Certification as an Imago Dei psychotherapist is open to doctors of psychology (clinical psychologists), psychiatrists (physicans with appropriate specialized training), and select master level mental health clinicians.  The certification process may last up to three years, though conditional certification is often granted prior. 

Pastoral Certification is open to clergy, religious, and qualified laymen.  The pastoral certification entails many of the same elements of the clinical certification, though it is less rigorous and can often be completed with a six-month period.

The IDP certification process entails academic training in sacred theology, traditional Christian spirituality, Thomistic philosophy, and Imago Dei Psychotherapy.

In addition, clinicians-in-training must undergo Imago Dei Psychotherapy as a therapant and have a portion of their clinical casework supervised. Successful completion of the certification process requires the passing of both written and oral exams and the submission of a detailed IDP case history.

Only certified IDP psychotherapists may claim to use Imago Dei Psychotherapy or its techniques.