Why Become Certified to Teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)?
The MBSR Teacher Training Pathway provides a life-enriching process for those interested in teaching mindfulness in the MBSR eight-week format, which is the longest researched and evidence-based course and known to support health and well-being.
What Can I Learn in the MBSR Teacher Training Pathway?
This rigorous MBSR Certificate Teacher Training is designed to develop competencies as an experiential teacher, to study and understand the mechanisms and tools of MBSR through formal instruction, to practice teaching, to benefit from one-to-one mentoring and competency assessment for certification.
Become Qualified to Teach within 12 months and
Certified to Teach within 2-4 years, depending on your schedule.
Become Certified to Teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
MBSR Teacher Training Level 1, Level 2, and Certification
Complete your training and be certified to teach MBSR through the Mindfulness and Health Institute (MHI) in partnership with well-trained, experienced senior MTTA MBSR Trainers and the GMC MBSR Teacher Training Pathway.
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The MBSR Teacher Training Pathway consists of four courses and four retreats distributed across two levels of training and certification.
Level 1: Become Qualified to Teach MBSR
Level 2: Further Development of Teaching Skills
- MBSR Group Practice and Teaching (GPT)
- MBSR Individual Supervision
- Two more retreats (4 total retreats for certification)
Certification as an MBSR Teacher
- Successful completion of all elements of the teacher training leads to Certification as an MBSR teacher
- The MBSR Teacher Certification is granted by the GMC
Why MHI and the GMC MBSR Teacher Training Pathway
International Standards
GMC and MTTA teachers and trainers adhere to the global ethics, embodied practice, and current standards for teachers and teacher trainers as articulated in the International Mindfulness Integrity Network. MHI aligns with these standards and practices; more on MHI’s policies and guidelines may be found here.
Supportive Student-To-Teacher Ratios: A Critical Factor for Learning
Students to teachers ratios are limited to no more than 17-1 for MBSR Intensive Practice and Teaching (IPT), and for other MBSR teacher training courses a ratio of no more than 20-1.
While there are many factors that contribute to learning, with experiential professional trainings, the number of students per teacher is a critical factor for learning. Our goal is to create an environment that supports engagement between the student and teacher, allows for thoughtful and thorough feedback, and time for reflective discussions.
Accessible and Affordable
This Certificate to Teach MBSR is within your reach in 2-3 years with tuition that is under $10,000 or less with tuition assistance for those in need. The option to pay over time is also available. The tuition per course and total follow here:
MBSR Essentials: $2,250
MBSR Intensive Practice and Teaching (IPT): $2,800
MBSR Group Practice and Teaching (GPT): $1,525
MBSR Individual Supervision: $2,000
MBSR Certification Review: $1,200
TOTAL: $9,775
Transfer Students Accepted
Students from other MBSR teacher training courses are accepted on a case-by-case basis up to Group Mentoring. For example, if Qualified to Teach MBSR, you may be eligible to transfer to the GMC MBSR Teacher Training beginning with Group Mentoring and receive credit for MBSR Essentials and MBSR Intensive Practice and Teaching (IPT).
MBSR Essentials
MBSR Essentials is the first step in the Global Mindfulness Collaborative’s MBSR Teacher Training Pathway. It offers a highly experiential exploration of the MBSR curriculum, cultivating evidence-based teaching competencies and understanding from the inside out. Whether you intend to teach MBSR or integrate mindfulness into your professional field in other ways, Essentials is a special opportunity to deepen practice. As we discover greater degrees of freedom in our own lives, we are able to bring the essential transformative elements of mindfulness to others in the service of minimizing harm and maximizing human flourishing.
In MBSR Essentials, teacher trainees attend two courses, an 8-week MBSR course and the Essentials seminar. Trainees attend and engage fully in an 8-week MBSR course as student-observers. Concurrently, trainees attend the Essentials seminar, which is ten sessions over 9 weeks. The sessions are 3.5 hours for the first 9 sessions and 2 hours for the Closing session. In the Essentials seminar trainees engage with other trainees and the instructor exploring the underpinnings, approach, and teacher qualities in which the course is steeped. Intersession work and attendance at all sessions are required, excluding emergencies.
Commitment Required: In the direct teacher training lineage of Jon Kabat-Zinn, this initial training is an immersive course in developing MBSR teaching competencies through rigorous study and reflection steeped in internationally accredited standards, ethics, and the heart of personal and interpersonal mindfulness. Attendance at all MBSR classes and Essentials seminars is required. In addition to the Essentials seminar, MBSR course, and practices of MBSR, there are seminar readings, journaling, and other intersession assignments. Taking into account the class, seminar, daily practice, and additional readings, this is a 14-16 hour weekly commitment. It is a co-created learning opportunity in which you will be well supported! Through the MBSR Essentials curriculum, together we cultivate teaching as a practice and lifelong path to skillfully offer mindfulness in the world.
After completion of MBSR Essentials you are authorized to teach introductory mindfulness programs and workshops as a means to hone your teaching skills in preparation for the next course, MBSR Intensive Practice and Teaching (IPT). After completing the IPT course, you are then authorized to teach MBSR.
Upon successful completion of MBSR Essentials you are be able to:
- Teach mindfulness programs and workshops (not MBSR)
- Teach introductory mindfulness meditation classes
- Prepare to take the next course in the pathway: MBSR Intensive Practice and Teaching (IPT)
Prerequisites for MBSR Essentials
– Previous participation in an 8-week MBSR course with a Qualified or Certified MBSR Teacher – live online or in-person
– Completed a minimum of one 5-7-day residential, teacher-led silent meditation retreat - more information on qualifying retreats
– A minimum of two years of personal meditation practice
– Demonstrated capacity for experiential learning and teaching
This 10-session MBSR Essentials seminar is paired with a required 8-week MBSR course. MBSR Essentials tuition includes the MBSR course.
MBSR courses are eligible for continuing education credits.
Tuition: $2,250.00
Payment plans are available at checkout. See our refund policy.
All times are in EASTERN TIME (ET). Click here to use a timezone converter.
Upcoming Essentials Trainings
January 17 to March 28, 2025 - Instructor Elaine Retholtz
- Live Online via Zoom, Essentials Seminars: Fridays, January 17, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, and 28, Essentials Times: 9:00am - 12:30pm (ET)
- Live Online via Zoom, Paired MBSR Course Orientation: Tuesday, January 21, 6:30pm - 9:00pm (ET), MBSR Classes: Tuesdays, January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, and 18, MBSR Times: 6:30pm - 9:00pm (ET), All-Day: Saturday, March 1, 9:00am - 5:00pm (ET)
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Spaces are limited. Cohorts are limited to 14 teacher trainees.
Note: An application is required for this course.
Don't see dates/times that work for you? Join the MBSR Essentials waitlist to be notified when a course is available.
MBSR Intensive Practice and Teaching (IPT)
MBSR Intensive Practice and Teaching (IPT) is the second formal training on the pathway to teach, providing a deeper dive into the MBSR curriculum’s form and essence and greater clarity to its intention, content, and flow. True to its name, this training is an intensive immersion in MBSR that strengthens teaching skills and personal practice. As a trainee, you will expand your experiential and cognitive understanding of MBSR through practice teaching, receiving feedback from peers and trainers, study and self-reflection, mindfulness practice, and the support of the learning community. The IPT aims explicitly to develop teaching skills as well as the embodied presence and qualities of heart that support freedom from suffering for ourselves and those we serve.
Commitment Required: This is an intensive course! In addition to the time in the training, there will be intersession assignments that will require meeting with others in your training cohort.
Upon successful completion of the IPT you are able to:
- Begin to teach the eight-week MBSR course as Qualified MBSR Teachers
- Be listed on the Global Mindfulness Collaborative (GMC) Registry as “Qualified, Level 1” Teacher
- Prepare to take the next course in the pathway: MBSR Group Practice and Teaching: Teaching as Practice (GPT: TAP)
Prerequisites for MBSR Intensive Practice and Teaching
- Previous participation in MBSR Essentials or its equivalent
- Led a minimum of three introductory mindfulness sessions (90 minutes each)
- Completed a minimum of two 5-7-day (or longer) residential, teacher-led silent meditation retreats*
- Continued daily mindfulness meditation practice
*Regarding the retreat requirements, for Certification, four silent, teacher-led retreats are required, only one (1) of which may be online and a minimum of three (3) must be in-person. Additionally, two (2) of the four (4) total retreats must be 7 days or longer for certification. More information on qualifying retreats.
Orientation and three 3-day-weekend intensives (Friday, Saturday, Sundays)
Tuition: $2,800.00
Payment plans are available at checkout. See our refund policy.
All times are in EASTERN TIME (ET). Click here to use a timezone converter.
Upcoming IPT Trainings
Don't see dates/times that work for you? Join the MBSR IPT waitlist to be notified when a course is available.
MBSR Group Practice and Teaching: Teaching as Practice (GPT: TAP)
The Group Practice and Teaching: Teaching as Practice (GPT: TAP) training marks the entry into Level 2 of the MBSR Teacher Training course and is designed to support your continuing development and refinement as an MBSR teacher. With the dynamic support of the GPT: TAP group and trainer, you will investigate the intentions and components of various curricular elements, and have opportunities to reflect and practice teaching according to specific needs and requests. Explorations of pedagogical issues, Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI:TAC) domains, teacher competencies, and teaching as transformational practice are woven organically into the GPT: TAP course. Personal meditation practice continues to be the cornerstone of all investigations and is intrinsic to the course.
This offering, which is required for certification as an MBSR teacher, is for Qualified Level 1 Teachers who have taught at least two MBSR cycles. We will be going deeper into the curricular elements of MBSR as well as the underpinnings. There will be many opportunities to guide practice and facilitate didactic pieces, but more importantly, we will be exploring the real challenges that arise in each class.
With a deeper knowledge of the curriculum and further developed competencies as a teacher, upon successful completion of GPT: TAP, you will continue teaching MBSR and apply for Individual Supervision when you feel ready to take this next step.
Upon successful completion of the GPT:TAP you are able to:
- Continue teaching MBSR
- Prepare to take the next course in the pathway: MBSR Individual Supervision
Prerequisites for MBSR Group Practice and Teaching: Teaching as Practice (GPT: TAP)
– Successful completion of MBSR Intensive Practice and Teaching (IPT) or its equivalent
– Taught at least two (2) MBSR courses
– Completed a minimum of two (2) 5-7-day (or longer) silent, teacher-led retreats; three (3) retreats are recommended at this point.*
– Continued daily mindfulness meditation practice
*Regarding the retreat requirements, for Certification, four silent, teacher-led retreats are required, only one (1) of which may be online and a minimum of three (3) must be in-person. Additionally, two (2) of the four (4) total retreats must be 7 days or longer for certification. More information on qualifying retreats.
10-week group practice and teaching
Tuition: $1,525.00
Payment plans are available at checkout. See our refund policy.
All times are in EASTERN TIME (ET). Click here to use a timezone converter.
Upcoming GPT Trainings
January 24 to March 28, 2025 - Instructors Elaine Retholtz and Kathleen Beck-Coon
Live Online via Zoom, Classes: Fridays, January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 18, March 7, 14, 21, and 28, Times: 2:30pm - 5:30pm (ET)
Note: An application is required for this course.
Don't see dates/times that work for you? Join the MBSR GPT waitlist to be notified when a course is available.
MBSR Individual Supervision
Individual Supervision of the MBSR Teacher is the final course in Level 2 of the MBSR Teacher Training course. This training offers the MBSR teacher continuity and connection through the close relationship with their mentor throughout the full eight-week MBSR teaching cycle. This MBSR teacher training course is designed with the intention of providing individual guidance and support, as well as clarifying concepts and deepening understanding of the underlying principles of the MBSR course. Through the intention and commitment to work directly and intensively with their mentor, the trainee is able to refine and update the teaching of the MBSR course.
Upon successful completion of the Individual Supervision:
- Continue teaching MBSR
- Prepare to for the next step in the pathway: MBSR Teacher Assessment and Certification (TAC)
Prerequisites for MBSR Individual Supervision
– Successful completion of MBSR Group Practice and Teaching: Teaching as Practice (GPT: TAP) or its equivalent
– Have taught three (3) or more MBSR courses
– Continued daily mindfulness meditation practice
10 sessions with a Certified MBSR Instructor while a teach an MBSR course
Tuition: $2,000.00
Please email hello@mindfulnessandhealthinstitute.org when you're ready for this step.
MBSR Teacher Assessment and Certification (TAC)
The MBSR TAC is the culmination of years of study, practice and teaching by the MBSR teacher candidate for certification. Through a review and certification process verified by the Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University, identifying in the teacher candidate how the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competences are expressed in the teaching. Strengths, areas for development, and recommendations for post-certification learning are assessed for a “continuing education” process that is essential as part of the MBSR teacher’s holistic development.
Prerequisites for MBSR Teacher Assessment and Certification
– Successful completion of MBSR Individual Supervision
– Have taught six (6) or more MBSR courses
– Completed a minimum of four (4) 5-7-day (or longer) silent, teacher-led retreats*
– An ongoing personal meditation practice
*Regarding the retreat requirements, for Certification, four silent, teacher-led retreats are required, only one (1) of which may be online and a minimum of three (3) must be in-person. Additionally, two (2) of the four (4) total retreats must be 7 days or longer for certification. More information on qualifying retreats.
Review of recorded and time-stamped full-length MBSR course following MBI:TAC guidelines
MBSR Certification Review Tuition: $1,200.00
Please email hello@mindfulnessandhealthinstitute.org when you're ready for this step.
Proven Training from Some of the Most Experienced Teachers in the World
The Global Mindfulness Collaborative (GMC) is one of the largest international associations with many of the longest trained MBSR teachers and trainers in the world. The GMC is comprised of 35 individual members representing 13 countries. These early pioneers of MBSR offer culturally rich and deeply diverse approaches to training. GMC members are united by their commitment to standards of practice, integrity in the research and implementation, teacher competencies, and the fidelity of MBSR.
The Mindfulness Teacher Training Alliance (MTTA) is a U.S. member of the Global Mindfulness Collaborative, bringing together MBSR trainers from North America. MTTA teacher trainers have decades of experience teaching MBSR and training MBSR teachers. MTTA teacher trainers provide courses and mentorship to support the development of an embodied practice, an understanding of the depth and challenges of the MBSR curriculum, and the professional skills needed to share this with a diverse range of students and populations.
The Mindfulness and Health Institute (MHI) is a world-wide training organization that presents courses. MHI collaborates with teachers, students, and other institutions to foster a flourishing world through mindfulness practices, leading to improved wellbeing and helping to alleviate suffering and separation. We work to be a trusted source for thoughtful, evidence-based, evidence-informed, and innovative mindfulness-based courses and events. We align with the values and vision of the GMC and the MTTA and through this collaboration with them to offer the GMC MBSR Teacher Training.
The History of MBSR Teacher Training
Qualifying Silent Retreat Requirements
Attending silent retreats is an essential component in MBSR teacher development and formation. Retreats provide a direct experiential understanding of key underpinnings of the MBSR course, including cultivation of mindfulness, awareness, and compassion. Below are the requirements for qualifying retreats:
- The silent retreats need to be teacher led (live) by an experienced mindfulness teacher in a well-established tradition.
- There needs to be at least one individual or group interview (i.e., group discussion) with the retreat teacher(s).
- The experiential learning and guided practice instructions need to be aligned with the essential teachings found within Buddhist psychology including: Four Noble Truths, Four Foundations of Mindfulness, and Loving Kindness.
- A minimum of four silent retreats are required for Certification. Two of these need to be at least 5-days long and two need to be at least 7-days long. Retreats that are longer than 7-days are encouraged and accepted..
- If you are going to be attending a live on-line retreat, it is best to commit to creating a retreat environment dedicated to supporting silence and continuous practice.
For full certification, a minimum of four (4) silent, teacher-led retreats are required
- Online: A maximum of one (1) live-online retreat is counted toward meeting the retreat requirements for Certification to teach MBSR.
- In-Person: A minimum of three (3) in-person, silent, teacher-led retreats are required.
- Duration: Two out of the four required retreats for certification must be 7 days or longer.
Continuing Education Credits
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