Becoming an EMDR International Association Certified Therapist

Clinicians are eligible to become EMDR International Association Certified Therapists if they are fully licensed in their mental health professional field for independent practice and have two years of experience (minimum) in that field. Specific EMDR requirements include completion of an EMDR International Association approved training program in EMDR therapy, a minimum of fifty clinical sessions in which EMDR was utilized, and twenty hours of consultation in EMDR by an Approved Consultant. To maintain the credential, EMDR International Association Certified Therapists must complete twelve hours of continuing education in EMDR every two years.

Certification Application

Please read the Certification Criteria below and the Certification FAQ before filling out the Certification Application. All application materials, including Letters of Recommendation, must be submitted in English.

Click here to complete the Certification Application online!

Certification Period

If your Certification Application is approved, your EMDRIA Certification status will be granted for a two year period. To keep this credential, you will need to renew every two years. 

Click here to learn more about Certification Renewal.

Certification Fees

*Please note certification fees are separate from EMDRIA membership fees

If you are a Full Member of EMDRIA | $150.00 US Dollars

We suggest joining as a Full Member to take advantage of this discount among other membership benefits! JOIN NOW!  Note: Associate Members cannot become EMDR Certified.

Non-EMDRIA Member | $350.00 US Dollars

Please note:

• Non-Members do not appear in EMDRIA’s Find an EMDR Therapist directory.
• EMDRIA does not retroactively apply discounts on previously paid non-member fees if an individual should join EMDRIA at a later date.

Certification Criteria

The applicant for the credential of EMDRIA Certified Therapist must meet the following criteria:

1. EMDR International Association Approved Training: Submit evidence of having completed an EMDRIA approved EMDR Training program. A copy of your certificate of completion is required.
2. License/Certification: Provide documentation of independent license as a mental health professional in the state or province where you practice. A photocopy of your license to practice independently is required.
3. Attach notarized documentation supporting the following statements:
   Do you have at least two years experience in your field of license?
   Have you conducted at least 50 EMDR sessions with at least 25 clients? Both statements can be included on one single notarized document. Applicants can simply state, “I have at least 2 years experience in my field of license and I have conducted at least 50 EMDR therapy sessions with at least 25 clients” or similar wording and then have it notarized.
4. Have you received 20 hours of consultation by an EMDR International Association Approved Consultant in EMDR? Answer yes or no on the application form. Then you will need to obtain documentation from the Approved Consultant(s) you received your consultation from, verifying the number of hours you have received from him/her and how many of those hours were individual consultation and how many were group consultation. If you have received consultation from more than one Approved Consultant, you will need documentation from each. At least 10 of these hours must be obtained through individual, EMDR-focused consultation. The remaining 10 hours may be obtained through small group consultation. Consultation groups cannot exceed more than 8 participants at a time. Consultants in Training can provide up to 15 hours of consultation; the remaining 5 hours must be with an Approved Consultant. *Only consultation hours received AFTER completion of an EMDRIA Approved Training program can be applied towards this requirement.
   Click Here to Find an Approved Consultant
5. Attach letter(s) of recommendation from one or more EMDR International Association Approved Consultant(s) in EMDR, regarding your utilization of EMDR with clients.
6. Attach two letters of recommendation regarding your professional utilization of EMDR (if possible), ethics in practice, and professional character. These can be obtained from colleagues or peers.
7. Attach certificates of completion of 12 hours of EMDR International Association Credits (continuing education in EMDR). The EMDR Training is not awarded EMDRIA Credits – only EMDRIA Credit Approved Programs in EMDR that are completed after the entire Training program can receive EMDRIA Credits and be used towards this application requirement. If you are in need of EMDRIA Credits, the Continuing Education tab on our website lists all of the current continuing education options that have been reviewed and approved by EMDRIA. The completion certificates should list the EMDRIA program approval number as well as the number of EMDRIA credits the workshop was approved for.
8. EMDR International Association Policies. Applicants must read and verify on the application form that they agree to adhere to EMDRIA Policies.

Become an EMDRIA Approved Consultant

EMDRIA Certified Therapists who have completed the online CIT Declaration Form are eligible to begin working towards Approved Consultant status. In addition to already being a Certified Therapist, applicants must have three years of experience with EMDR after completing an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Training Program, have conducted at least three hundred clinical sessions in which EMDR was utilized, and have received twenty hours of consultation-of-consultation from an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. They must complete twelve hours of continuing education in EMDR every two years to continue to hold this credential.

Please note:  Those applying for Approved Consultant status must be an EMDRIA Certified Therapist.  You cannot begin to accrue consultation-of-consultation hours until you have been approved as an EMDRIA Certified Therapist.

Approved Consultant Application

Please read the Approved Consultant Criteria below and Consultant-in-Training Frequently Asked Questions before filling out the Approved Consultant Application. Please only submit an application one time via scan, fax or mail and do not submit incomplete applications. All application materials, including Letters of Recommendation, must be submitted in English.

• Click here for the Approved Consultant Application Form

Approved Consultant Period

If accepted, Approved Consultant status will be granted for 2 years from the date of acceptance. To keep this credential, you will need to renew every two years. Click here to learn more about Approved Consultant Renewal.

Approved Consultant Fees

Approved Consultant Criteria

The applicant for the credential of EMDRIA Approved Consultant must meet the following criteria:

1) EMDRIA Approved Training: Submit evidence of having completed an EMDRIA approved EMDR Training program. A copy of your certificate of completion is required.

2) License/Certification: Provide documentation of independent license as a mental health professional in the state or province where you practice. A photocopy of your license to practice independently is required.

3) Do you have at least three years of experience after completing an EMDRIA approved Training program? Answer yes or no on the application form. Applicants MUST have the minimum 3 years of experience after completion of the EMDR Training.

4)  Have you conducted at least 300 EMDR sessions with at least 75 clients? Answer yes or no on the application form and then attach notarized documentation supporting this statement. You can write out the statement as it is written, “I have conducted at least 300 EMDR sessions with at least 75 clients”, or something similar and then have it notarized.

5) Have you received 20 hours of consultation-of-consultation by an Approved Consultant in EMDR?* Answer yes or no on the application form. Then you will need to obtain documentation from the Approved Consultant(s) you received your consultation-of-consultation from, verifying the number of hours you have received from him/her and how many of those hours were individual consultation and how many were group consultation. If you have received consultation from more than one Approved Consultant, you will need documentation from each. These “consultation-of-consultation” groups in EMDR should be no larger than 4 consultants-in-training at any one time. Click Here to Find an Approved Consultant

*PLEASE NOTE:  Only consultation hours received AFTER becoming a Certified Therapist can be applied towards this requirement*

6) Attach letter or letter(s) of recommendation from one or more Approved Consultant(s) in EMDR, regarding the quality of your consultation in EMDR to others.

7) Attach two letters of recommendation regarding your professional utilization of EMDR in clinical practice, consultation abilities, ethics in practice, and professional character. These can be obtained from colleagues or peers.

8) Attach certificates of completion of 12 hours of EMDRIA Credits (continuing education in EMDR). The EMDR Training is not awarded EMDRIA Credits – only EMDRIA Approved Credit Programs in EMDR that are completed after the EMDR Training can receive EMDRIA Credits and be used towards this application requirement.  EMDRIA Credits are one time use only. This means if you used an EMDRIA Credit course to apply for Certification or renew your Certification, you cannot use that same EMDRIA Credit course towards this application requirement. If you are in need of EMDRIA Credits, you can earn EMDRIA Credits through the EMDRIA OnDemand eLearning site.  For more information and to access the EMDRIA OnDemand catalog of choices, click here. Additionally, you may click here to view the Calendar of Events.

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

Please Note: Upon meeting these requirements, completing the application, and paying an application fee, the applicant would receive the designation as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Although the status of Approved Consultant subsumes Certification, those applying for Approved Consultant status must already have completed the application process for and been approved as EMDRIA Certified Therapists in EMDR. This qualifies them to consult with those seeking certification in EMDR. You may not begin working towards meeting the Approved Consultant requirements until you have been designated an EMDRIA Certified Therapist in EMDR and you have notified EMDRIA to which Approved Consultant you are working with for consultation-of-consultation hours. Additionally, an individual who is already Certified in EMDR must still pay full applicant cost to be elevated to the status of Approved Consultant.