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  • About EMDR Therapy
    • What is EMDR therapy?
    • Experiencing EMDR Therapy
    • EMDR Therapy in Treatment Guidelines
    • Recent Research about EMDR
    • Find an EMDR Therapist
  • EMDR Training and Education
    • EMDR Education Calendar
    • EMDR Basic Training
      • 5 Steps to Take an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Basic Training
      • Eligibility Requirements for EMDR Basic Training
      • EMDR Basic Training FAQs
      • Training vs Certification
      • Find an EMDR Basic Training
    • Continuing Education
      • EMDRIA OnDemand Education
    • EMDRIA Conference – Save the Date
    • EMDRIA Summit
    • EMDRIA Digital Badges
    • EMDR Certification Application
      • Certification FAQs
      • How to Market Yourself as an EMDR Certified Therapist
      • Membership vs Certification
      • EMDR Certification Renewal
    • EMDR Consultant Application
      • Consultation Packet
      • EMDR Consultant Renewal
      • EMDR Consultant-in-Training FAQs
      • CIT Declaration Form
    • EMDRIA Credit Provider & Program Applications
    • EMDR Trainer Application
      • Standards for EMDR Basic Training
      • EMDR Basic Training Policies & Requirements
  • Publications & Resources
    • Antiracism Resources
    • Online EMDR Therapy Resources
    • Focal Point Blog
    • Go With That Magazine
    • Journal of EMDR Practice & Research
    • Let’s Talk EMDR Podcast
    • Practice Resources
      • 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy Resources
      • EMDR Early Intervention
      • Building Your EMDR Practice Toolkit
      • EMDR Therapy Client Brochures
      • EMDR and Addictions Toolkit
      • EMDR and Depression Toolkit
      • EMDRIA Children’s Toolkit
      • EMDR and Chronic Pain Toolkit
      • EMDR and the Military Toolkit
      • Online EMDR Therapy Resources
      • EMDR Consultation Toolkit
    • Francine Shapiro Library
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    • Renew EMDRIA Membership
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    • Membership vs Certification
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      • Topic Forums
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Certification FAQs

Home / EMDR Basic Training / Certification FAQs
I have taken an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Training, does this mean I am EMDR Certified? Expand

No. Once you have completed an EMDR Training, you are considered an EMDR trained clinician.  EMDR Certification requires additional levels of continuing education and consultation in EMDR and is a separate process. View the Certification criteria here.

Is Certification required to practice EMDR therapy? Expand

Certification is a voluntary process. It is a pathway through which individual therapists may wish to pursue further training. Certification is not required in order for a clinician to practice EMDR therapy. If you are trained, then you can use EMDR therapy under your license. EMDR Certification is an option that many therapists have wanted because of Managed Care concerns and hospital privileges. The EMDR Certification model is patterned after the certification models of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAFMT) Approved Supervisor training.

Do I have to be fully and independently licensed as a mental health professional to become EMDR Certified? Expand

Yes. You must be fully licensed by your state licensing board for independent, private practice (e.g. LMFT, LPC, LICSW, Psychologist, M.D., APRN). That being said, you can start completing the certification requirements while working towards obtaining your full licensure. You just wouldn’t be able to submit your application until you are fully licensed.

Can I accrue consultation hours while I work toward obtaining independent licensure? Expand

Yes.

How long do I have from completing my EMDR training to apply for Certification? Expand

There is no time limit from when you complete your EMDR Training to when you decide to apply for EMDR Certification. You will want to keep track of all your documents while completing the requirements, so you have them all when you submit your EMDR Certification application.

Regarding the consultation hours: The 20 hours of consultation must have been completed within the last 5 years. If you continue to receive consultation hours for over a 5 year period, then as long as the EMDR Consultant is able to explain in the letter of documentation when the consultation started and ended (e.g. 2013-2022) and if/when long breaks in consultation occurred that will be acceptable. We understand that clinicians may stop consultation and then restart again but we cannot accept consultation hours that were completed 5 or more years ago.

How long does it usually take to complete the requirements to become EMDR Certified? Expand

There is no required minimum amount of time to complete the Certification Application process. Every clinician has a different pace and attitude they take toward becoming EMDR Certified. We do expect all requirements (except EMDR basic training completion & licensure) to have been completed within the last 5 years. Clinicians are eligible to begin working toward certification once they have completed the EMDR Training.

How do I submit my EMDR Certification application? Expand

The Certification application process is completely online now! You can start the application here.

How do I upload more than one document for each requirement on the online Certification application? Expand

If you can, combine the documents into one PDF for each requirement. If you can’t however, no worries. Upload the documents that you can and pay the application fee. Then you will email the additional documents to sfrazier@emdria.org, and we will upload the remaining documents for you.

What are common issues that cause a delay in the EMDR Certification Application being approved? Expand
  • Incorrect EMDR Training certificate of completion. Please contact your EMDR Training Provider to make sure you have the correct certificate of completion for a minimum of 50 hours of credit.

  • Internship or Associate level license designations. You must be fully, independently licensed to practice in your state or country of residence.

  • Lack of notarization.

  • Lack of clear designation of individual vs. group attained consultation. Remember 10 of the 20 required hours for certification must be individual consultation.

  • Lack of clear recommendation from an Approved Consultant.

  • Incorrect fee.

How long will my application take to be processed once I have submitted it online? Expand

Your application may take up to 3-5 weeks to be processed once we have all of the required documents. If you submit an incomplete application, it may take longer. Please plan accordingly.

How will I be notified that my application has been approved? Expand

You will receive an email notifying you of your new status, how to download your certificate, and the next steps.

How will I know if my EMDR Certification application is incomplete? Expand

We will reach out to you via email if your application is incomplete or if we have any questions. We only keep incomplete applications up to a year within our AMS system. After a year, your incomplete application will be deleted and you will need to complete the online Certification application process again.

Will my EMDR Certification status expire? Expand

Yes. You will need to renew your EMDR Certification every two years. You can view our EMDRIA Credential Renewal page here.

Will I receive a renewal notice for EMDR Certification? What is required for renewal? Expand

Yes. You should start receiving your renewal email notices approximately 3 months prior to the expiration date of your Certified Therapist term. You can view our EMDRIA Credential Renewal page here.

What comes after EMDR Certification? Expand

If you wish to pursue becoming an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, please view the Approved Consultant requirements. EMDRIA Approved Consultants provide consultation to other clinicians choosing to become Certified.

Does EMDRIA have my EMDR Training certificate on file? Expand

No. Contact your EMDR Training Provider to obtain your certificate of completion if you do not have one. If you know the name of your EMDR Training Provider, you can find them here.

What certificate is acceptable to document completion of an EMDR Training program? Expand

The certificate of completion issued to you directly from your EMDR Training Provider is accepted  as proof of EMDR Training completion for the EMDR Certification Application. This certificate attests to your completion of EMDRIA's minimum EMDR Training guidelines. We will NOT accept trainee record logs, or the CE certificates. Please contact your EMDR Training Provider if you need a copy of your completion certificate.

What is my date of completion for EMDR Training? Expand

The date of completion listed on your EMDR Training certificate indicates when you finished the course (20 hours lecture, 20 hours small group practice and 10 hours of consultation). This certificate is issued directly to you from your EMDR Training Provider.

What should my proof of licensure include? Expand

The photocopy of your license to practice independently as a mental health professional should include a date of expiration to show that it’s current. If it does not include a date, please use the verification website for your licensure to look up your license and print the page showing the expiration date. Proof of your license to practice independently as a mental health professional should include: full name, license type (e.g. LMFT, LPC, LICSW, Psychologist, M.D., APRN), and expiration date. If it does not include a date, please use the verification website for your licensure to look up your license and print the page showing the expiration date.

What is meant by "Do you have at least 2 years experience in your field of license"? Expand

Two years experience is defined as: At least the equivalent of 2 years full-time post-graduate clinical experience in your mental health field of licensure. The two years experience in your field of license can be before you obtain your full licensure. You just wouldn’t be able to submit your certification application until you obtained your full licensure.

What is required for notarized documentation? Expand

You can write or type out the statement “I have at least 2 years experience in my field of license as a mental health professional and have conducted at least 50 EMDR sessions with at least 25 clients” on a piece of paper, sign that piece of paper and have it notarized. The notary is verifying that you have attested this statement to be true. Common places that provide notaries are banks, courthouses, and public libraries.

Do I have to provide documentation to prove my 50 EMDR sessions with 25 clients? Expand

No. Please do not provide any confidential records or case information. We only require the notarized document stating that you have ‘at least 2 years experience in your field of license’ and that you have ‘conducted at least 50 EMDR sessions with at least 25 clients'.

If I begin my consultation after I complete Part 1 but before I complete Part 2 of my EMDR Training, will it count toward my consultation hours for Certification? Expand

No. Only consultation hours received AFTER completion of an EMDRIA Approved Training program can be applied toward Certification. This date of completion is on your EMDR Training completion certificate.

What is the difference between consultation and supervision? Expand

Consultation does not hold the same legal liability as supervision. In supervisory relationships, a clinical supervisor can be held liable for the clinical actions of their supervisee. In a consultant relationship, a consultant does not bear legal liability for the consultee. A consultee may enter into a contractual agreement with a consultant in which professional feedback is given to the consultee in an area agreed upon by both parties (ie: EMDR). You can read more about consultation in our Consultation Packet here.

There are no EMDR Consultants near me, what are my options? Expand

You can use our Find an EMDR Therapist directory to search for EMDR Consultants. Consultation does not have to be conducted in person and many EMDR Consultants offer consultation by phone, zoom, skype and other synchronous (real-time) formats.

What is the timeframe for completing the 20 consultation hours? Expand

The 20 hours of consultation must have been completed within the last 5 years. If you continue to receive consultation hours for over a 5 year period, then as long as the EMDR Consultant is able to explain in the letter of documentation when the consultation started and ended (e.g. 2013-2022) and if/when long breaks in consultation occurred that will be acceptable. We understand that clinicians may stop consultation and then restart again but we cannot accept consultation hours that concluded 5 or more years ago.

Can my EMDR Consultant's documentation of hours and letter of recommendation be combined into one document? Expand

Yes. Requirements #4 and #5 can be combined into one document as long as the EMDR Consultant documents the number of hours provided, the time frame these hours were provided, whether they were individual or group hours, and their recommendation/endorsement of your application.

If I received consultation from more than one EMDR Consultant, do I need a letter of recommendation from each of them? Expand

If you received consultation from more than one EMDR Consultant, we want to see documentation of the consultation hours and the consultant should be able to address your use of EMDR with clients. We would like to see a recommendation from each consultant you worked with, but if that's not possible then at least one EMDR Consultant must be able to recommend you for Certification.

What should be included in the letter of recommendation from my EMDR Consultant? Expand
  • The letter should include an evaluation statement from the EMDR Consultant recommending approval of your Certification application.
  • The letter should include the exact number of hours of consultation toward certification that you received from the EMDR Consultant.
  • The letter should explicitly state whether the hours were individual or group hours and state how many of each if you received both.
None of my professional peers can speak to my utilization of EMDR. What should I do? Expand

It is preferred that you find a professional that can speak to your use of EMDR, however if this is not possible, you may use other mental health professionals that can speak to your ethics in practice as well as your professional character in your mental health field. Please note, we will need to see two peer recommendation letters. We want to see letters from peers that aren’t in a supervisory role (AC or CIT) to you, but from a peer standpoint that can speak to you and your professional character from that perspective.

Do I really need to submit two peer letters? Expand

Yes. We want to see letters from peers that aren’t in a supervisory role (AC or CIT) to you, but from a peer standpoint that can speak to you and your professional character from that perspective.

Where can I find a list of approved programs that offer EMDRIA Credit? Expand

To find continuing education opportunities, you can view the Continuing Education tab on our website. Please visit our Continuing Education page to see what is available.

Can the EMDR Training be used toward the EMDRIA Credit requirement for Certification? Expand

No. EMDRIA Credits (continuing education in EMDR) are designed to build upon the EMDR Training.

What are EMDRIA's Policies? Expand

View EMDRIA Policies here.

Is the Certification application fee refundable? Expand

No. The application fee will not be refunded if your Certification application gets denied or if it gets deleted after a year of being incomplete.

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