EMDRIA Approved Trainers ™ are responsible for adhering to and following current EMDR International Association Policies as well as the Learning Management System (LMS) Platform and Technology Standards, EMDR Basic Training Curriculum Requirements, Learning Assessment Requirement and all other basic training related policies and requirements outlined below. These training policies and requirements are in effect and apply to all EMDRIA™ approved basic trainings regardless of whether they are offered virtually or in-person. 

EMDRIA™ Logo & Copyright Infringement

The EMDRIA™ logo is owned by the EMDR International Association as are the logos for the monthly E-News, Go With That magazine, and the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. Use of our corporate logo, tag line, publications logos, or any image that resembles our logos without explicit documented permission is strictly prohibited.

EMDRIA™ Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Trainers must comply with EMDRIA™ Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and are responsible for ensuring that any use of AI tools within EMDR basic training aligns with EMDRIA™ policies, professional ethics, confidentiality standards and applicable laws and regulations. AI tools may support educational development and administrative functions but may not replace required live instruction, consultation, practicum, learner assessment or professional judgment components of EMDR basic training. Trainers must protect confidential and personally identifiable information and may not upload confidential case material or protected health information into public or unsecured AI platforms.

Equal Opportunity

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must comply with EMDRIA policies on Professional Code of Conduct, SOCE and Diversity and Cultural Competence and create a supportive environment for training regardless of an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture or religion, and not engage in discriminatory behavior or bias. Trainers should address issues of cultural diversity during the EMDR basic training as appropriate.

Equal Access

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities. Trainers are responsible for ensuring that facilities and reasonable accommodations are accessible to those with disabilities. This information must be included in promotional training advertisement materials.

Learning Management System (LMS) Platform

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ are required to utilize a Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver EMDR basic training content, regardless of whether trainings are offering virtually or in-person. The LMS platform is designed to assist with the administration, documentation, tracking and reporting and delivery of EMDR basic training content.

Time Frame for Completion of EMDR Basic Training

Trainees who begin the EMDR basic training must complete the entire training within 12 months from their initial start date. This information should be clear and transparent upfront, prior to registration. This information must be included in promotional training advertisement materials. EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must have the available resources and capacity for trainings and must ensure that trainees are afforded sufficient opportunity to complete the training. Trainers have leeway to grant exceptions in the event of a humanitarian crisis or other extenuating circumstances. Trainers must have a policy in place that addresses and facilitates the trainee’s ability to complete the training.

Attendance Requirement

Trainees are expected to attend and complete all live synchronous learning portions of the EMDR basic training in its entirety including lecture, small group practicum, and consultation hours. Trainers should have a process in place that addresses how they will handle situations in the event a trainee misses more than 15 minutes of content.

Simultaneous Virtual/In-Person Offerings

Ideally EMDR basic training should be offered either virtually or as an in-person event. There may be certain situations where some trainees are participating in-person while others are participating virtually online. EMDRIA™ defines this as a "Simultaneous Virtual/In-Person Offering" and has rules for this type of event. 

Limitation on Class Size

Virtual EMDR basic training class sizes must be limited to a maximum of 100 trainees. For In-Person EMDR basic trainings there is no current limitation in place for class sizes.

Basic Training Eligibility

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ are responsible for ensuring that prospective trainees meet the current eligibility requirements for EMDR basic training. EMDRIA™ is not responsible for verifying individual clinician’s scope of practice and/or determining their ability to assess, diagnose and treat for mental health issues. Clinicians are responsible for ensuring they are working within their own mental health scope of practice.

Video Cameras

Trainees must have their video cameras turned on during virtual EMDR basic training so the trainer and assisting faculty can monitor attendance, visual cues, facial expressions, etc. EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ are encouraged to include this information in their participant agreement forms for prospective trainees.

Participant Agreement

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must have a participant agreement form so prospective trainees understand the EMDR basic training requirements, what the expectations are, and how to prepare themselves for the training.

Lead Instructor/Trainer

Only those individuals who are credentialed as an EMDRIA Approved Trainer™ may lead and teach the EMDR basic training.

Assisting Faculty for Practicum

EMDRIA™ requires that faculty members who assist during the practicum portion of the training maintain active status as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™, or (at minimum) status as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ who is actively working with an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™. The ratio of practicum faculty to trainee should not exceed 1:10 to allow for direct behavioral observation of each trainee.

Assisting Faculty for Consultation

EMDRIA™ requires faculty members who assist during the consultation portion of the training maintain active status as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™, or (at minimum) status as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ who is actively working with an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™. The consultant to trainee ratio should not exceed 1:10 (smaller consultant to trainee ratios are encouraged).

Basic Training Advertisements

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must offer and advertise a complete and comprehensive (i.e. 50 hour minimum) EMDR basic training so that prospective trainees have the option up front of registering for the entire course. Only complete and comprehensive training events will be listed and advertised on the EMDRIA calendar.

Disclosure of Basic Training Costs

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must disclose the full cost of the entire EMDR basic training to prospective trainees upfront and prior to registration. If consultation hours are not included in the registration fees, trainers must provide an estimated range for the out-of-pocket cost for completing the 10 consultation hours. This information must be included in promotional training advertisement materials.

Basic Training Consultation Hours

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must inform prospective trainees that 10 hours of consultation are required in order to complete the EMDR basic training. Trainers are required to disclose whether the consultation hours are included in the registration fees or if trainees will need to pay separate additional fees for the consultation hours. Trainers must also disclose whether prospective trainees will have to schedule consultation hours on their own time outside of the training or if the consultation hours are integrated into the course and provided during the scheduled training dates. This information must be included in promotional training advertisement materials. If trainees are paying separately for and obtain consultation hours on their own time outside of the training, they must be provided with detailed information about the consultation process. Trainers are expected to provide trainees with the names and contact information of those consultants who can provide the consultation hours for their training.

No more than two (2) hours of consultation may be conducted within a single day. This limitation is intended to support meaningful skill development and integration of EMDR therapy practice.

Cancellation & Refund Policies

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must make their cancellation and refund policies available and accessible to prospective trainees. These policies should be clear and transparent up front, prior to registration. This information must be included in promotional training advertisement materials.

Grievance Process

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must have a process in place to review and respond to complaints and grievances should they arise. This information should be made easily accessible to trainees.

Required Reading

The required reading for the EMDR basic training includes the following materials:

  1. Shapiro, Francine. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Third Edition: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. New York: Guildford Press
  2. Guidelines for Virtual EMDR Therapy (Spring 2020)

Learner Assessment

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must issue the required Learner Assessment during the EMDR basic training. There is no required passing grade and no specific requirement for the way trainers issue this assessment to trainees. The only requirement is that trainees must complete the assessment and trainers are required to track trainee completion and retain the score for each trainee.

EMDRIA™ Training Survey

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must provide trainees with the opportunity to complete the EMDRIA survey regarding their training experience. This is a general survey about the EMDR basic training and will allow trainees to provide direct feedback to EMDRIA.

Basic Training Evaluations

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must obtain feedback from trainees on the quality of instruction, knowledge, and expertise of trainers, assisting faculty, the usefulness of the training, and fulfillment of educational objectives. This feedback should be used to adjust and improve the overall training.

Basic Training Certificate of Completion

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must issue a final EMDR basic training certificate of completion to trainees once they complete the entire (50 hour minimum) course. The certificate must include the trainee’s name, the name of the EMDRIA Approved Trainer™, the training organization (if applicable), total number of training hours for the course (50 hour minimum) and the date (month/day/year) they completed the EMDR basic training. Those who complete the training can refer to themselves as “EMDR Trained”.

Basic Training Rosters

EMDRIA Approved Trainers™ must maintain trainee records for a minimum of five years. Trainers must submit training rosters to EMDRIA within 120 days of the completion of the training. Training rosters must be submitted in spreadsheet format to EMDRIA and include the name of the training organization (if applicable), name of the EMDR Trainer, trainee name, license, mailing address, phone, email, and EMDR basic training completion date. Trainers can download the basic training roster spreadsheet template here.