EMDR Certification Requirements

1. Completion of an Approved EMDR Basic Training

Provide a copy of your basic training certificate that you received when you completed your training. It MUST be an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Training program.

2. Proof of Independent Mental Health License

Provide a copy of your current mental health license (or certification) that allows you to practice independently in your state. The license must include the current expiration date.

3. Notarized Statement of Practice and EMDR Experience

Have one notarized document that states both of the following statements:

• “I have at least two years of experience in my field of licensure.” (can include time in associate status)

• “I have conducted at least 50 EMDR sessions with at least 25 clients.”

Don’t think too much about it, it’s just a piece of paper with those two things written on it.

4. 20 Hours of Consultation by an EMDR Consultant in EMDR

This is me!

After we finish 20 hours of consultation together, I will write you a letter providing documentation of the exact number of consultation hours you received and designate how many of those hours were individual consultation and how many were group consultation. Here are a few guidelines to how these 20 hours can be collected:

• Consultation hours must have been completed within the last 5 years.

• Each EMDR consultant you worked for needs to provide separate documentation.

• At least 10 of the hours must be individual consultation and the rest can be obtained through small group consultation.

• Only consultation hours received after completion of an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Training program can be applied towards this requirement. So your consultation calls during your basic training are NOT included.

• EMDR CIT’s (consultant in training) can only provide up to 15 hours of consultation. The remaining five hours must be provided by an EMDR Consultant.

5. Letter of Recommendation by an EMDR Consultant

I can include this requirement in the same document as #4, so easy! The letter must address how you utilize EMDR with clients and recommending you to be certified in EMDR. This letter can NOT come from an EMDR CIT.

6. Letters of Recommendation by Professional Peers

You’ll need TWO letters of recommendation (other than the one in #5) discussing your professional utilization of EMDR, ethical standards, and professional character. These can be written by any professional peer or colleague in your industry.

7. 12 Hours of EMDRIA Credits

Provide certificates of completion for at least 12 hours of EMDRIA Credits (a.k.a. continuing education classes). They must be EMDRIA Credit Programs and need to be finished after the completion of EMDR Basic Training. You can ensure your class is approved by EMDRIA by ensuring your completion certificate includes the EMDRIA program approval number and the number of credits earned.

8. EMDR International Association Policies Agreement

By submitting the EMDR Certification application, applicants attest that they agree to adhere to EMDRIA Policies. Easy peasy!