The Master of Science in Sex Coaching
A graduate degree pathway for Sex Coach U certified coaches
The International Institute of Clinical Sexology now grants a Master of Science in Sex Coaching. Sex Coach U certification transfers toward the degree, which means certified coaches enter partway through rather than starting again.
This page explains what the degree is, when it starts, how your Sex Coach U training applies, what it costs, who is eligible, and how to begin.
- What the degree is
- When the program starts
- How your certification transfers
- Who is eligible to apply
- What this means for Sex Coach U graduates
- Additional application requirements
- Tuition and payment plans
- What graduates receive
- Accreditation and what it means
- Is this the right step?
- How to apply
- Frequently asked questions
- What is a Master of Science in Sex Coaching?
- When can I start?
- Does my Sex Coach U certification count toward it?
- Do I need a bachelor’s degree?
- What does it cost for Sex Coach U graduates?
- Is the Master’s degree accredited?
- How long does the Ms Sex Coaching take?
- What does the practicum involve?
- Can I study from outside the United States?
- What to Look for When Looking for a Master’s Program
- How does sex coaching differ from sex therapy?
- Are there red flags I should look out for?
- Can degrees be purchased?
- Is there a claim of accreditation when there is no evidence of this status?
- Is there a claim of accreditation from a questionable accrediting organization?
- Does the operation lack state or federal licensure or authority to operate?
- Is little if any attendance required of students, either online or in class?
- Are few assignments required for students to earn credits?
- Is a very short period of time required to earn a degree?
- Are degrees available based solely on experience or résumé review?
- Are there few requirements for graduation?
- Does the operation fail to provide any information about a campus or business location or address and rely, e.g., only on a post office box?
- Does the operation fail to provide a list of its faculty and their qualifications?
- Does the operation have a name similar to other well-known colleges and universities?
- Does the operation make claims in its publications for which there is no evidence?
What the degree is
The Master of Science in Sex Coaching is a 60-credit, credit-bearing graduate program granted by the International Institute of Clinical Sexology (IICS), an institution licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education. It carries defined admission requirements, structured coursework, a supervised practicum, and essay-based assessments.
It is built across three components:
Most students complete the full program in 18 to 24 months. The program is delivered online.
The practicum is the capstone. Students complete a minimum of eight hours of supervised coaching across three client types: an individual male-identified client, an individual female-identified client, and one couple. Sessions are conducted over Zoom and recorded for faculty review. For each client, students produce a case report using the PLISSIT and MEBES© models, an individualized action plan, an integrative essay, and a self-assessment of competency.
The full course list is on the IICS program page.
When the program starts
Students enter the Master of Science in Sex Coaching in cohorts. Applications are accepted year round, and IICS confirms available cohort start dates once an application has been reviewed.
The next cohort begins in January 2027.
A limited number of places are available in this cohort for transfer students. Contact IICS to ask whether a place is available to you.
How your certification transfers
IICS recognizes Sex Coach U certification as transfer credit toward the Master of Science in Sex Coaching. Sex Coach U graduates may be eligible for up to 30 of the 60 required credits.
The exact number of credits awarded is determined individually by the IICS admissions committee following review of your record.
Credit transfer reduces the remaining coursework. It does not change the admission requirements, which are set by IICS and are described below.
Who is eligible to apply
Admission is set by IICS, not by Sex Coach U. Sex Coach U certification transfers as academic credit toward the degree, but it does not by itself qualify you for admission.
Applicants must meet one of these three routes:
Route one. A professional license or certification in healthcare, medicine, or mental health, issued by a state or other licensing jurisdiction.
Route two. A bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, healthcare, human sexuality, humanities, education, or a related field.
Route three. A bachelor’s degree in any field, combined with evidence of additional training, certification, or professional experience in human sexuality, coaching, counseling, healthcare, or nursing.
What this means for Sex Coach U graduates
Your Sex Coach U certification satisfies the second half of route three. If you hold a bachelor’s degree in any subject, you are eligible to apply.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree in one of the fields listed in route two, or a health or mental health license, you are eligible on that basis alone.
If you have no bachelor’s degree and no health or mental health license, you are not currently eligible, regardless of your Sex Coach U certification.
Additional application requirements
– A minimum GPA of 3.0, or the international equivalent
– Two letters of recommendation from licensed professionals, supervisors, or faculty able to speak to your capacity for graduate-level work
– A completed student questionnaire and admissions interview
– Orientation with the IICS Director of Student Services before classes begin
– International applicants may be asked for a TOEFL score of 500 or above
Official transcripts and letters of recommendation must be submitted and approved before classes begin. Documents submitted to IICS become the property of IICS and cannot be returned or forwarded to another institution, so keep originals and request duplicate copies where you may need them again.
Tuition and payment plans
| Requirement | Credits | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Sexology foundations and coaching integration | 42 | $12,096 |
| Business and professional development | 12 | $3,456 |
| Live supervised practicum | 6 | $1,728 |
| Total tuition | 60 | $17,280 |
| Additional costs | ||
| Application fee, non-refundable | $100 | |
| Estimated textbooks and supplies | $300 | |
Tuition is set by IICS.
Payment plans are available. Standard options begin with a $600 tuition deposit, followed by eight quarterly payments of $2,085, eighteen monthly payments of approximately $926, or twenty-four monthly payments of $695. Monthly and quarterly arrangements are negotiated at registration.
Tuition must be paid in full before the degree or transcripts are released.
Tuition for applicants entering with transfer credit is confirmed by IICS at the point of admission, once the credit award has been determined.
What graduates receive
Students who complete 60 credits and achieve a minimum 85% average across all essay-based assignments and practical assessments receive:
– A Master of Science in Sex Coaching from the International Institute of Clinical Sexology
– Certification as a Sex Coach through the Therapist Certification Association
– Inclusion in the Find a Professional directory on the TCA website
– Additional certification as a Sex Coach through Sex Coach U
– Membership in GASP, the Global Association of Sexology Professionals, a live virtual community hosted by Sex Coach U
– Eligibility to apply for the Clinical Sexology PhD program at IICS
Sex Coach U certification, which supplies the transfer credit for this degree, is delivered by an AASECT-approved continuing education provider. AASECT CE credits earned through eligible Sex Coach U coursework may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal. Completion of the Master of Science does not itself confer AASECT certification.
These are professional credentials within sexology and sex coaching. They are not clinical licenses and do not permit the holder to practice as a licensed therapist or counselor. Sex coaches are trained to recognize when a client’s needs fall outside their scope of practice and to refer appropriately.
Accreditation and what it means
IICS is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education. It is not accredited by a body recognized by the United States Department of Education.
Two practical consequences to consider. Federal financial aid is not available for this program. And credit transfer to other institutions is at the discretion of the receiving institution rather than assured.
Within sexology and sex coaching, IICS credentials and the associated Therapist Certification Association designation carry professional recognition. The accreditation question matters most for applicants who may later want to apply these credits toward another academic program, and it should be factored into the decision.
Is this the right step?
The Masters suits practitioners who want academic grounding behind an existing certification, who work alongside licensed therapists or in healthcare-adjacent settings where a graduate qualification changes how they are read, or who are considering doctoral study later. The degree sits directly on the pathway to the IICS Clinical Sexology PhD.
It is a substantial commitment. Sixty credits, supervised client work, essay-based assessment throughout, and a minimum 85% average across the program. It is not a fast credential, and the weight it carries comes from that.
If your goal is to begin practicing as a sex coach, the Sex Coach U certification is the starting point and remains a complete professional qualification in itself. The Masters is a later step, not a prerequisite.
How to apply
Applications are handled by IICS and are accepted year-round. Once your application has been reviewed, IICS will confirm which cohort you can join.
If you are a Sex Coach U student or graduate and want to understand how your existing coursework is likely to be assessed, contact the Sex Coach U team first. We can talk through where your record sits before you begin the application.
Frequently asked questions
A 60-credit graduate degree that combines clinical sexology with professional coaching methodology, granted by the International Institute of Clinical Sexology. It runs 18 to 24 months and covers sexology and coaching foundations, business and professional development, and a supervised live practicum with individual and couple clients.
It is distinct from sex therapy training, which requires clinical licensure and involves treating psychological and sexual dysfunction.
Students enter in cohorts. Applications are accepted year round, and IICS confirms your available start date once your application has been reviewed. The first cohort begins in January 2027, and a limited number of fall places are available for transfer students.
Yes. IICS recognizes Sex Coach U certification as transfer credit, up to 30 of the 60 required credits. The number awarded in any individual case is confirmed by the IICS admissions committee after reviewing your record.
In most cases, yes. IICS requires either a bachelor’s degree or a professional license in healthcare, medicine, or mental health.
If your bachelor’s degree is in a field such as psychology, counseling, social work, healthcare, human sexuality, humanities, or education, that qualifies you on its own under route two. If your degree is in any other subject, your Sex Coach U certification supplies the additional training required under route three, and the two together make you eligible.
What the certification does not do is replace the degree requirement itself.
Full tuition without transfer credit is $17,280, plus a $100 application fee and approximately $300 in textbooks. Payment plans start with a $600 deposit. If you are admitted with transfer credit, IICS confirms your tuition once your credit award has been determined.
IICS is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education and is not accredited by a body recognized by the US Department of Education. Federal financial aid is not available, and credit transfer to other institutions is at the receiving institution’s discretion.
Eighteen to twenty-four months for the full 60 credits. Students entering with transfer credit complete fewer credits, though the calendar timeline depends on how classes are scheduled within the cohort.
Eight hours minimum of supervised coaching across three client types: an individual male-identified client, an individual female-identified client, and one couple. All sessions are conducted over Zoom and recorded for faculty review. Students are supervised throughout and do not work with clients independently during this phase. For each client, students submit a case report using the PLISSIT and MEBES© models, an action plan, an integrative essay of 1,800 to 2,500 words, and a competency self-assessment.
IICS accepts international students and the program is delivered online. International applicants may be asked for a TOEFL score of 500 or above, and GPA equivalencies are mapped across UK, European, Australian, and Singaporean systems.
Before applying, confirm whether the IICS degree and the associated certifications are recognized by the professional bodies in your own jurisdiction.
One of the most common questions asked about the International Institute of Clinical Sexology (IICS) is: “Is this program accredited?” The answer is no, for a few reasons:
- Small programs like IICS are not able to get accreditation from a U.S. Department of Education accreditation provider. They just don’t do it.
- Accreditation is only necessary for programs that offer licensable degrees, such as a master’s in Mental Health Counseling or a doctorate in Psychology.
- Financial aid is not given to students in a non-accredited program, but we offer a payment plan.
- Students outside of the U.S. cannot get student visas for a non-accredited program, but our program is fully online and accessible to students worldwide.
So, where does that leave you when you are researching master’s programs?
First, let’s define the nature of this degree. It is a professional, practice-based degree that says the graduate is trained to practice competently and ethically in a particular field. The IICS program provides a Master of Science in Sex Coaching, so graduates are trained sex coaches. It is not a clinical degree and does not train you to diagnose or treat mental health conditions — that is what the IICS doctoral program in Clinical Sexology is for, and it primarily serves licensed therapists.
Coaching is not a licensed profession in any U.S. state, so an accredited degree is not required to practice as a coach. As a result, accreditation does not confer a professional license or scope of practice that an unaccredited coaching degree cannot provide.
That does not mean the degree is not legitimate or recognized as a degree. IICS is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE) to operate as a postsecondary institution and confer its degrees and is subject to ongoing regulatory oversight, including annual reporting and review.
Therefore, the question to ask is, “Will this monetize? Will a degree that costs X number of dollars and takes X number of months earn me back my money and time?” Sex coaching is private-pay work, with no insurance panels or reimbursement rates to wait on. For graduates practicing with an MS in Sex Coaching, the answer is an enthusiastic “Yes!”
Thirdly, the tuition at IICS is still less than a good new car. Is this because it lacks value? Certainly not. There have only ever been a handful of graduate programs in this field, and the first ones set tuition very low, leading subsequent programs to keep their fees low in order to compete. Raising tuition is a slow process.
Finally, the question of student visas. IICS has students around the world, and the program is delivered entirely online. As much as someone from another country may want a way to enter the U.S. for an extended period of time, it is not a necessity for completing this degree.
Sex coaching is forward-focused and client-driven. It supports individuals and couples with sexual wellness, communication, confidence, intimacy, and goal-setting. It does not diagnose or treat psychological conditions or sexual dysfunction.
Sex therapy is a licensed clinical practice requiring state or national licensure in a mental health discipline. The distinction matters professionally, legally, and ethically, and sex coaches are trained to refer when a client’s needs sit outside their scope.
The unfortunate reality is that there are some disreputable players out there and it is the responsibility of anyone seeking higher education to do their due diligence. This matters even more in coaching, where no licensing board filters out the bad actors. Below are some red flags and the responses to them pertaining to IICS.
Some red flags to help identify a diploma mill, as per https://www.chea.org/important-questions-about-diploma-mills-and-accreditation-mills
No. All degrees require tuition, so the question here is really: “Can I just walk up and pay for a diploma without doing any work?” IICS has a full curriculum with requirements for coursework, written assignments, knowledge reviews, live coaching labs, and a supervised capstone practicum. You cannot just “purchase a degree” from IICS.
No. IICS does not claim to be accredited because it is not. It is, however, licensed by the Florida Commission of Independent Education (CIE), which process is fully as rigorous as any accreditation and needs to be renewed annually.
Simply, no.
As stated above, IICS is licensed by the CIE and maintains that status through yearly audits and monitoring.
Lectures are recorded so students across many time zones can complete them, but this is not a set of videos you watch alone. Students attend live Coaching Lab classes, where they are observed and given feedback, plus live webinars with expert guests.
Every course carries required reading with written book reports, media reviews, experiential exercises, and case studies, and students are evaluated on written work and on observed coaching skills.
The average student takes 18 months to 2 years to complete the program, including the capstone.
No. All students need to complete the full curriculum, written assignments, live coaching labs, case studies and the capstone, regardless of prior experience.
In addition to the above-mentioned criteria, students complete a capstone project: a supervised practicum with real clients, plus a substantial written component documenting and analyzing that work.
IICS maintains a classroom and administrative office in Miami Shores, FL. It has a physical mailing address in Miami as well.
All faculty, with their qualifications, are listed in the catalog and on the website at https://www.clinicalsexologyphd.org/programs/masters-degree-sex-coaching
The IICS name is unique.
IICS’s ethical code precludes any false claims and the CIE monitors this.
Reading through this shows that you have a serious interest in earning a master’s degree and are considering IICS. Please click here to apply
Sex Coach U has trained sex coaches since 2010. Co-founded by Dr. Patti Britton, the program has graduates in more than 85 countries. For questions about how your Sex Coach U training applies to the IICS Masters, contact the team.
