An EMDR Certified Therapist™ has opted to meet standards of excellence in the field of EMDR therapy, measured by consultation, clinical practice, and continuing education. One of the benefits of maintaining EMDR Certification is to highlight your professional accomplishments.

What EMDR Certification Means to Employers

An EMDR Certified Therapist™ has voluntarily met standards of consultation, clinical practice, and continuing education to provide EMDR therapy. An EMDR Certified Therapist™ has engaged in at least 20 hours of consultation with an EMDR Consultant™ for EMDR and has practiced their skills with at least 25 different clients in at least 50 EMDR sessions. An EMDR Certified Therapist™ is committed to fulfill ethical standards and is engaged in continuing education. To maintain this certification, a therapist must continue to satisfy the EMDRIA requirement including completion of continuing education requirements and adherence to ethical standards.

Employers can be confident when hiring EMDR Certified Therapists™, that the clients served will be working with professionals who have met EMDRIA certification standards of excellence. Employers seeking EMDR therapists who have invested additional time, resources, and effort into improving their EMDR skills may choose to invest in EMDR Certified Therapists™.

What EMDR Certification Means to Clients

An EMDR Certified Therapist™ has committed themselves to ongoing education and skills in the field of EMDR therapy, as well as to EMDRIA's Policies. Clients may seek an EMDR Certified Therapist™, as this credential is an indication of good faith on the part of the therapist, curiosity for ongoing growth, and confidence in EMDR skills.

How to Enhance Your Skills with EMDR Certification

EMDR therapists commonly cite this reason for becoming EMDR Certified: to increase confidence and competence in using EMDR therapy. Two ways to increase confidence and competence in using EMDR with specific clinical issues (i.e. dissociation or chronic pain), or specialty populations (i.e. clients dealing with eating disorders or addictions) are built into the EMDR Certification process: consultation and continuing education.

Consultation provides needed feedback and perspective for clinical casework in order to grow and gain understanding as an EMDR therapist. Continuing education in specific topics provides added EMDR insights tailored to those specific issues therapists face with clients.

Sometimes getting an outside perspective on your clinical casework is needed in order to effectively move forward and help your clients. As you work towards EMDR Certification, you’ll receive consultation on your use of EMDR therapy with clients and will be able to gain a better understanding of working with certain populations or difficult issues.

How EMDR Certification is Part of the EMDRIA Pathway

Some EMDR therapists decide they want to give back to the EMDR community by becoming an EMDR Consultant™ or EMDR Trainer™. Becoming EMDR Certified is the second step toward these goals.

The pathway of standards and training designed by EMDRIA to cultivate clinical skills, knowledge, and competence all along the EMDR therapist's journey is as follows: EMDR TrainedEMDR Certified TherapistEMDR Consultant-in-TrainingEMDR Consultant > EMDR Trainer

EMDR Career Path Infographic

How EMDR Certification Impacts Insurance and Billing

In some Managed Care Organization settings, insurance companies may prefer that a holder be Certified in EMDR, not just a practitioner. Additionally, some clinics, agencies, hospitals, and other employers may offer financial incentives and reimbursement to clinicians who are EMDR Certified Therapists™.

Show Off Your Credential

One of the benefits of maintaining EMDR Certification is to highlight your professional accomplishment. Use the EMDR Certified Therapist ™ digital badge in your signature line, on your business cards, website, and other promotional materials to show colleagues, clients, and employers that you have met the highest standards for the clinical use of EMDR. The EMDR Certified Therapist digital badge is for use only by EMDR Certified Therapists ™, in accordance with the EMDRIA Digital Badge Use Policy.

Examples of Proper Certification Designation Use

The following example shows how you would include the EMDR Certification designation behind your name.

EMDR Certification

Sally Mae, EMDR Certified Therapist™

Examples of Proper Certification Digital Badge Use

The following examples show how you can include the EMDR Certified Therapist digital badge on your website, business card, and email signature line.

Sample Business Card
Sample Email Signature