FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the application process?
Simply complete the General Application for the session of your choice and submit your $750 deposit. This reserves your seat. After that, you’re “in” and there’s nothing left for you to do except get pumped.
If you would like to apply but do not have the funds to submit your $750 deposit, please email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com and we can discuss alternative options.
What if I am not accepted?
The only reason an applicant would not be accepted is if they do not appropriately respond to the questions in the General Application. Should that happen, the applicant will be refunded their deposit in full with 72 hours and provided an explanation via email.
Are there any prerequisites?
We require hopeful attendees to complete the General Application, show a genuine interest in or passion for sex education, and have a desire to learn. That’s it!
What is the minimum level of education required to apply?
There is no minimum education requirement! EDSE is open to people of all schooling and learning experiences.
Does this training include CEs?
Yes. Our Sex Educator Certification provides a minimum of 45 training hours. If you are unsure if your organization will accept these training hours, please ask your supervisor or representative directly. Many organizations consider a variety training programs and allow a portion of the hours to count toward their requirements.
The Summer 2024 program qualifies for 45 CEs from the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). Previous programs count toward 20 CE hours. EDSE’s Sexual Attitude Reassessment qualifies for 14 AASECT CEs.
What is a SAR and why do I have to take one?
A Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR) is a unique professional development experience that is recommended for every kind of service provider, whether you work in education, healthcare, mental health, social services, or in the sexuality field. SARs help attendees evaluate and examine their beliefs and value systems around sexuality, autonomy, race, identity, relationship dynamics, and more, and helps facilitate an even more expansive view on the unique and diverse ways humans live and express themselves. When done with compassion and intention, a SAR is an extensive and enlightening training and workshop for individuals who support clients in various ways in their work — but not all SARs are created equal.
As a justice-centered education organization, EDSE believes that it is essential for practitioners to do professional development work not only in topics related to sexuality, but also our own gaps in perspective and understanding regarding topics that we do not have lived experience with, or that we have limited familiarity with. This can help not only reduce the risk of harm caused by lack of knowledge or compassion, but also as a result of the power or privilege we may hold. Our SAR is co-hosted by Anne Hodder-Shipp and Dr. Bianca Laureano of ANTE UP! and centers the values, intentions, and community focus that we demonstrate in our programming while assisting attendees in developing and honing them for themselves. Most people who complete our SAR share that it changed them for the better both professionally and personally.
You can pay for your SAR when you submit your General Application, or you can sign up and pay for it separately at no additional cost. Learn more about the SAR here.
What do I need to do to maintain or renew my certification?
As of January 1, 2024, EDSE Certification will be valid for 3 years upon receipt of your certificate. To renew their certification and maintain the title of Certified Sex Educator, certificate holders must complete 18 continuing education hours and follow EDSE guidelines. Click here to learn about the renewal process and what is required of certificate holders.
Do I have to renew? Can I simply take the program to enhance my learning?
Absolutely! The knowledge and experiences gained during the certification are invaluable, and we have many attendees complete the program in order to build skills and proficiency with the subject matter without the need or desire for a Certified Sex Educator title. These kinds of attendees receive a Certificate of Completion once they have completed the program requirements.
Why do you require renewal for Certified Sex Educators?
The sexuality field in the U.S. is still very much in its infancy. The study of sexuality in this country initially began in the late 19th century, but it wasn’t until 1938 that research of sex, relational dynamics, orgasm, desire, and pleasure — especially that of cisgender women, largely believed at the time to be non-sexual — began in an official capacity, thanks to Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey and the students of the Association of Women at Indiana University who helped spark his transition from entomology to sexology.
The sex research field continued to develop despite social stigma and political outrage, most notably with Virginia E. Johnson and William H. Masters focusing on human sexual response starting in 1957, Elaine Hatfield and Ellen S. Berscheid focusing on romantic love and attraction starting in the 1960s, Shere Hite focusing on female sexuality and orgasm starting in the mid-1970s, Fred “Fritz” Klein focusing on bisexuality starting in the late 1970s, Beverly Whipple focusing on female ejaculation and the “G-spot” starting in the early 1980s, and Leonore Tiefer focusing on rape prevention and awareness in the 1970s and the medicalization of female pleasure starting in the early 1990s. These are just a few important figures and there are many more, including many whose work and names have been unjustly left off the academic record.
Notice how recently sex research started and how much more work there is still to do — and undo. Sex research has contributed to the pathologization of human sexuality as well as helped to de-stigmatize it, and it is common for research and knowledge that was once considered the standard to later be successfully challenged, reframed, or replaced with new, more accurate research and knowledge.
In the U.S., a wide range of common human sexual feelings, experiences, and identities were classified as mental illnesses and disorders — some even criminalized — until very recently. Among them:
Cross-dressing or wearing clothing associated with a gender other than your own (decriminalized in late 1990s, declassified as a mental illness until 2010, currently re-criminalized in several states)
Having anal sex (decriminalized in some states in the 1960s and 1970s, others still have anti-sodomy laws in place)
Feeling uninterested in or grossed-out by sex (mental disorder until 2013)
Being transgender, genderqueer, or anything other than cisgender (mental illness until 2012)
Enjoying BDSM (mental illness until 2010)
Having a fetish or a kink (mental illness until 2010)
Being gay, bisexual, or anything other than heterosexual (mental illness until 1973)
and so many more
These are just a few reasons why continuing education for sex educators, sex therapists, and other sexuality professionals is essential in order to do expansive, accurate, and ethical work. EDSE is doing its part to help make this standard practice while also ensuring that the continuing education that is pursued is in line with understandings and representations of human sexuality that do not exclusively center white, cisgender, allosexual, and heterosexual norms, identities, and expectations.
What happens if I don’t renew my certificate?
Current certificate holders who choose not to renew their certification with EDSE:
Will not be included in the database of EDSE Certified Sex Educators.
Do not have authority to refer to themselves as a Certified Sex Educator, unless they received the designation from a different program.
Will be required to complete the EDSE Sex Educator Certification a second time, should their certification lapse longer than 6 months and they wish to obtain a Certified Sex Educator title.
The time, money, and energy spent completing our program have value beyond a Certified Sex Educator title, and a Certificate of Completion is a legitimate representation of that effort and expense.
How will this certification benefit my career?
That’s up to you! Folks who attend our program have their own individual reasons and intent behind seeking a certificate, and many have shared that one of the reasons they chose EDSE was because the program felt in line with their professional and personal values.
There isn't a clear, well-worn path toward becoming a sex educator or working in the sexual health field like there is for therapy or counseling, unless you plan to get an MFT or higher learning degree, so most folks research and attend trainings that they feel will enhance their skills, develop their knowledge, and provide the continuing professional development necessary to be a successful sex educator.
EDSE's training is introductory and foundational, and though it's extensive, it is not a “complete” education in human sexuality. (There is no such thing.) As with any program, this won't be the first or only training you will benefit from as you build and maintain your career.
Can I attend from outside the U.S.?
Absolutely! To date, we have had attendees from Canada, Japan, Australia, England, the Middle East, and South Asia, and we are honored to host students and professionals from around the world! If you are outside the U.S. and interested in attending, we’d love to have you.
Before applying, we recommend that you look at the time difference and what it would require from you to attend in your time zone. This will allow you to decide whether it is feasible or comfortable for you to be present for the full 8 hours of each training day. We do not make special accommodations for international attendees and we do not record our sessions.
Can I use this certification if I live or work outside of the U.S.?
Yes. This certification, our SAR, and the rest of our trainings are valuable professional and personal development that provide expansive, affirming information along with valuable facilitation and communication skills that you can use right away. If you are concerned about whether the hours will count toward licensure or additional certifications, that depends on the organization(s) in charge of approvals. We recommend that you reach out to your supervisor or the person(s) in charge and ask them directly. Many organizations consider a variety of training programs and allow a portion of the hours to count toward their requirements.
That said, we have people attend from around the world and do so because they recognize the value of EDSE’s programming, regardless of whether it is approved by a specific licensing or certifying board.
Does this mean I can put CSE (Certified Sex Educator) credentials next to my name?
The CSE credential is something typically earned through a credentialing organization. Completing EDSE’s certification is not comparable to this process and is not a CSE credential. EDSE does not control how graduates refer to and describe themselves professionally. We urge folks to be transparent about their experience and training levels and only use CSE if they have been credentialed on an official level.
EDSE’s training is intensive and extensive but is not nearly enough sexuality and facilitation training to enable graduates to work professionally as a sex educator without consistently completing ongoing professional development. More on professional ethics, transparency, and continuing education options and access is discussed on the final day of the training.
How many attendees are in each session?
Maximum capacity for each digital EDSE Sex Educator Certification is 12 people. We find that smaller, more intimate learning environments allow for a engaged, more connected experience.
What does my tuition go toward?
Your tuition helps EDSE afford to provide tiered pricing that discounts tuition to those who qualify by as much as $1,500, as well as $7,490 in scholarships for each cohort. Most importantly, though, your tuition allows us to fairly and respectfully compensate our educators and support staff for their expertise, time, and labor.
EDSE is a small business that prioritizes equity and fairness. We do not utilize unpaid labor from interns or volunteers, and we do not balloon class sizes in order to inflate profit. Your tuition goes toward operating EDSE as an education organization registered in the state of Oregon and the costs of purchasing or creating teaching materials, developing and updating curriculum, quality control, completing daily administrative duties, managing our CE provider status, and other “invisible” costs related to running this kind of business.
Our lead educator, Anne Hodder-Shipp, is compensated for running EDSE, handling admissions, creating and maintaining program content and resources, managing each certification cohort, hosting the certification, and teaching every certification day. Our education assistant, Alice Silk, receives a flat fee for providing as-needed support during each certification, as well as mailing certificates. Our other educators receive a flat fee for each 60- or 90-minute section they teach.
If you bundle your tuition with the Sexual Attitude Reassessment, your additional $475 is split equally between the co-facilitators (Anne Hodder-Shipp and Dr. Bianca Laureano).
What is the format of each training day?
The digital EDSE Sex Educator Certification takes place live online using a video conferencing program called Zoom. You do not need a Zoom account to attend and there is no log-in process to join the Zoom “rooms.” One week prior to Day 1 of your training, you will be emailed a link to a shared Google folder full of course materials, including the official schedule with individual links for each training class on it. They are hyperlinked, which means you can simply click on the link and it will automatically open the Zoom “room” for you. You will be put in a waiting room until the Zoom “room” opens for everyone at the start time listed on the official schedule.
This program is designed to provide a minimum of 45 hours of training while maximizing your time in the comfort of your home or living space. Trainings start and end promptly in Pacific Standard Time (west coast time) with time each day for breaks and lunch. Each day welcomes a selection of topics and educators, including discussion, breakout sessions, and group activities designed to help solidify understanding of key concepts and practices.
We do not require your camera to be on for the entirety of the program, and we do not require that you have your microphone on. Attendees are welcome to participate using the text chat function. However, due to recent changes in the U.S. climate regarding sexuality education and discussions of sexuality topics, there may be times during the program that you will be asked to turn your cameras on in order to maintain a sense of safety and community in the digital space. If you have questions about this, please email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com.
We know life is complicated! If you anticipate punctuality may be a concern due to circumstances outside of your control, like childcare or family emergencies, please reach out to us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com. Special circumstances may be considered.
The format looks different from previous years. What changed?
Starting with the Summer 2024 program, we will be following a new extended schedule that more easily accommodates attendees who have weekend responsibilities and prioritizes the physical and mental stamina and wellbeing of our staff.
The new schedule looks like this:
Days 1-2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. PT (Including two 10-minute breaks and a 40-min lunch)
Week off
Days 3-5 10 a.m.-3 p.m. PT (Including one 10-minute break and a 40-min lunch)
Week off
Days 6-8 10 am.-3 p.m. PT (Including one 10-minute break and a 40-min lunch)
Week off
Days 9-10 10 a.m.-4 p.m. PT (Including two 10-minute breaks and a 40-min lunch)
In past years, the training was 6 days long with 8 hours of programming each day, all completed over the course of three consecutive weekends.
I can’t make it to one of the days of the training. Can you record it for me?
This is a live training and we do not record sessions. If you suspect you will not be able to attend all days, or you learn of a schedule conflict after already securing a seat, we recommend you sign up for a future session that does not conflict with your schedule. EDSE can not accommodate last-minute changes to attendees’ schedules and is not responsible for any sessions they might miss. Our refund policy (outlined later in these FAQs) applies to any cancellations made as a result of schedule conflicts.
Email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com if you need to switch to a different session. We require 30 days notice. Requests sent outside of this timeframe may not be accommodated.
Religious exemptions are available to folks who are unable to use technology on Saturdays and can not attend live. If you are enrolled and anticipate needing this exemption, please contact us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com. We require 60 days notice in order to request consent from all educators and attendees to be recorded.
What if I want hands-on help?
EDSE attendees have access to one-on-one sessions with lead educator Anne Hodder-Shipp to fortify their experience. Attendees can use this for:
Quiz or review prep
Practicing skills outlined during the training, including how to respond to sex questions
Personal, professional and business mentorship and advice
Processing shame, judgment, or other personal concerns that come up during the training
General questions, feedback, and support
Problem-solving and troubleshooting career decisions or changes
and more!
Click here to schedule a session with Anne.
Who’s teaching?
Every certification features at least 10 educators, each specializing in the subject matter they present a the program. You can read more about our current and past educators here. Check out the Summer 2024 session lineup here.
Are there tests or exams?
Yes. In order to complete your certification, attendees are required to take an online quiz and attend a verbal review with EDSE Lead Educator Anne Hodder-Shipp. These are “graded” on a pass/retake scale, and attendees can take each of them twice in order to ensure understanding of key concepts. There is no “fail” grade.
EDSE recognizes the unique ways humans learn and express information, and we do not require attendees to follow any kind of academic standard that does not respect or affirm their own cognitive process. Should an attendee require a quiz re-take, Hodder-Shipp provides verbal and written coaching to assist them in more effectively responding to quiz questions. EDSE’s Sex Educator Certification is a supported process from start to finish, and no one has ever “failed” this program.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. EDSE attendees who complete all requirements listed on the certification page will receive a formal certificate of completion emblazoned with the name of their choice. EDSE coordinators will confirm name and spelling, as well as mailing address, prior to printing. International attendees may experience lengthy mail delays and, as a result, have the option of receiving a high-resolution digital certificate that can be printed at home or locally.
Is the digital training accessible?
We work hard to improve accessibility with each training and we are always exploring capabilities that are unique to an online setting.
Every presentation features slides that are designed for optimal visuals, including high-contrast colors, large sans-serif fonts, graphic and audio descriptions, a live transcript, and AI closed captioning. Attendees will receive a PDF study guide to help prepare them for quiz-taking and EDSE’s Education Coordinator, Alice, is available via private message throughout each training day.
Do you require sign language interpretation, a daily transcript, or teaching materials additionally modified for vision or hearing impairment? Please email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com 60 days prior to Day 1 of the training so we have time to accommodate your needs.
How do I pay?
Deposits are accepted via credit card (Stripe), and payment plans and remaining balances are paid via a credit card or debit card authorization form. Should you require a different payment method, email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com and we will do our best to accommodate. At this time, we do not accept Paypal due to their hostile policies toward sexuality businesses.
What about payment plans?
Yep! We offer a 12-month, no-interest payment plan to help reduce financial stress. To confirm your payment plan, submit your payment authorization form to hello@everyonedeservessexed.com to automate your monthly payments via credit or debit card. You can download the payment plan form here. You must fill out and submit this form via email in order to confirm your payment plan. This form provides the option to bundle the Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR), the Sex Ed Accelerator, or both at a discount.
Unfortunately, EDSE is no longer able to authorize a payment plan for attendees who don’t have access to a credit card, debit card, or bank account.
Declined payments come with a $10 fee and may result in your payment plan being canceled with your remaining balance due in full. If payment delays are the result of unexpected financial hardship, please communicate with us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com so we can explore alternative options.
For a reminder of EDSE’s payment and attendance policies, please refer to our attendee terms of service.
Are there any special exceptions to this payment plan?
No. This payment plan has been created in order to bring ease to the payment process while assuring that your tuition is paid in full without delay.
How do I pay the Generosity Rate and make sure my donation goes to the financial aid fund?
There is an option add a $100-$250 Generosity Contribution to your tuition when you apply. Want to contribute more to the financial aid fund? You can send donations via Cashapp to EDSESexEd or email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com!
Does EDSE offer scholarships?
Yes! EDSE offers two $3,745 partial scholarships for each cohort to queer or transgender Black, Indigenous, Brown, Asian American Pacific Islander, and People of Color. To apply, please complete the online scholarship form and follow the instructions. Please note that submitting a scholarship application does not entitle you to a seat in the program.
This is a partial scholarship, and if you are selected, you will have a $750 balance to pay in order to accept it. The cost of the Sexual Attitude Reassessment is not covered by this scholarship. EDSE can not accommodate special payment requests from scholarship recipients, and it is each applicant's responsibility to ensure funds are available at the time of acceptance. Please do not submit an application if you are not prepared to pay this balance.
Please review the instructions at the top of the scholarship application before submitting. Applications submitted outside of the specified dates will not be reviewed. If you qualify for this financial aid and are selected, you will receive an email from EDSE with instructions for how to accept and pay your $750 balance. If you do not reply to this email by the specified deadline, the scholarship will be provided to the next qualified candidate. If you do not receive an email from us, you have not been selected, and you are welcome to reapply for a scholarship to the next session.
Please keep in mind that this is a need-based scholarship and reserved for folks who, without this financial aid, would otherwise not be able to attend. If you plan to attend whether or not you are selected to receive a scholarship, this means you have access to the necessary tuition funds and are disqualified from receiving a scholarship. If this applies to you, we respectfully request that you do not apply for a scholarship so that it can remain reserved for those in need.
Representatives of businesses and professional organizations are disqualified from receiving a scholarship, and we expect applicants to be transparent about having access to financial support.
If you are a white person who believes you should be considered for this scholarship, do not submit a scholarship application.
If I don’t need a payment plan or qualify for a scholarship, what are my payment options?
You can pay your tuition in full at signup, otherwise you can reserve your seat with a non-refundable $750 deposit and submission of a remaining balance authorization form, which will automatically withdraw your remaining balance by the payment deadline listed on the form. This form will be emailed to you by EDSE staff. If you do not pay in full at signup, you must submit this form in order to confirm your seat. Email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com if you’d like to pay a different way.
If you would like to apply but do not have the funds to submit your $750 deposit, please email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com and we can discuss alternative options.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Deposits are non-refundable unless you are not accepted into the program. Should that happen, the applicant will be refunded their deposit in full with 72 hours and provided an explanation via email.
Cancellations can be made for a full refund of the remaining balance up until 30 days of the training start date. Cancellations made within 30 days of the training start date will be refunded 50% of the remaining balance. Cancellations made within 7 days of the training start date are not eligible for a refund. If you have a balance remaining, your payment plan will continue until all payments have been made. Failure or refusal to pay will result in your account being sent to collections after 90 days’ delinquency.
For a reminder of EDSE’s payment policies, please refer to our attendee terms of service. Email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com to start the cancellation process.
What if my employer is paying my tuition?
That’s great! We encourage this, as it benefits the business, its customers, and its company culture. Please make sure your employer is aware of our attendance, payment, and refund policies. We do not make special exceptions for businesses, including non-profits.
We accept people into the program, not businesses or non-profits, so any communication about the program must come from you vs. your supervisor or employer. Should your employment end or be suspended or terminated before being able to attend the program, your seat in our program remains yours and is not transferrable to another staff member. Unless you tell us otherwise, you will be responsible for any remaining tuition balance you may have, and we will expect to see you on Day 1. Should you be unable to attend without your employer’s financial assistance, you must email us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com immediately so we can give your seat to someone on the waitlist. If your employer would like to have a new or future staff member attend this training, that person will need to undergo the application and acceptance process as all other attendees do.
By funding a staff member’s attendance, businesses and non-profits incur the risks listed above. It is not the staff member’s or EDSE’s responsibility to manage these risks or find solutions on the employer’s behalf.
I’d like to train my entire staff. Are private certifications available?
EDSE offers private Sex Educator Certifications to groups of 10 or more. Pricing remains the same, though we may consider discounts for large groups. Availability is subject to EDSE’s schedule — contact us at hello@everyonedeservessexed.com to see if this option is right for you!
Will there be a Level 2 certification?
Yes! There’s SO much to learn and Level 1 only lets us scratch the surface! We are in the process of developing a Level 2 certification that will allow educators and attendees to delve deeper into topics and discussions that Level 1 can’t accommodate. Join our newsletter for updates!
I have an issue or complaint to report. What is your grievance policy?
Grievances shall be submitted by email to hello@everyonedeservessexed.com and acknowledgement of receipt sent within 24 hours. EDSE's Administrative Support team will respond to the participant within 72 hours. All grievances and related communication must be sent to hello@everyonedeservessexed.com; anything sent directly to the Program Administrator via email, social media, private messages, or other public commentary will not be responded to.
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