Certification
For mindfulness teachers, certification provides an evaluation process for them to be recognised as a competent mindfulness teacher and an opportunity to promote their work. For the public, referrers to programs, researchers of mindfulness-based interventions and for the funding bodies who pay for them, it means that the integrity and quality of mindfulness programs can be safe-guarded.
Process
The Certification process involves the submission of video material of classes, and recordings of led practices and a final reflective paper. Assessments will be made by a national and/or international panel of senior mindfulness teachers. Fees paid cover the cost of the Certification process. Assessments will be made in part by using the Mindfulness Based Interventions Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI TAC).
MBI TAC Addendum for online delivery.
As the MTI process of assessment is based on emerging competencies, there is no set requirement of how many courses trainees will teach before applying for certification. We find that many rounds of MBI classes may be required for different trainees to become confident in their role and in the skills, knowledge and wisdom involved in teaching. This will obviously depend on various factors including levels of experience of mindfulness meditation and retreats, familiarity with movement practice as well as entry level teaching and clinical skills.
People who have already completed aspects of this training pathway (e.g. the seven day intensive Practicum/TDI/supervision) are invited to apply to engage in the MTI Certification Program. You will be advised if there are any steps of the MTI Level I training pathway that you have to complete before submitting your Certification materials.
MTI will recognise certification by other international organisations (with equivalent standards and training pathways) and people who have been certified through these organisations can apply for recognition by the MTI and to be listed on this website.
Contact the Certifications Coordinator, Regina Gerlach with any questions about the certification process.
Certification Portfolio
In order to prepare for assessment for certification please attend to the following
1. Be familiar with MBI TAC and have reflected on the domains in supervision.
2. Video Recordings
- Pay attention to Tips for recording classes before you proceed.
- Get written permission from all participants Download form here
- Make videos of two classes (weeks 4 and 5)
- Nominate one class you would like to be the primary class for assessment. (Feel free to provide any written background information about the class that you think might be helpful for the assessors to know. ie. particular participants, context of the class, your challenges/decision-making through the class. No more than 500 words.)
3. Audio recordings:
o Provide audio recordings for the following practices:
- body scan (30 - 45 minutes)
- awareness of breath, body, sounds and open awareness (30 - 45 minutes)
- one movement practice (30 - 45 minutes)
4. Supervision
- Provide evidence of 20 or more hours of supervision with a certified MBSR/CT teacher of at least 3 courses using audio recordings and transcripts of your classes.
- Before applying for certification, we highly recommend to have at least one supervision session reflecting on your video recording of a class to ensure readiness.
- Please provide your supervisor’s details as they will be contacted as a referee.
5. Documentation checklist
Please provide a list of all the following, documenting dates, teachers and venues.
- Mindfulness based trainings completed
- Silent mindfulness meditation retreats completed (3 five-day retreats or more)
- Describe your personal practice including movement
- Supervision log
- Video recordings (send electronic file)
- Audio recordings (send electronic file)