Updated Consultant Standards 2026

Updated consultant standards are now in effect. These changes may impact consultant requirements and related processes. Please review the updated standards to understand how they may apply to you. 

Please note that while the update consultant standards are being rolled out, the CIT Declaration Form will be frozen between January 1 – March 31, 2026. This means any current EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ who wants to start the process for applying for the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ credential, will need to wait until the CIT Declaration Form has opened back up. Any consultation of consultation hours completed prior to submitting the CIT Declaration Form will not count towards the consultation requirement. 

The initial consultant application includes updated requirements, which can be found below. The new application will open up later in 2026.

Applying Under the Old Requirements

If you are a current CIT who successfully completed the CIT Declaration Form prior to January 1, 2026, and are in your current five-year time frame, the old requirements will remain valid while applying for the initial consultant application. You can access more information here.

Upcoming Increase to EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Initial Application Fee

Effective June 1, 2026, the initial EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ initial application fee will increase by $50.

The updated fee will apply to all initial consultant applications submitted on or after June 1, 2026, regardless of whether applicants are applying under the previous or revised consultant standards. Applications submitted prior to that date will be processed at the current fee.

Eligibility Requirements

Current EMDRIA Certified Therapists™ who have successfully completed the online CIT Declaration Form are eligible to begin working towards the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ credential. You cannot begin to accrue consultation of consultation hours until you have been approved as an EMDRIA Certified Therapist™. In addition to being a current EMDRIA Certified Therapist™, applicants must adhere to the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Standards as well as complete the application requirements prior to submitting their consultant application through our online portal. 

EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Standards

Download the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Standards document to review clear standards and best practices for consultants, as well as outlining the knowledge, skills, and attitudes expected in a consultant’s professional practice. 

Download Consultant Standards

Four Key Components

Four key components were derived from the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Standards. Together, these components form a unified framework for the development, implementation, and continuous enhancement of EMDR consultation practices. 

Educational Programing: Structured training program with courses for current and aspiring consultants.

Evaluation Framework: Tools and resources to access competence and adherence to the standards. Access the PDF version of the CIT Verification, Evaluation, and Recommendation (VER) Form.

Supported Resources: Resources to promote the adoption and consistent application of these standards throughout the EMDRIA™ community. Download the Consultant Toolkit.

Updated Application Process: Revised procedures, forms, and recommendation criteria aligned with these standards.

Apply for the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Credential Today

Please read the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ standards and requirements before submitting an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ application. The applicant must be a current EMDRIA Certified Therapist™, hold an active EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training™ status, and completed all requirements prior to submitting the consultant application through our online portal. Please note that all application materials must be submitted in English.

Application under the new standards and requirements will open later in 2026.

Application Fees

EMDRIA™ Member | $250 US Dollars (non-refundable)

  • Consultant fees are separate from membership dues. If you're not a current member, Join Now to receive the discounted rate.

Non-Member | $450 US Dollars (non-refundable)

  • Non-Members do not appear in the Find an EMDR Therapist directory. A listing in our directory is a benefit of EMDRIA™ membership only.
  • Member discounts are not applied retroactively. If you apply to be an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ as a Non-Member and join at a later date, you will not receive a partial refund of your application fee. Be sure to join before you apply for EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ credential.

 

EMDRIA Credentialing Policy: All EMDRIA™ credentialing application fees are nonrefundable. This includes denied applications, withdrawn application, if the applicant does not complete the application process, and if incomplete requirements are not submitted within the designated timeframe. 

Application Requirements

1. Current Mental Health License

You will need to confirm that you hold a current license to practice independently as a mental health professional in the state, province, or country where you practice. 

2. EMDR Experience

  • Do you have at least one-year post your CIT declaration date? 
    • You will need to confirm that you have at least one year of experience as an EMDRIA Consultant in Training™. This will be based on the day you completed the CIT declaration form.
  • Have you conducted at least 300 EMDR sessions with at least 75 clients?
    • You will need to confirm that you have conducted at least 300 EMDR sessions with at least 75 clients.

3. Consultation Experience

  • Have you provided consultation hours to a minimum of five (5) consultees? 
    • You will need to confirm that you have provided consultation hours to a minimum of 5 (five) consultees.
    • At least three (3) of the five (5) consultees must have completed an EMDRIA Approved Basic Training. 
  • Have you provided a minimum of 15 consultation hours to consultees on their use of EMDR? 
    • You will need to confirm that you have provided a minimum of 15 consultation hours to consultees on their use of EMDR.
    • The consultation number is for the total number overall, not the number of consultation hours provided per consultee. 

4. Twenty (20) Consultation of Consultation Hours

  • You will need to complete a minimum of twenty (20) consultation of consultation hours with at least one EMDRIA Approved Consultant™.
    • At least ten (10) of the twenty (20) hours must be completed as individual hours. The remaining hours can be obtained as individual, group, or a combination of the two.
    • Hours must be completed with an EMDRIA Approved Consultant™. 
    • Hours should be completed within a five-year period, but no faster than one year from starting the CIT process (based on the day you completed the CIT declaration form).
    • You can work with multiple consultants; however, EMDRIA™ will only accept consultation of consultation hours from up to three (3) EMDRIA Approved Consultants™.
    • Group consultation cannot exceed more than four (4) CITs at any one time. The ratio is 1:4. 

5. Evaluation from Consultant

  • You will need to receive a completed CIT Verification, Evaluation, and Recommendation (VER) online form from each EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ that you worked with to obtain the consultation of consultation hours.
    • The online form will need to include the verification of the consultation of consultation hours, and evaluation of the applicant based on the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Standards, and a recommendation from the consultant.
    • You must receive a recommendation from the consultant who provided the majority of your consultation of consultation hours. 

6. Completion of Twelve (12) EMDRIA Credits

  • You will need to complete a minimum of twelve (12) EMDRIA Credits.
    • Three (3) out of the twelve (12) EMDRIA Credits must come from completing the two consultant courses. These two courses will need to be completed within the five-year CIT time frame.
      • Foundations of EMDR Consultation course (approved for 1.5 EMDRIA Credits)
      • Core Competencies in EMDR Consultation course (approved for 1.5 EMDRIA Credits).
    • The remaining nine (9) EMDRIA Credits are up to you.
      • The nine (9) EMDRIA Credits must completed within your most recent certification renewal cycle or later to be eligible for this requirement.

7. EMDR International Association Policies Agreement

  • Applicants must read and verify on the application form that they agree to adhere to EMDRIA™ Policies. 

Consultant Cycle & Renewal Steps

If your EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ application is approved, your consultant credential will be granted for a two-year period. To keep this credential, you will need to renew every two years. Learn more about the EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ Renewal. Your EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ credential will be incorporated into your EMDRIA Approved Consultant™ credential and you will not need to renew your certification credential separately.