best-known certifying groups are American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE) and the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH). ACHE offers two levels of certification: certified hypnotherapist and certified clinical hypnotherapist. To attain the certified hypnotherapist designation, you must complete at least 200 hours of instruction from an approved school and pass a written and practical skills exam. To attain the certified clinical hypnotherapist designation, you must have fulfilled all of the requirements for the certified hypnotherapist designation and complete at least 300 hours of instruction from an approved school. The ACHE also offers two certified hypnotic coach certification credentials. The NGH offers a board certification program to members who first become certified at a lower level, write a hypnosis paper for publication in the Journal of Hypnotism or Hypno-Gram, have at least one year of experience as a hypnotist, pass a written examination, and complete an oral interview. Certification is highly recommended because it demonstrates both to your peers and your clients that you have received thorough training and are keeping up with developments in the field.

While most states do not license hypnotherapists, legislation for licensure is being considered in many states. You will need to check with your state's licensing board for specific requirements in your area. In addition, hypnotherapists who run their own businesses will need a business license.

Previous health care or therapy experience will be useful for aspiring hypnotherapists. 

Hypnotherapists should have a broad knowledge of health problems and how hypnosis might be used to deal with them effectively. They must be dedicated to helping their patients handle difficult emotional issues, such as anorexia, anxiety, and frustration. They should be calm, patient individuals who can put their patients at ease; and they should be good listeners as well as effective communicators.

In order to succeed as a hypnotherapist, you should be able to inspire trust in others. Because you will be asking clients to let their guards down and become open to a higher level of suggestibility, they will need to feel very comfortable with you. A calm, soothing personality, and a voice to match, will help you ease clients into a hypnotic state. You will also need to be able to interact well with a variety of people and have a true interest in helping them. Because hypnotherapy works differently for each person, you should be creative and patient in your approach to your clients and their needs.

Finally, hypnotherapists need high moral and ethical standards. People who seek out hypnotherapy to help overcome a particular obstacle are often very vulnerable, either professionally or personally. A high-profile government leader, for instance, may look to hypnotherapy to help him overcome an addiction to prescription painkillers. Practitioners of hypnotherapy must be sensitive to their clients' needs and wishes and take privacy issues very seriously.