National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists

What National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists does

The National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists (NACBT) is a private non-profit professional membership and credentialing organization founded in 1995 and headquartered in Weirton, West Virginia. It was established to set standards and certify mental health professionals practicing cognitive-behavioral therapy, responding to concerns that practitioners were labeling themselves as CBT therapists without adequate training. The organization serves licensed clinicians (therapists, counselors, psychologists, social workers), graduate students, paraprofessionals, and the general public, and positions itself as the only eclectic CBT organization in the USA, unifying Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT), Rational Living Therapy (RLT), and Beckian Cognitive Therapy under a single credentialing body. Its core methodology, Rational Living Therapy, was developed by President Dr. Aldo R. Pucci and operates on the cognitive model that thoughts cause feelings and behaviors (the ABCs of Emotions), with an emphasis on addressing core irrational beliefs ("Deep CBT") rather than surface-level symptom management.

The product portfolio spans membership subscriptions, two primary credentials (Certified Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist and Diplomate in CBT) plus 20+ specialty certifications (Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, Substance Abuse, Child Therapy, Christian Counseling, Rational Hypnotherapy, Life Coaching, etc.) delivered through three channels: self-paced home study programs, live three-day certification webinars (with APA continuing education credits), and an annual online national conference. Distribution runs across owned digital properties (nacbt.org, cbtonlinetraining.com, cbtstore.net, an Americommerce storefront), a weekly YouTube podcast (The Rational Living Show), Zoom-based webinar delivery, and a certified-members referral database that channels clients to credentialed practitioners.

Revenue is generated across seven streams: membership fees ($50-$300/year), certification application and recertification fees ($100/year), one-time home study program purchases ($99-$925), pay-as-you-go webinars ($20 per session, $175 for three-day certification webinars), a free annual conference for members, freemium self-help audio programs, and book sales. No revenue figures, funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors are disclosed; ownership and control rest with founding leadership, and the company operates with 11-50 employees serving what it describes as thousands of certified members across the United States and internationally.

Name

National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists

Legal name

National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists

Website

https://nacbt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists (NACBT) is a US-based non-profit founded in 1995 that credentials, trains, and certifies mental health professionals and paraprofessionals in eclectic cognitive-behavioral therapy, delivering home study, webinar, and conference-based programs to thousands of members worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Certification (Mental Health)

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAALAD

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

SECONDARYHSADAGAC

Wellness Program Design & Accountability Coaching

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Health Coaching & Lifestyle Wellness

Keywords

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Professional certification
• Mental health training
• Continuing education
• Therapist credentialing

Headquarters

HQ city

Weirton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees ranging from $50 for students to $300 for members with nine certifications, providing access to resources, networking, referral database, and discounts on training programs.
2. Certification Application and Re-Certification Fees: CCBT application fee of $100 includes one-year membership; annual re-certification fee of $100. Certification valid for five years with 25 continuing education hours required.
3. Home Study Training Programs: Self-paced home study certification programs for professionals and para-professionals, including Rational Living Therapy Levels 1-4, Trauma Specialist, Child Therapist, and other specialty certifications. Programs include audio materials and examinations.
4. Webinar Fees: Two-hour webinars priced at $20 each; three-day certification webinars at $175 with 18 APA CEs available. Monthly webinars provide ongoing education.
5. Annual National Conference: Free access for members to the annual online national conference with multiple professional development sessions and presentations.
6. CBT Self-Help Audio Programs: Free audio programs for the general public covering topics like overcoming hopelessness, accepting change, conquering depression, managing anxiety, and relationship improvement.
7. Book Sales: Sale of recommended CBT books and Dr. Aldo Pucci's publications including 'The Client's Guide to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy' and 'Feel the Way You Want to Feel...No Matter What!'

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The NACBT delivers cognitive-behavioral therapy training, certification, and professional membership to mental health practitioners. Its products include tiered annual memberships, the CCBT and DCBT credentials, more than 20 specialty home study certification programs, live and recorded webinars, an annual online national conference, and a certified-therapist referral database. Training is offered through self-paced home study, three-day certification webinars, and monthly two-hour professional development webinars.

Product overview

The National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists (NACBT) offers a comprehensive professional development ecosystem centered on CBT training, certification, and membership services. The organization provides tiered membership plans (Professional at $75/year, Student at $50/year, and Membership+Certification bundles from $100-$300/year), two primary credentials (Certified Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist requiring six years experience and Diplomate requiring ten years as the highest credential), and over 20 specialty certification home study programs covering areas such as Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, Substance Abuse, Child Therapy, and Hypnotherapy. Training is delivered through multiple channels including live webinars, three-day certification seminars, home study programs, and an annual online national conference. The product portfolio also includes self-help audio programs and a referral database connecting certified members with clients. The organization synthesizes multiple CBT approaches including Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy, Rational Living Therapy, and Cognitive Therapy into an eclectic unified methodology, positioning itself as the only eclectic CBT organization in the USA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Membership Annual membership for mental health professionals with graduate degrees, providing access to CBT resources, networking, supervision meetings, the Rational News newsletter, conference access, practice forms, and a 20% discount on training programs. Optional inclusion in the public referral database is also available.
• Student Membership Annual membership for undergraduate or graduate students pursuing mental health degrees, offering reduced pricing and access to CBT resources, training discounts, and supervision meetings.
• Membership + Certifications Bundles Tiered membership packages combining annual membership with one to nine NACBT certifications (CCBT, DCBT, CRAT, CRST, etc.) for certified professionals, priced at $100–$300 annually.
• Certified Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist (CCBT) Credential The primary NACBT certification for licensed mental health professionals, requiring a master's or doctoral degree, six years of post-graduate CBT experience, completion of an introductory CBT program, three recommendations, and 25 continuing education hours every five years.
• Diplomate in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (DCBT) Credential The highest NACBT credential, requiring a master's or doctoral degree, ten years of post-graduate CBT experience, completion of an advanced CBT certification program, and three recommendations.
• CBT Life Coaching Certification Paraprofessional certification for non-mental health professionals requiring a high school diploma, focusing on cognitive-behavioral coaching techniques.
• Certified Cognitive-Behavioral Group Facilitator (CBGF) Paraprofessional certification requiring a high school diploma for facilitating CBT group sessions.
• Mental Health Technician Certification Paraprofessional certification requiring a high school diploma for mental health technician roles.
• Mental Health Paraprofessional Certification Paraprofessional certification requiring a bachelor's degree in any field for mental health paraprofessional positions.
• Anger Management Paraprofessional Certification Paraprofessional certification requiring a high school diploma for anger management facilitation.
• Substance Abuse Counselor Certification Professional certification requiring a bachelor's degree for substance abuse counseling using CBT approaches.
• Rational Living Therapy Level-One Certification Home Study Program Foundational home study certification program covering systematic CBT approaches including REBT, RBT, and RLT methodologies, priced at $250.
• Rational Living Therapy Level-Two Certification Home Study Program Intermediate-level home study program building on Level-One training with advanced RLT techniques.
• Rational Living Therapy Level-Three Certification Home Study Program Advanced home study program covering specialized RLT applications and techniques.
• Rational Living Therapy Level-Four Certification Home Study Program Expert-level home study program completing the RLT certification sequence.
• Rational Living Therapy Levels One-Four Complete Package Bundle of all four RLT certification levels at discounted pricing, priced at $925.
• Certified Trauma Specialist Home Study Program Professional certification program for treating trauma using CBT approaches, requiring a master's degree or higher, priced at $500.
• Certified Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapist (CBGT) Certification Professional certification for facilitating CBT group therapy sessions.
• Certified Anxiety Specialist Certification Specialty certification for CBT treatment of anxiety disorders.
• Certified Depression Specialist Specialty certification for CBT treatment of depressive disorders.
• Certified Substance Abuse Therapist Professional certification for CBT-based substance abuse treatment.
• Certified Eating Disorders Specialist Specialty certification for CBT treatment of eating disorders.
• Cognitive-Behavioral Child Therapist Certification Professional certification for applying CBT with child clients.
• Rational Hypnotherapy Certification Home Study Program Certification program combining rational approaches with hypnotherapy techniques.
• Advanced Rational Hypnotherapy Certification Advanced-level certification program for rational hypnotherapy techniques.
• Christian Counseling Certification Home Study Program Integration of CBT with Christian counseling principles, priced at $275.
• Anger Management Specialist Home Study Program Professional-level certification for CBT-based anger management.
• CBT Persuasion Techniques Advanced training in cognitive-behavioral persuasion and influence techniques.
• CBT: The Basics of Helping People Get Better Foundational training program introducing core CBT principles and techniques.
• Utilizing CBT with Children Specialized training program for applying CBT techniques with child clients.
• Treating Resistant Depression Specialty training for CBT treatment of treatment-resistant depression.
• Certified Weight Loss Specialist Specialty certification for CBT-based weight management programs.
• CBT Level-One Certification Webinar (Three-Day Training) Live online certification webinar covering systematic CBT (RLT) approaches over three days, with 18 APA continuing education credits available at no additional cost, priced at $175 per session.
• Mental Health Webinars Two-hour educational webinars on various CBT topics presented by Dr. Aldo Pucci, available to mental health professionals and the general public at $20 per session.
• CBT Self-Help Audio Programs Free audio programs for the general public covering rational self-counseling techniques for issues including hopelessness, change, depression, anxiety, pain management, and relationship problems.
• The Rational Living Show Podcast Weekly podcast by Dr. Aldo Pucci covering rational living and CBT topics, streamed live on YouTube every Wednesday at 7:00 pm Eastern USA.
• Certified Members Referral Database Searchable directory of NACBT-certified therapists available for client referrals, filtered by certification, location, and specialty. Only CCBT and DCBT holders can be listed.
• NACBT Annual Online National Conference Annual virtual conference featuring CBT training sessions, workshops, and panel discussions from industry experts, free for members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average of 16 CBT sessions across various approaches and problems (compared to years for psychoanalysis)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• PESI: A large continuing education provider offering thousands of mental health courses including CBT content. Operates at much greater scale and breadth than NACBT in the professional CE market for clinicians.
• American Psychological Association (APA): The largest professional association for psychologists in the US, providing continuing education, training, and credentialing across the full mental health spectrum. APA-approved CE credit designation is a key part of NACBT's value proposition, making APA both a partner and a broad competitor.
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): A major credentialing body for counselors that provides continuing education and certification pathways, competing with NACBT for the same mental health professional audience seeking CE credits and credentials.

Direct peers

• Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Founded by the originator of Cognitive Therapy (Dr. Aaron Beck), Beck Institute provides CBT training, certification, and clinician resources — directly competing with NACBT in the CBT credentialing and continuing education market for mental health professionals.
• Albert Ellis Institute: The training and certification home of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), directly overlapping with NACBT's Rational Living Therapy and broader CBT credentialing offerings for mental health professionals.
• Evergreen Certifications: An online certification and CE provider offering CBT and mental health credentials to professionals, directly competing with NACBT's home study certification programs on convenience and pricing.
• International Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy (IACP): An international professional association for cognitive psychotherapists offering conferences, training, and certification pathways that overlap with NACBT's CBT training and certification portfolio.
• Academy of Cognitive Therapy: A credentialing body for Cognitive Therapy that certifies therapists and provides training — operating in the same CBT certification niche as NACBT for licensed mental health professionals.
• Zur Institute: An online continuing education provider offering CE courses for mental health professionals including CBT content, directly competing for the same clinician training dollar as NACBT.

Emerging players

• International OCD Foundation: A specialty organization providing training and resources for OCD treatment using CBT/ERP approaches, representing an emerging player that overlaps with NACBT's anxiety specialty certifications in a focused niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@therationallivingshow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists