Psychedelics Certification

This resource lists a few of the trainings or certificates available, we keep an up-to-date list of psychedelic courses in our Courses Database.

Psychedelics-assisted therapy is poised to become the next big thing in the treatment of mental disorders. Heck, it’s even looking to help many people expand their mind (positive) and prevent them from entering ‘the system’ (negative).

But, there aren’t many places where a therapist, health worker, life coach, or any other professional is able to get certified. Below we’ve listed the places that offer certification and some information about them.

MAPS

Substance: MDMA

MAPS, or rather their public benefit corporation, offers the training to become a licensed MDMA-assisted psychotherapist. It has enrolled over 600 students and is preparing more to be able to offer this form of therapy once it becomes legal (expected, optimistically, in 2022).

The training is quite extensive and consists of 5 phases. This includes an online course (14 hours), training retreat (7 days), experiential learning (3+ days), a practice session (1 day), and follow-up supervision and evaluation.

Only practitioners that are affiliated with a qualified site (in relationship to the FDA Phase 3 research they are doing) are eligible to apply.

“The MDMA Therapy Training Program offers in-depth training into the practice of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy, with a curriculum based on decades of clinical experience. Trainees learn the theoretical approach of the modality, developed from the fundamental notion that every person has within them an incredible source of wisdom and an innate ability to heal.”

Tuition: to be posted for 2020 ($9.000 estimate)

Visit MAPS training

California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)

Substance: non-specific/various

CIIS, a university of various alternative studies, offers training for certification in psychedelic-assisted therapies & research. The certification/training involves various aspects from psychology to holotropic breathwork.

The training is a hybrid between four weekend workshops plus a weeklong residential program (120 hours) and online courses (60 hours).

The certification is “designed for advanced professionals working in related therapeutic areas: licensed mental health clinicians, specific medical professionals and ordained/commissioned clergy and chaplains.“

“The Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research Certificate serves a growing need for the training of skilled therapist researchers who will ideally seek advanced training for future FDA-approved psychedelic-assisted and entactogen-assisted psychotherapy research. Enrollees are professionals in specific licensed mental health and medical professions, as well as eligible ordained or commissioned clergy and chaplains.”

Tuition: $10.000 (includes room & board)

Visit CIIS certification (more info)

SCPTR

Substance: Ketamine

SCPTR, a non-profit, offers the ‘Psychedelic Therapy Training Program’ that will teach people the basics of working with psychedelics, ketamine specifically.

The 8-week program is (given the circumstances) given online, but the program does call for a 12-hour in-person internship with a ketamine clinic.

Tuition: $1750

Visit SCPTR certification

Fluence

Substance: various

Fluence offers many different courses about psychedelics, with their ‘Psychedelics 101 & 102’ being the most popular. Many of the courses can be followed in-person (with a 2-day course), some others are spread out over 12 weeks. Other courses are about psychedelic integration, ketamine, and mindfulness.

About ‘Psychedelics 101 & 102’: “This 2-day training is designed for clinicians and healthcare providers who want to learn more about current psychedelic research and clinical practice, including how to work with patients who have a history of psychedelic use or have expressed an interest in using psychedelics. This interactive training includes role plays, demonstrations, case examples, and experiential learning opportunities. “

Tuition: $525

Visit Fluence training events

The four institutes above are the only ones offering such an encompassing type of training. But there are more places where you can get educated about psychedelics. Because almost no-one will be eligible for the above two, here are some courses you can follow.

Psychedelics Today

Substance: non-specific

Psychedelics Today is an informational website that offers various courses for the psychedelics professional. This includes some free courses around harm reduction, Jungian psychology, and spiritual emergence. But also offers more extensive courses like ‘Navigating Psychedelics For Clinicians and Therapists’.

This course is given multiple times per year and spans 8 weeks. The lessons are both recorded and live (and in US and EU timezones).

“If you have been wondering how you can incorporate psychedelic knowledge and education into your practice or even learn how to get started in the field of psychedelic psychotherapy, this course is for you!”

Tuition: $1.206

Visit Psychedelics Today course

MAPS Webinar Series

Substance: MDMA/non-specific

MAPS is also offering a webinar series (7 broadcasts) that aim to teach people about psychedelic research. For the course, they are working together with Bia Labate (from Chacruna). Each session consists of 60 minutes presentation and 30 minutes of Q&A.

“In the Psychedelic Science 2020 Webinar Series, you’ll join host Bia Labate, Ph.D., and leaders of the psychedelic renaissance for insights into the latest research into the medical and therapeutic uses of MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, and more. We’ll also get a sneak peek at key issues affecting the wider availability of psychedelics for healing and spirituality, and explore the role of psychedelics in healing trauma.”

Tuition: $35 (session), $150 (all)

Visit MAPS Webinar Series