This page is for people in the United States who are comparing hypnotherapy training programmes and want to know how a UK-based, externally verified diploma works from where they live. It sets out what you receive, how the study works across time zones, what US law says about practising, what to call yourself when you qualify, and how insurance and membership work for a graduate in the US.
What you receive
The Level 5 Higher Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (Hypno-CBT®) is an NCFE-accredited Customised Qualification, independently awarded and externally verified by NCFE, an awarding organisation recognised by the qualification regulators for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. All formats of the Diploma are approved through the BPS CPD Quality Mark Scheme for the purposes of continuing professional development.
The programme is 500 hours in total, including 136 hours of live taught training across three stages. Assessment is four supervised case studies and a written assessment. Supervised practice sessions are available four times a week, and students typically conduct more than 30 therapist-client practice sessions before qualifying.
Hypnotherapy is not a government-regulated profession in the UK or the US. This is an unregulated qualification, as every hypnotherapy qualification is; what differs between trainings is the external checking they submit to, which is why we publish ours. No hypnotherapy qualification carries US government recognition, and we do not claim a US equivalent for “Level 5”, which is a UK framework benchmark describing difficulty and depth of study. Read more about NCFE accreditation and BPS approval.
Hypno-CBT® is a registered trademark in the United Kingdom and the United States. It is the name of the method taught at the College. It is not a professional licence and does not denote a regulated title.
How the training works from the United States
Most US students take the Online Recorded Diploma. The lectures are recorded, so you study them at the hours that suit you. Your 18 hours of one-to-one tutoring are booked directly with your tutor at times that work in both countries. Supervised practice sessions run four times a week at a range of time slots, including evenings and weekends UK time. Case studies and the written assessment are submitted online. Printed course materials are shipped to you.
If you prefer live teaching, the LiveStream Webcast Diploma runs at UK times, 10am to 6pm. The Blended Diploma combines the two. Every route leads to the same Diploma.
See the Online Diploma in full, including course features, duration and how to enrol.
What US law says about practising hypnotherapy
No US state issues a licence for hypnotherapy as a profession in its own right. A minority regulate it by other routes, and every state’s laws on psychology, counselling, medicine and consumer protection apply to everyone, however trained.
| State | What applies |
|---|---|
| Washington | Registration as a hypnotherapist with the Department of Health before practising or holding out (RCW 18.19.035). Non-residents may register. |
| Connecticut | Registration as a hypnotist with the Department of Consumer Protection (CGS §20-660). |
| Florida | Hypnosis “for therapeutic purposes” is restricted to licensed healing-arts practitioners and those working under their supervision (Florida Statutes ch. 485). |
| California | Self-improvement and vocational work is permitted where it is not offered as treatment for emotional or mental disorders (Business and Professions Code §2908), with a written disclosure to clients (§§2053.5 to 2053.6). |
| Other states | No hypnotherapy statute. The practice acts for psychology, counselling, social work and medicine, and consumer protection law, still apply. In a number of states hypnosis is named inside a licensed practice act; check your state before you practise. |
The table is a summary of the statutes named, checked in September 2026. Laws change, and where you practise is where the client is, including online. Our guide to hypnotherapy certification in the United States explains what “certified” means in the US, who issues certifications, and how to judge any programme, including ours.
What to call yourself when you qualify
Graduates practising in the US describe themselves as a Hypno-CBT® practitioner. Where the work is self-improvement, habit change or performance, Hypno-CBT® coach is accurate. “Hypnotherapist” is workable in most states; Washington registers it as a title and some state statutes name it. Words that belong to licensed professions are not used by unlicensed graduates: psychologist, psychological, psychotherapist, psychotherapy, counselor, clinical. Describe what you do in plain terms and say where you trained.
Membership and insurance
Professional liability insurance is available to a graduate practising in the US without joining any membership body. Membership bodies are optional. Graduates can apply for membership of the International Certification Board of Clinical Hypnotherapy (ICBCH) through a reciprocal membership agreement. Arrange cover before you see paying clients; insurers, venues and professional bodies expect it.
Fees and how to enrol
Fees are the same for every student wherever they live and are published in pounds sterling on our fees page. Enrolment is by Discovery Call: a conversation with a course advisor about your background, the route that suits you and the next start date. Book a Discovery Call.
Frequently asked questions
Can I train as a hypnotherapist in the US with a UK diploma?
Yes. No US state requires a particular school or country of training, and the Online Recorded Diploma is studied from anywhere. Washington and Connecticut require registration before practising, Florida restricts therapeutic hypnosis to licensed practitioners, and California requires a written client disclosure; the table above gives the statutes. For the wider route into practice, see the steps to becoming a hypnotherapist.
Is the Hypno-CBT® Diploma recognised in the United States?
No hypnotherapy qualification carries US government recognition, because none exists. The Diploma is externally verified by NCFE and approved through the BPS CPD Quality Mark Scheme. Level 5 is a UK framework benchmark; we do not claim a US equivalent.
How long does the training take from the US?
You are enrolled for 12 months and have a year to complete the Online Recorded Diploma; most of the roughly 100 hours of recorded teaching is studied in your own time. The recorded lectures are studied at your own pace; the 18 hours of one-to-one tutoring and the supervised practice sessions are booked around your time zone.
Can I get professional liability insurance in the US with this Diploma?
Yes. Cover is available from US insurers that list hypnotherapist as an occupation, without membership of any body. Arrange it before you see paying clients.
What can I call myself when I qualify?
Hypno-CBT® practitioner, or Hypno-CBT® coach for self-improvement work. “Hypnotherapist” is workable in most states. Titles that belong to licensed professions, including psychotherapist and counselor, are not used by unlicensed graduates.
Written by Mark R. Davis FRSM, Principal of Hypno-CBT® College. Last reviewed: 30 September 2026. Statutes named on this page link to their primary sources on our certification guide.