Become a Certified EMDR Therapist


IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Maiberger Institute will not be taking on any new candidates for its EMDR Certification Program after October 1, 2025. All candidates must pass their EMDR Certification Exam before October 1, 2029. No certification status will be awarded after this date.


Become a Certified EMDR Therapist

Once a therapist has completed their initial training in EMDR therapy, they have the option of becoming a Certified EMDR Therapist through the Maiberger Institute to deepen their skill level as an EMDR therapist and enjoy using EMDR therapy in more expansive and creative ways.

Here are the prerequisites to become a Candidate for the Maiberger Institute EMDR Certification Program:

  • Currently has an active and verifiable license/certification/registration to practice independently as a licensed mental health professional in the United State, such as a Licensed Psychologist (LP), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage Family & Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC). Associate licenses, candidate licenses, temporary licenses, limited licensed, interns, and registered psychotherapists are not eligible for the Maiberger Institute EMDR Certification Program.
  • Completed a Maiberger Institute Remote EMDR Training program or EMDR Training program.
  • Be listed on the Maiberger Institute EMDR Therapy Directory (listing is free).
  • Obtained written approval from a Maiberger Institute Certified EMDR Consultant and Maiberger Institute to move forward in becoming a Candidate for the Maiberger Institute’s EMDR Certification Program.

Once the prospective Candidate has established approval to move forward, the Candidate and the Maiberger Institute Certified EMDR Consultant will need to sign a contract with each other to officially begin the process of becoming certified. Candidates must complete all requirements within four years. Here are the requirements to become a Maiberger Institute Certified EMDR Therapist after a contract has been signed:

  • Received 20 hours of consultation from a Maiberger Institute Certified EMDR Consultant post basic EMDR training:
    • 10 hours through individual consultation
    • 10 hours through group consultations
  • 60 EMDR therapy trauma sessions with 30 different clients
  • 12 continuing education credit hours in an EMDR therapy workshop, training, or class post completion of a Maiberger Institute Remote EMDR Training or EMDR Training program.
    • Workshop must be conducted, instructed, or taught directly by a Certified EMDR Consultant or an Approved EMDR Consultant, and the workshop must be conducted either live remotely or live in-person or recorded long-distance learning.
    • Workshop instructor/trainer must currently be a licensed mental health practictioner in the United States, such as a state Licensed Psychologist (LP), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage Family & Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC). Instructor cannot be associate licensed, candidate licensed, temporary licensed, limited licensed, intern, nor registered psychotherapist.
    • Workshop must be accredited with APA, NBCC, AAMFT, or NASW on Certificate of Completion.
    • Workshop must say “EMDR” in the title of the workshop, training, or class.
  • Candidates must present three video/audio recordings of their EMDR therapy sessions to be reviewed with their Consultant.
  • Pass the Maiberger Institute EMDR Certification Exam with a score of 90% or above.

Once the Certified EMDR Consultant confirms that the Candidate has met all criteria regarding individual consultation sessions, group consultation sessions, EMDR therapy sessions, and workshop credit hours, a payment link will be sent to the Candidate to pay for their EMDR Certification Exam.

  • The Maiberger Institute Certified EMDR Therapist status is a lifetime status with a one-time fee of $250.
  • Once the Candidate begins the EMDR Certification Exam, the Candidate will have a maximum of six hours to complete the exam; the exam cannot be saved for later once the exam begins.
  • Once the Candidate has passed the exam, they will be provided with a digital certificate conferring upon them the title of “Maiberger Institute Certified EMDR Therapist.” Additional fees will apply for printed certificates and/or replacement certificates.
  • If a Candidate does not pass the EMDR Certification Exam, the Candidate has the option of retaking the exam as many times as needed for a fee of $50 per attempt, until their four-year window expires, in which case additional consultations, workshops, or sessions may be required. It is recommended that the Candidate discuss the exam and any additional requirements with their Consultant prior each attempt.
  • The Maiberger Institute will not be taking on any new candidates for its EMDR Certification Program after October 1, 2025.
  • All candidates must pass their EMDR Certification Exam before October 1, 2029. No certification status will be awarded after this date.

The Candidate must meet all the criteria above, provide payment, and pass the exam within four years, with the start date being the first individual consultation session, first group consultation, first EMDR session, or first EMDR workshop, whichever occurs earliest. Consultations, sessions, and workshops that occurred prior to signing of contract will not count towards certification.

The certification status through the Maiberger Institute is a lifetime status so long as the therapist remains a practicing state licensed therapist in good standing and remains listed on the EMDR Therapist Directory; no additional membership dues/renewal fees are required.

If you completed your basic EMDR training and are interested in becoming a “Certified EMDR Therapist” please contact [email protected] or a Maiberger Institute Certified EMDR Consultant for more details.

 

Find an EMDR Consultants FAQ Read Testimonials About EMDR Training

FAQ: EMDR Certification

If you completed any course or workshop through the Maiberger Institute, a Certificate of Completion would have been provided to you once you met all the requirements for the course or workshop you attended.

 

To obtain another copy of your Certificate of Completion, please contact [email protected] and include the following in your email correspondence:

  • Subject: Request for Certificate of Completion Replacement
  • Your First Name:
  • Your Last Name:
  • Name of Course or Workshop:
  • Start Date of Course or Workshop:
  • Date of Completion:
  • Name of Instructor(s):

 

It is also imperative that you contact us from the email account you used when you attended the course in order confirm your records. Additional information and steps will be required if you no longer have access to your original email account.

 

The replacement fee is $75:

  • We do not verify records via phone/videochat.
  • Only digital replacement copies will be provided (PDF)
  • Physical printed replacement copies are not available.
  • The digital replacement copy will be delivered via email .

 

In order to practice Remote EMDR Therapy, you will first need to obtain an “Remote EMDR Training Certificate of Completion” by completing a standard Remote EMDR Training program, like the one offered by the Maiberger Institute. Once you have completed the full Remote EMDR Training, you can practice EMDR therapy under your license. The Remote EMDR Training offered by the Maiberger Institute will prepare you to practice Remote EMDR Therapy. After completing the Remote EMDR Training, you may go onto become an “Certified EMDR Therapist” through the Maiberger Institute, which requires additional client sessions, consultations, and training. You do not need to become an “Certified EMDR Therapist” in order to practice EMDR therapy; you just need to complete the Remote EMDR Training and receive a “Certificate of Completion” to begin practicing EMDR therapy.

Upon completion of Remote EMDR Training, you will receive an “EMDR Training Certificate of Completion” from the Maiberger Institute. This means you have been trained to practice EMDR Therapy, and you will be able to join our EMDR Therapist Directory for free.

Once you’ve completed EMDR Training and get listed on our Directory, you will have the option of becoming a “Certified EMDR Therapist” through the Maiberger Institute.

You do not need to be a “Certified EMDR Therapist” to  practice EMDR therapy.  However, therapists who continue on to become a “Certified EMDR Therapist” deepen their skill level as an EMDR therapist, and enjoy using EMDR therapy in more expansive and creative ways.

For those of you wanting become a “Certified EMDR Therapist” through the Maiberger Institute, please visit the EMDR Certification page.

Whether or not a clinicians is considered “Trained in EMDR Therapy” will depend on when they completed their Remote EMDR Training program (aka EMDR Training, Basic EMDR Training, EMDR basic training, virtual EMDR basic training)

 

1) 2008 to present:

  • Therapist have completed Remote EMDR Training — 40 hours of training (Part 1 and Part 2) plus 10 hours of Group Consultation — and received a “Certificate of Completion”

 

2) Before 2008:

  • Completed “Level 1” AND “Level 2”, AND received a “Certificate of Completion” for both parts AND completed all requisite Consultation Hours from an standard EMDR basic training.
  • If a therapist has completed “Level 1” training (only) prior to 2008, the therapist is NOT considered a fully trained in EMDR therapy.

No. You are not required to join the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) in order to practice EMDR therapy, nor are you required to seek certification through EMDRIA in order to practice EMDR therapy.

In order to practice Remote EMDR Therapy, you will first need to obtain an “Remote EMDR Training Certificate of Completion” by completing a standard Remote EMDR Training program, like the one offered by the Maiberger Institute. The Remote EMDR Training offered by the Maiberger Institute will prepare you to practice Remote EMDR Therapy. Once you have completed the full Remote EMDR Training, you can practice EMDR therapy under your license, and you will be eligible to join our EMDR Therapist Directory (free).

After completing the Remote EMDR Training, you may go onto become an “Certified EMDR Therapist” through the Maiberger Institute, which requires additional client sessions, consultations, and training.

You do not need to become an “Certified EMDR Therapist” in order to practice EMDR therapy; you just need to complete the Remote EMDR Training and receive a “Certificate of Completion” to begin practicing EMDR therapy.

 

 

See also: “Moving On From EMDRIA

Yes. Upon completion of Remote EMDR Training, you will receive an “EMDR Training Certificate of Completion” from the Maiberger Institute. This means you received EMDR training that meets or exceeds a standard EMDR basic training program, and that you may begin offering and practicing EMDR therapy with clients. You will also be eligible to get listed on our EMDR Therapist Directory (free).

Once you’ve completed your training, and get listed on our directory, you then have the option of becoming a “Certified EMDR Therapist” through the Maiberger Institute as well. Visit our EMDR Certification page for more details.

You do not need to be a “Certified EMDR Therapist” to  practice EMDR therapy.  However, therapists who continue on to become a “Certified EMDR Therapist” deepen their skill level as an EMDR therapist, and enjoy using EMDR therapy in more expansive and creative ways.

For those of you wanting become a “Certified EMDR Therapist” through the Maiberger Institute, please visit the EMDR Certification page for more information.

The Maiberger Institute will not be taking on any new candidates for its EMDR Certification Program after October 1, 2025.

One of the requirements in order to become a Certified EMDR Therapist through the Maiberger Institute is that the Certification Candidate must complete at least 12 continuing education credit hours in an EMDR therapy workshop, training, or class post completion of a Maiberger Institute Remote EMDR Training course (or an equivalent EMDR therapy training course, EMDR Training course, EMDR Basic Training course, Virtual EMDR Training course, etc).

  • Workshops must be conducted, instructed, or taught directly by a Certified EMDR Consultant or an Certified EMDR Consultant, and the workshop must be conducted either live remotely or live in-person or recorded long-distance learning.
  • Workshop instructor/trainer must currently be a licensed mental health practictioner in the United States, such as a state Licensed Psychologist (LP), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage Family & Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC). Instructor cannot be associate licensed, candidate licensed, temporary licensed, limited licensed, intern, nor registered psychotherapist.
  • Workshop must be accredited with APANBCCAAMFT, or NASW on Certificate of Completion.
  • Workshop must say “EMDR” in the title of the workshop, training, or class.
  • Workshops must have been conducted within 4 years prior to EMDR Certification date.

 

Whether the courses are conducted by the Maiberger Institute, or a provider outside the Maiberger Institute, as long as the course meets the above requirements, the CEUs from these courses can be applied toward becoming a Certified EMDR Therapist.

Read about our EMDR Certification Program for details on all the requirements on becoming a Certified EMDR Therapist.

 

Yes, if you completed the Remote EMDR Training, which includes 40 hours of training and 10 hours of group consultation, you are considered EMDR-trained and are eligible to begin practicing EMDR therapy with clients, provided you hold an active state mental license for that. You receive a Certificate of Completion from the Maiberger Institute upon completing the training, signifying that you have received EMDR training.

For example, you can update your CV/bio/profile to say:

  • “I completed my EMDR training through the Maiberger Institute”
  • “I am trained in EMDR therapy.”
  • “I am an EMDR therapist.”
  • “I am EMDR-trained.”

 

EMDR-Trained vs. EMDR-Certified:

It is important to note there is a difference between an “EMDR-trained” (“EMDR therapist”) vs “EMDR-certified” (“Certified EMDR Therapist”) as certification requires additional training and consultation beyond initial EMDR training.

Completing the Maiberger Institute’s training makes you “EMDR-trained,” which is the foundational step to using the therapy. EMDR Certification is a separate, optional process.

 

 

Eligibility to Practice EMDR Therapy:

Once you have your Certificate of Completion, you can begin offering EMDR therapy to clients as long as you have a valid state mental health license to practice.

To join the EMDR Therapist Directory™️, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Completed a Maiberger Institute EMDR Training course or Remote EMDR Training course.
  • Currently state licensed as a mental health clinician.
  • Must join the EMDR Therapist Directory before October 1, 2025. No new submission will be considered after this date.

All profiles must also have a profile photo and have a physical mailing address (no P.O. Boxes). More details can be found on the EMDR Therapist Directory™️

It is also important to note that in order to be a Candidate for our EMDR Certification Program, clinicians must complete the Remote EMDR Training course AND also be listed on the EMDR Therapist Directory™️ (both are required).

The Maiberger Institute will not be taking on any new candidates for its EMDR Certification Program after October 1, 2025.

All candidates must pass their EMDR Certification Exam before October 1, 2029. No certification status will be awarded after this date.

No.  Barb is not taking on any new EMDR Therapists for consultation and group consultations. Barb is also not available for therapy sessions.

For those seeking EMDR consultation services, a list of Maiberger Institute Certified EMDR Consultants can be found on our EMDR Therapist Directory™️

 


IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Maiberger Institute will not be taking on any new candidates for its EMDR Certification Program after October 1, 2025. All candidates must pass their EMDR Certification Exam before October 1, 2029. No certification status will be awarded after this date.

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