Experienced MBSR Teachers:

If you are seeking to pursue certification through the UCSD Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute and have questions about whether any of your previous training or experience can apply to this Certification pathway, please email us at mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu with a description of your training and experience, a listing of formal training completed (including dates, locations and teachers) and a current copy of your CV.

Mindfulness, the act of being fully aware in the moment of oneself and one’s environment, has been practiced by many cultures around the world for thousands of years. For that reason, it is important that the cadre of the Center's certified MBSR teachers is representative of many cultures and backgrounds. Diversifying the teaching team is therefore both a value and a priority of the program’s administrators. In keeping with that priority, while all applicants will be fully, fairly and objectively considered, applicants of color are particularly encouraged to apply to the Teacher Qualification and Certification Program.

Phase 1: Teacher Qualification

The purpose of Teacher Qualification is to establish a basic level of training and proficiency sufficient to be able to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to the general public. Achieving Teacher Qualification status is needed in order to move on to receiving Teacher Certification. Download the MBSR Mentorship Packet here.

Requirements for MBSR Teacher Qualification are the following:

• Completion of the 6-day MBSR Teacher Training Intensive, approved MBSR Teacher Training Practicum, or equivalent* (as determined by the review committee) (see prerequisites)
• Completion of the Online 10-week MBSR Teacher Training Practicum
• Formal application to enroll in the UCSD Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute (MBPTI) as a “Teacher in Training” accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of $200 plus a mentorship administration fee of $180 ($10 per session for the required 18 sessions of individual mentorship required for Qualification). Upon acceptance of your application in the MBPTI, you will receive a Provisional Certificate of Qualification that will be replaced by a full certificate of Qualification upon completion of the following two requirements and approval of your application for qualification as described below.
• Teach at least two live, in-person 8-week MBSR courses with at least ten participants in each.
• Completion of at least 18 hours of mentorship with an approved UCSD MBSR Mentor during your teaching of the two 8-week MBSR courses. Review mentor details on our MBSR Mentorship page for more information, including the special requirements for mentees who co-teach their first programs. Some of these mentorship hours will be used by the mentor to review recordings of your teaching independently without you being present.

*The 6-day MBSR Teacher Training Intensive has pre-requisites (listed below) that would also have to be satisfied by those submitting alternate training experiences for consideration for MBSR Teacher Qualification:

• Participation in an 8-week MBSR program (May be an online program taught by a live teacher if there are no in-person MBSR program is available.)
• An established mindfulness meditation practice (daily formal sitting practice, informal practice)
• A mindful movement practice (yoga, t’ai chi, qigong).
• Yearly attendance of a teacher-led silent meditation retreat of at least five nights with formal mindfulness meditation practices in addition to the retreat required for initial attendance at Teacher Training.
• Experience with teaching in a group setting and familiarity with group process (this excludes teaching academic subjects).

Mentorship will include the following:

• Audio and/or video recordings of you guiding mindfulness meditation practices; mindful yoga, teaching a didactic portion of the MBSR program and approximately 30 minutes of mindful inquiry.
• Submission of your teaching materials which will include all participant handouts. Please request your Mentor send a letter of recommendation supporting your application and readiness to teach directly to the Committee.

Upon completing these requirements, please submit a formal letter of application for Teacher Qualification to the UCSD Teacher Qualification and Certification Committee (mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu).

Your letter must include documentation of the following:

• Date you attended the MBSR foundational training
• Mentor’s name and dates of mentorship,
• Number of participants in each of the MBSR courses taught.
• Your personal mindfulness meditation practice, mindful movement practice and attendance at silent teacher-led retreats, denoting teacher(s) names and location.

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

Please also make a payment for an application fee for $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). You can log back to your initial registration to complete the payment.
(Note: If you enrolled in the institute before June 30, 2018 and would like to apply for the Teacher Qualification or Certification status, please re-enroll (sign up) by following the link above and email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu so that we can adjust your balance.)

Your request will be reviewed by the Committee and upon approval, you will be issued with 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 for consideration after satisfying the requirements can be made for an additional resubmission 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 MBSR” as defined by the UCSD Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute.

Beginning the Process

We recommend that you begin the enrollment process by registering online in the UCSD Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute (MBPTI) to pursue Qualification and Certification. Enrollment includes a non-refundable application fee of $200, plus a $180 Mentorship Administration Fee ($10 per session for the 18 initial individual mentorship sessions)*. Upon registering, you should next choose a mentor. Visit the mentorship page and review the biographies of the UCSD-approved mentors. Once you have reached out to one and settled on working together, you will complete and sign a written agreement with the mentor that establishes the details of your work together, and then you can proceed.

*If you attended the MBSR TTI before April 2020 and haven’t participated in the 10-week Online MBSR TTP, you are required to complete 22 mentorship sessions and pay 22 session of Mentorship Administration Fee ($220)

ENROLL IN THE INSTITUTE

If you enrolled in the institute before August 1, 2021 and would like to apply for the Teacher Certification status, please re-enroll (sign up) by following the link above and email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu. Thank you.

Phase 2: Teacher Certification

Obtaining MBSR Teacher Qualification is a prerequisite to formal certification status. Certification is a process of ensuring that an MBSR teacher has achieved a level of teaching that clearly demonstrates competency and best practice skills. Download a summary of the process.

Mindfulness‐Based Interventions Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI:TAC)
is used in assessing the competence and adherence of mindfulness‐based class-based teaching.

Requirements for MBSR Teacher Certification are the following:

• Will have been granted Teacher Qualification.
• Will have taught a minimum of five additional live, in-person MBSR 8-week courses.
• Completion of the 5-day Advanced Training Intensive for MBSR  Teachers (or equivalent).
• At least 10 hours of mentorship (beyond that required for Teacher Qualification) with an approved MBSR Mentor (see list).
• An established mindfulness meditation practice (daily formal sitting practice, informal practice).
• A mindful movement practice (yoga, t’ai chi, qigong).
• Continued yearly attendance of a teacher-led silent meditation retreat of at least five nights with formal mindfulness meditation practices.

Mentorship will include the following:

• Video recordings of you teaching at least one full session of the MBSR program (usually Session 4 or 5)
• Submission of your audio recordings of a 40-minute body scan, a 40-minute sitting meditation practice, and two 30-minute mindful yoga practices (lying down and standing sequences). These are the recordings your participants listen to at home.

Upon completing these requirements, please submit a formal letter of application for Teacher Certification to the UCSD Teacher Qualification and Certification Committee (mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu).

Your letter must include documentation of the following:

• The dates of all MBSR teacher trainings sponsored by UCSD (or equivalent), when you obtained teacher Qualification
• Your Mentor’s name and dates of mentorship
• The dates, and location and number of participants of all MBSR courses taught.

You are also required to submit the following materials to your mentor:

• Teaching materials
• Participant handouts
• CDs, and a video of you teaching the following: two half-hour segments of mindful inquiry, 40 minute sitting meditation practice, mindful yoga, didactic portion of the MBSR, e.g. Session 4: Stress Reactivity.

Please request your Mentor send a letter of recommendation supporting your application and readiness for Teacher Certification directly to the Committee. In addition please submit letters of recommendation from two professionals in your field. Please also document your personal mindfulness meditation practice and attendance at silent teacher-led retreats, naming the teacher(s) and location. Please include an application fee for $1000.

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

What You Can Say When You Have Achieved Certified Status:

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

ENROLL IN THE INSTITUTE

If you enrolled in the institute before August 1, 2021 and would like to apply for the Teacher Certification status, please re-enroll (sign up) by following the link above and email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu. Thank you.

Estimated Fees

Estimated Fees for MBSR Teacher Certification

6-day MBSR Teacher Training Intensive Registration	$1,975
or Online 10-week MBSR Teacher Training Registration	$1,975
Online 10-week MBSR Teacher Training Practicum	$715
MBPTI Initial Enrollment Fee	$200
Mentorship Administration Fee for Qualification	$180
18 sessions of Individual Mentorship for Qualification	$2,790
Teacher Qualification Review Fee	$750
Mentorship Administration Fee for Certification	$100
10 sessions of Individual Mentorship for Certification	$1,550
5-day Advanced Teacher Training Intensive Registration	$1,750
Teacher Certification Review Fee	$1,000
Total Estimated Cost	$11,295

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

There will be additional room & board charge for the in-person training programs.

 

ENROLL IN THE INSTITUTE

If you enrolled in the institute before August 1, 2021 and would like to apply for the Teacher Certification status, please re-enroll (sign up) by following the link above and email mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu. Thank you.