Certification: Frequently Asked Questions

The Center for Mind-Body Medicine’s (CMBM) Certification Program in Mind-Body Medicine builds on the skills taught at the Professional Training Program (PTP) and Advanced Training Program (ATP) in Mind-Body Medicine. Those who choose to pursue Certification are provided with comprehensive training and one-on-one supervision/mentorship from our supervisors, deepening understanding of the model and equipping candidates with research-backed skills and techniques that can be brought to a wide variety of settings. Join a community of Certified Mind-Body Medicine practitioners who are dedicated to using this model to heal others.

The Certification Program – Signature Track offers 114 hours of in-depth training in mind-body medicine and 32 hours of practice facilitating Mind-Body Skills groups with support from a CMBM supervisor.  The Signature Track can be completed in 1.5-2 years and can lead to a potential internship, supervisor, or faculty position at CMBM. The program is focused on providing support and training for candidates to become skilled facilitators in CMBM’s Mind-Body Skills Group model.

The Certification Program – Essential Track offers 72 hours of training and experience facilitating 20 hours of practicum with support from a CMBM supervisor. It can be completed in 6-12 months, and is the lower cost option between the two tracks. It is designed to use the CMBM model in different, more flexible practicum settings – individuals can choose between classroom sessions, facilitating flexible groups, one-on-one work, workshops, and retreats. 

Both tracks award a certification diploma upon successful completion, grant eligibility to be listed on CMBM’s Certified Alumni Directory, and be invited to Certified alumni events and the Facebook group. If you are interested in opportunities for an internship, supervisor, or faculty position with CMBM, please choose the Signature Track instead of the Essential Track. You can see a full comparison of the two tracks here.

CMBM supervision is one-on-one mentoring and coaching provided for new facilitators as a layer of support as they begin to bring the skills they’ve learned at ATP to their various professions and communities. It is provided by a CMBM supervisor, who is an experienced facilitator and Certified alumni, trained to help new facilitators explore and expand their learning. Your supervisor will help you go deeper with your self-reflection, answer questions, and offer ideas and suggestions.

Yes, in order to apply for Certification you must first complete CMBM’s Professional Training Program (PTP) and Advanced Training Program (ATP) in Mind-Body Medicine.

Experience in mind-body medicine outside of CMBM cannot be credited toward Certification. The CMBM model in mind-body medicine has a specific curriculum that is taught in our Professional and Advanced Training Programs. These trainings are an essential component of the Certification program as they provide the foundation for effectively learning and applying the model.

Certification Program – Signature Track is $5,575, and the Certification Program – Essential Track is $2,950.

Yes, for both Certification tracks, we offer 3, 6, and 12-month payment plans. Individual payment plans can be accommodated upon request, however, all payments must be completed before a Certification diploma can be awarded. 

As a non-profit organization, we unfortunately have very limited resources to award scholarships at this time. We have a very limited number of partial scholarships available. We encourage you to get support from your employer or community and/or use one of the payment plan options. To apply for a scholarship, click here.

Yes, anyone who has completed our Professional and Advanced Training Programs can apply to either Certification program. Please note that our online trainings are based on the Eastern Time Zone, and the majority of CMBM staff are as well.

Both Certification tracks have a two-year timeline for completion (with a possible extension of 1 year – see Cancellation policy). However, most candidates can complete the Essential Track in 6-12 months, and the Signature Track is typically completed in 1.5-2 years. The total number of hours required for the Essential Track is 92, and 114 for the Signature Track.

If you find that the Certification program track you are enrolled in is not the right fit for you within the two-year maximum period and need to cancel, we are able to refund the full amount minus a $200 administrative fee and any incurred costs you have already completed. We are also flexible if unforeseen circumstances occur and can work with you to put your Certification status on “pause” at any time during the two year period, if you need to do so temporarily. Please email certification@cmbm.org to request this. Up to a one-year extension period may be granted to account for the pause and to complete the Certification program. Refunds will not be available after the participant has reached the two-year maximum period. Participants will only have the option to complete Certification and may be required to pay additional supervision fees.

Cancellation policy prior to May 28, 2025: ​If you have an active (non-canceled) registration in place beyond the two-year maximum program period, an additional fee will be assessed. Please let us know if you wish to continue to work on your Certification program or to cancel at this point and receive a net refund.

No, all our requirements can be completed online. Candidates do have the option to complete their practicum in person, but this is not a requirement.

No, you do not need a co-facilitator unless you are part of a community grant-funded program/partnership with CMBM, in which case, you are highly encouraged to co-facilitate with someone else in your program.

No, we would like you to only work with one co-facilitator due to the dynamics of the group changing if there are 3 or more facilitators.

Yes, if necessary. However, we would encourage you to try to find someone who has also just completed the Advanced Training Program (ATP). If your co-facilitator is Certified, we require that they attend the prep call with you and your supervisor. They are not required to attend the following supervision sessions or complete process notes, but they are welcome to attend if they are interested. If they are interested in attending the following supervision sessions and it is ok with you, please make sure both your supervisor and the CMBM Supervision admin team are aware.

Yes, you can switch – however, we can only credit practicum and supervision hours from Signature Track to Essential Track, not the other way around. If switching from Essential to Signature Track, you would be responsible for the additional fee.

You can request a supervisor when you submit your Certification application. We cannot guarantee that we can fulfill your request since not all supervisors may be available and not all faculty are trained as CMBM supervisors, but we will do our best to pair you with someone who will be a good fit for you. You can see a list of supervisors here.

You can find other Certified practitioners on our Certified Alumni Directory.  After you are Certified, you will also be invited to Certified Alumni events, and you can join the private Facebook group.