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One of the questions we’ve heard recently from prospective learning is some version of this: "Does completing a Fluence certificate allow me to practice as a licensed therapist, or does it qualify me as a facilitator? How do these designations differ? And which states do these certifications apply to?"
It is a great question, and an important one. The psychedelic therapy field is evolving rapidly, and the regulatory landscape can feel confusing, especially when different substances, states, and professional roles are governed by different frameworks. This post answers those questions clearly for each of Fluence's three professional certificate programs.
The Short Answer: Fluence Certificates Are for Licensed Professionals
Before diving into each program, it is worth establishing one foundational point: Fluence certificate programs are not a pathway to obtaining a psychotherapy license. They are continuing education and professional development programs designed for clinicians who are already licensed or credentialed in a relevant mental health field.
In other words, you bring your license. Fluence deepens and expands your clinical competency within the specialized domain of psychedelic therapy.
This distinction matters because it reflects the fundamental nature of the work. Psychedelic therapy involves guiding clients through powerful, often emotionally profound experiences. The knowledge and ethical grounding that come with a professional mental health license are not prerequisites that can be skipped over. They are the foundation on which psychedelic therapy training builds.
Program 1: Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration Therapy
Who it is for: Licensed mental health practitioners, including therapists, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists. In some cases, professional coaches may also be accepted into this program. If you are a coach and are interested in enrolling, we encourage you to reach out directly so we can assess whether the program is an appropriate fit for your background and practice context.
What it qualifies you to do: This certificate prepares licensed mental health professionals to support clients who are using or have used psychedelics, whether in a clinical or non-clinical context. The training covers harm reduction principles, psychedelic integration therapy, trauma-informed practice, and ethics. Graduates are equipped to provide preparation and integration therapy, as well as harm reduction support within their existing scope of practice as licensed clinicians.
State applicability: Because this certificate program builds on your existing mental health license and equips you with specialized knowledge and skills rather than unlocking a new state-regulated credential, it is applicable in any state. If you are already licensed to practice psychotherapy in your state, this training deepens that practice and can be applied immediately within your current professional context.
What it does not provide: This certificate does not grant a psychotherapy license, nor does it permit you to administer or supervise the administration of any controlled substance.
Learn more about Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration Therapy
Program 2: Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Who it is for: Licensed mental health practitioners. A valid license is required for enrollment.
What it qualifies you to do: This certificate prepares licensed clinicians to expand their practice to include ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). Ketamine is currently the only legal psychedelic medicine available for clinical therapeutic use in all U.S. states, which makes this training immediately actionable for licensed therapists seeking to enter the psychedelic-assisted therapy space. The program provides comprehensive clinical knowledge, ethical frameworks, and practical skills for competent KAP practice.
Because licensed therapists working in KAP typically operate in collaboration with a prescribing medical provider (who manages ketamine administration), this training is structured to help you understand your role within that collaborative care model and build the clinical capacities needed to deliver effective psychotherapeutic support during and around the ketamine experience.
State applicability: The KAP certificate is applicable nationwide. Because ketamine is federally legal and can be legally prescribed in all states, this training can be applied within your existing licensed practice regardless of where you are located, provided you are working within the appropriate collaborative medical framework.
What it does not provide: This certificate does not grant a psychotherapy license, nor does it confer prescribing authority or the ability to administer ketamine independently.
Learn more about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Program 3: Psilocybin Facilitation
Who it is for: Licensed mental health practitioners. A valid license is required for enrollment.
What it qualifies you to do: This is Fluence's most structurally complex certificate, because it connects directly to a state-regulated licensure process. Upon completing the full program, including all didactic coursework provided through Fluence and the supervised practicum as well as the required consult hours, graduates are eligible to submit their Fluence Professional Certificate to Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to apply for a state-issued psilocybin facilitation license.
Colorado's natural medicine program creates two distinct licensure pathways depending on your professional background:
If you hold a psychotherapy, medical, or nursing license in Colorado, you may qualify for the Psilocybin Clinical Facilitator designation, which allows you to work with higher-risk clients and more complex clinical presentations.
If you do not hold such a secondary license, you may qualify for a Psilocybin Facilitator (non-clinical) designation, which authorizes practice within a defined non-clinical scope.
It is important to note that the Fluence program is only for folks seeking the Psilocybin Clinical Facilitator designation.
State applicability: As of now, this certificate pathway is fully operative in Colorado, where the regulatory infrastructure for psilocybin services is established and active. Fluence's program is approved by DORA as a qualifying clinical facilitator training program.
We are actively tracking the possibility of cross-state equivalency with Oregon, whose own psilocybin program is administered by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). We hope that DORA and OHA will reach an agreement this year that would allow Colorado-licensed facilitators to practice in Oregon without needing to complete a separate training program. However, this outcome depends on legislative and regulatory decisions by both agencies, and we cannot guarantee a timeline or outcome. New Mexico is another state we are watching as a future jurisdiction where equivalency may eventually be established.
In the meantime, if you are primarily interested in practicing in Oregon, the most reliable current path is to pursue an Oregon-specific training or license.
What it does not provide: This certificate does not grant a psychotherapy license. It also does not authorize psilocybin practice in states beyond Colorado (and potentially Oregon pending cross-state equivalency) at this time.
Learn more about Psilocybin Facilitation
A Note on the Rapidly Changing Regulatory Landscape
One of the realities of working in the psychedelic therapy field is that regulations, state programs, and professional frameworks are changing faster than almost any other area of mental health. What is true today at the state level may look different within months. Fluence monitors these developments closely and updates our programs and guidance accordingly.
If you have specific questions about your state, your license type, or whether a particular program is the right fit for your practice goals, we encourage you to book a free 15-minute Zoom call with our team. Our Marketing and Communications Manager, Kabir, is available to offer personalized guidance based on your clinical background and situation.
Summary: Which Certificate Is Right for You?
If you are a licensed mental health professional interested in supporting clients who use psychedelics outside of a clinical protocol, the Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration Therapy certificate is applicable immediately in any state. Professional coaches may also be eligible for this program on a case-by-case basis.
If you are a licensed clinician looking to integrate psychedelic-assisted treatment into your practice using a legally available medicine, the Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy certificate is applicable nationwide and offers the most immediate clinical pathway.
If you are a licensed clinician who wants to facilitate psilocybin sessions within a state-regulated program, the Psilocybin Facilitation certificate connects you directly to Colorado's licensure process, with potential cross-state equivalency with Oregon on the horizon.
In all three cases, Fluence's programs are designed to meet you where you are in your clinical journey and equip you with the knowledge, skills, and credentials to practice psychedelic therapy safely, ethically, and effectively.
