Welcome experienced MBCT Teachers!

Please read through the requirements and phases below if you are seeking to pursue the MBCT Qualification/Certification through the UCSD Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute (MBPTI). If you have questions, please email us at mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu.

Phase 1: Teacher Qualification

The purpose of Teacher Qualification is to establish a basic level of training and proficiency sufficient to be able to offer Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to the general public. Achieving Teacher Qualification status is needed in order to move on to applying for the MBCT Teacher Certification.

Requirements for MBCT Teacher Qualification:

  • Attend an 8-Week MBCT program.
  • Completion of a 5-day MBCT professional training retreat (this retreat has certain prerequisites required for admission). Alternatively, a "mentored pathway" equivalent with a minimum duration of 12 months will be considered (e.g., attending three 8-week MBCT courses — the first as a participant, the second as trainee, the third as co-teacher — as well as attending workshops on theoretical and practical aspects of teaching the core practices and curriculum). Those who choose the "mentored pathway" must also satisfy the pre-requisites for the 5-day retreat.
  • Formal application to enroll in the UCSD MBPTI as a "Teacher in Training" accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of $200 plus a Mentorship Administration Fee of $200 ($10 per session for the required 20 sessions of individual mentorship required for Qualification).
ENROLL IN THE INSTITUTE

Upon acceptance of your application in the MBPTI, you will receive a Provisional Certificate of Qualification that will be replaced by a full certificate upon completion of the following requirements and approval of your application as described below.

After Acceptance — Complete All of the Following:

  • Teach at least two 8-week MBCT groups and complete at least 20 hours of mentorship with an MBPTI-approved MBCT Mentor during your teaching of those two courses. (Review MBPTI-approved mentors, relevant policies and procedures will be shared upon request or acceptance, including the policies for mentees who are co-teaching their first programs.)
  • Attend a 5–7 night Silent Retreat (teacher-led meditation).

Mentorship Will Include:

  • At least 16 weekly meetings (in person or via phone or web), including one session before each 8-week MBCT program commences and one upon its conclusion, plus four other sessions for mentor review of recordings or other purposes.
  • Review of audio and/or audio/visual recordings of you guiding mindfulness meditation practices (body scan, sitting practice, 3-minute breathing space, walking meditation), mindful yoga, teaching a didactic portion of the MBCT program, and leading inquiry.
  • Submission of your teaching materials to the Mentor, including all participant handouts and feedback evaluations.

Formal Letter of Application for Qualification Must Include:

  • Dates, location, and trainers' names of the MBCT training you attended.
  • Dates of your mentorship sessions and your mentor's name.
  • Location and number of participants in the MBCT course(s) taught.
  • Documentation of your personal mindfulness meditation practice, mindful movement practice, and attendance at silent teacher-led retreats, denoting teacher names and location.

Please also request your Mentor to send a letter of recommendation supporting your application and readiness to teach directly to the Committee.

Please include an application fee of $750 plus an additional $100 Mentorship Administration Fee if you intend to pursue Certification through the Institute ($10 per session for the 10 sessions of mentorship required for Certification).

Your request will be reviewed by the Committee and upon approval, you will be issued a certificate confirming you have satisfied all the necessary modules for full Teacher Qualification status. If the committee determines that you do not meet criteria for Teacher Qualification, you will be provided with feedback and a proposed remediation plan. (Resubmission after satisfying the requirements can be made for an additional fee of $150.)

What You Can Say When You Have Achieved Qualified Status:

Upon receipt of your formal Teacher Qualification Certificate, you may market and represent yourself as a "Qualified Teacher of MBCT" as defined by the UCSD Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute, and you should clearly indicate that you are a trainee in the UCSD MBPTI (if you are pursuing Certification).

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

Phase 2: Teacher Certification

Certification is a process of ensuring that an MBCT teacher has achieved a level of teaching that clearly demonstrates competency and best practice skills.

Requirements for MBCT Teacher Certification:

  • Will have been granted the MBCT Teacher Qualification.
  • Will have taught a minimum of three MBCT 8-week courses beyond the two required for Teacher Qualification status.
  • Completion of the Advanced MBCT Teacher Training Intensive (MBCT ATTI).
  • At least 10 hours of mentorship (beyond that required for Teacher Qualification) with an MBPTI-approved MBCT Mentor.
  • An established mindfulness meditation practice (daily formal sitting practice, informal practice).
  • A mindful movement practice (yoga, t'ai chi, qigong).
  • Attendance at a 5–7 night Silent Retreat.

Mentorship Will Include:

  • Ten weekly meetings (in person or via phone or web), including one session before the 8-week MBCT program commences and one upon its conclusion, plus two other sessions for review of recordings or other purposes:
    • Video recordings of you teaching a full session of the MBCT program (usually Session 4 or 5).
    • Video recording of you teaching a 40-minute sitting meditation practice and a mindful yoga practice.
    • Video recording of you teaching a didactic portion of the MBCT program (e.g., Session 6: Thoughts Are Not Facts).

Formal Letter of Application for Certification Must Include:

  • Documentation of all of the above requirements.
  • Your mentor's name and dates of mentorship.
  • Location and number of participants in the MBCT course(s) taught.
  • Documentation of your personal mindfulness meditation practice and attendance at silent teacher-led retreats, naming the teacher(s) and location.

Also submit to your mentor: your participant handouts and recordings, and either the videos recorded for mentorship or new recordings of the same course elements. In addition, submit letters of recommendation from two professionals in your field.

Pay the application fee of $1,000. Your request will be reviewed by the Committee and upon approval, you will be issued a letter confirming you have satisfied all necessary requirements for MBCT Teacher Certification status and will receive a Teaching Certificate.

What You Can Say When You Have Achieved Certification Status:

Upon receipt of your formal Teacher Certification, you may market and represent yourself as a "Certified Teacher of MBCT" as defined by the UCSD Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute.

Post-Certification Recommendations

  • Ongoing adherence to the framework for ethical conduct as outlined within your profession.
  • Continued yearly attendance at residential teacher-led mindfulness meditation retreats.
  • Engagement in an ongoing peer consultation process with an experienced mindfulness-based teacher, which includes receiving periodic feedback on teaching through video recordings, supervisor sitting in on MBCT sessions, or co-facilitating with built-in feedback sessions.
  • Ongoing peer consultation with mindfulness-based colleagues, built and maintained as a means to share experiences and learn collaboratively.
  • Engagement in further training to develop skills and understanding in delivering mindfulness-based approaches, including keeping up to date with the current evidence base.

Estimated Fees for MBCT Teacher Certification

MBCT 5-Day Foundational Teacher Training Registration$1,450
MBPTI Initial Enrollment Fee$200
Mentorship Administration Fee for Qualification$200
20 Sessions of Individual Mentorship for Qualification$3,100
Teacher Qualification Review Fee$750
Mentorship Administration Fee for Certification$100
10 Sessions of Individual Mentorship for Certification$1,550
Advanced MBCT Teacher Training Intensive Registration$1,600
Teacher Certification Review Fee$1,000
Total Estimated Cost$9,950

Note: A service charge will be added to all payment transactions.