NEW APPLICATIONS

We are no longer accepting new applications or new MSC Teacher Certification registrants. The CMSC website is now accepting all new applications.

ALREADY ENROLLED:

If you are already enrolled in the UC San Diego MSC Teacher Certification program, here are the steps to finish becoming certified through us:

Certification Overview

The certification process involves finding a mentor and then actively participating in a series of at least fourteen 1-hour mentoring sessions with them whilst teaching two or more consecutive (not concurrent) full 8-week MSC programs with at least eight enrolled participants. Additional sessions may be required, at the mentor's discretion, to assure a high standard of teaching competence.

Prerequisites to Begin the Mentorship Process:

  • Be a trained MSC teacher.
  • Have already taught at least three 8-week MSC programs.
  • Have video footage of either Session 4 or 5 of a recent MSC program for the Collaborative Assessment.

Next Steps:

Contact a mentor and organize the Collaborative Assessment — which consists of at least three sessions:

  1. Orientation session with mentor.
  2. Mentor reviews video on their own.
  3. Mentor and mentee create a mentorship plan.

At this point, a decision is made regarding the applicant's readiness for certification and the formal mentorship plan (for the balance of the mentorship process) is finalized and agreed upon by the mentor and mentee.

Already enrolled in the Institute?

Access your registration here.

If you enrolled before August 1, 2021 and would like to apply for Teacher Certification status, please re-enroll using this link and inform us by emailing mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu.

Mentorship Requirements for Certification:

Applicants for Certification must have successfully completed a formal mentorship plan co-created with their mentor. The minimum duration is fourteen individual mentorship sessions — at least three sessions for the Collaborative Assessment process, and at least eleven sessions over the course of teaching at least two consecutive (not concurrent) courses. The plan may include more sessions at the discretion of the mentor.

Collaborative Assessment (CA)

The purpose of the CA is to establish a foundation for a mentorship plan based upon three sources of input: (1) the mentee's teaching needs first and foremost, (2) objective data about the mentee's teaching to date, and (3) the expert assessment of the mentor.

The specific data used for any particular CA should include a full session video recording of the mentee teaching Session 4 or 5 of a recent MSC 8-week course. Further data that may be used (at the discretion of the mentor) could include anonymous course evaluations from previous participants or a self-assessment using the MSC version of the MBI-TAC.

The CA counts as three mentorship sessions because, in addition to the two face-to-face meetings, there is a separate session for the mentor to review the video footage individually. The standard fee for the CA is $465 (3 sessions at $155 per session).

The Three CA Sessions:

  1. Session 1 — Orientation: The mentor and mentee get to know each other; the mentee shares goals or concerns for mentorship; the mentor shares their philosophy and approach to mentorship along with a discussion of the assessment process.
  2. Between sessions — Mentor review: The mentor reviews the recording and formulates a draft Mentorship Plan, which may include specific learning objectives, general areas of focus, and the recommended number of subsequent mentorship sessions.
  3. Session 2 — Plan review: The mentor presents the Mentorship Plan and the mentor and mentee discuss it. The agreed-upon plan is incorporated into a formal Mentor/Mentee agreement, payment is arranged, and the signed form is forwarded to the MBPTI.

Mentorship Fees:

While the financial arrangement is between you and your mentor, UCSD-approved mentors have agreed to a standard rate of $155/hour for US-based mentees, with the full set of fourteen sessions paid up front unless other arrangements are required. If the fee presents a financial hardship, discuss this with potential mentors to reach a mutually agreeable rate — these are highly experienced teachers and trainers and these rates are consistent with others in the field.

Session Recordings Required for Mentorship

Mentees are expected to record all MSC sessions during the mentorship process. Mentorship sessions will specifically require recordings of at least the following:

  • Video recordings of you teaching two 20-minute segments of inquiry — one from MSC Sessions 1–4 and one from Sessions 4–8.
  • Video recording of you teaching one exercise from MSC (with inquiry).
  • Video recording of you teaching a 20-minute sitting meditation practice.
  • Video recording of you teaching a 15-minute didactic portion of the MSC program.
  • Four audio recordings of guided meditations (CD or mp3 format) — recordings you create for your participants to listen to at home.

Finalizing Your Certification

Upon completing all requirements, submit a formal letter of application for Teacher Certification to CMSC. Your mentor will also submit a letter of recommendation at this time.

Your Letter Must Include Documentation of:

  • The date you received your Trained Teacher Certificate in MSC.
  • Location and number of participants in all MSC courses taught, and copies of all course evaluations from the most recent course.
  • A character reference from a colleague in your field, meditation teacher, or similar professional familiar with your work.
  • Your personal mindfulness meditation practice, self-compassion and/or loving-kindness meditation practice, and attendance at silent teacher-led retreats, naming the teacher(s) and location.

An application review fee of $500 will be charged for the Certification review process. The mentor will also forward a letter of recommendation to the Committee noting the key elements of the mentorship, their assessment of the mentee's teaching competence, and (if necessary) a recommendation regarding Certification.

Review Outcome:

Your request will be reviewed by the Committee and upon approval, you will be issued a letter confirming you have satisfied all the necessary requirements for Teacher Certification status and will receive an MSC Teaching Certificate.

If any remediation is recommended prior to Certification, there will be an additional $150 re-review fee once the remediation has been completed.

If a mentee wishes to appeal a mentor's decision, an ad hoc review committee of two MSC mentors who have not mentored the applicant will make the final determination.