Psychotherapists often train privately rather than or in addition to university programmes. This is because psychotherapy is not, strictly, an academic subject. Training involves more than learning a body of knowledge or clinical techniques. Psychotherapists are required to undergo extensive personal therapy themselves in addition to normally a minimum of 3 years of professional training and supervised practice. Currently psychotherapists are not required to be registered in most states. There are, however, professional associations that determine rules and guidelines and provide a code of Ethics of professional conduct to which members are required to adhere. It is perfectly appropriate to ask therapists about their training, qualifications and membership of professional associations.