High School

To prepare for a biofeedback career you will need to take science courses, such as biology and anatomy. Physical education and health will give you some understanding of the physical aspects of biofeedback. Since counseling skills are also important, classes in psychology and sociology can be helpful. Speech, English, and foreign language classes will help you to build your communication skills.

Biofeedback currently is a rapidly expanding field. The marriages of art and biofeedback (as in an art therapy practice) or sports and biofeedback (as in the development of specialized training programs for top athletes) are just two of the many more unusual applications of this discipline.

Postsecondary Training

Most people who practice biofeedback therapy first become licensed in some other area of health care. Biofeedback then becomes an area of specialization within their practices. A biofeedback therapist may have a masters degree in social work, a Ph.D. in psychology, a nursing or medical degree, or some other professional designation. After receiving this professional degree (which may take 10 or more years, in the case of a medical degree), you then take courses in biofeedback from schools or other educational providers.

The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback provides a listing of approved schools that prepare students for certification. Though many institutions offer workshops in biofeedback and may even offer biofeedback training programs and degrees, not all of them are approved by the certifying board. Some biofeedback therapists do practice without certification, but these uncertified therapists are not recognized by the professional organizations.

Certification

A few colleges and universities offer certificate programs in biofeedback therapy and related fields. For example, Saybrook University in Pasadena, California, offers a nine-credit certificate in biofeedback program that requires the completion of three academic courses and two residential conferences. Students must take the following two courses: Basic Training and Education in Biofeedback and Psychophysiological Recording, Assessment, and Interventions. Then they must choose one of two elective courses: Advanced Biofeedback and Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback. The university also offers certificates in neurofeedback, stress management education, and other fields. Visit https://www.saybrook.edu/academics/certificate-programs for more information.

Other Education or Training

The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback offers webinars, seminars, and workshops on a variety of topics. Recent offerings include Autogenic Training: An Integrated Approach with Biofeedback, Neurofeedback & Autism, and Essential Physiology for Mental Health and Biofeedback Practitioners. Contact the association for more information.

Certification or Licensing

The Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) was created to establish and maintain standards for practitioners who use biofeedback and to certify practitioners who meet those standards. The organization offers biofeedback and neurofeedback certifications for individuals who already hold a healthcare degree, as well as a technician-level certifications for individuals without a health degree, but who work for a licensed and BCIA-certified professional. Both include an option to obtain certification by prior experience.

The BCIA explains that entry level certification "is designed for the professional who can document a minimum of a BA/BS in a health care field and who has less than five years of experience using biofeedback with patients/clients."

At this time, BCIA certification is not mandatory, but it is recommended. In addition to its general program, the BCIA offers specialty certifications in heart rate variability and pelvic muscle dysfunction biofeedback. Visit https://www.bcia.org/modalities-comparison-chart for more information.

Students should obtain as much experience in the field as possible by participating in summer internships and part-time jobs with biofeedback therapists.

The practice of biofeedback therapy involves a great deal of personal interaction. As a result, you must enjoy being around a variety of people. Biofeedback practitioners also need excellent communication skills and must be careful listeners who are able to pay attention to details. A genuine empathy for patients is important as well. Because biofeedback is a growing but still fairly new field, business, management, and marketing skills will be important. Therapists generally are responsible for building their own practices, and like most other health care professionals, typically spend many hours dealing with insurance, managed care, and financial issues.