Prerequisites 

• Completion of the 8-week MBSR class, in-person or live, online
• Participation in a 5-7 day silent, teacher-led silent retreat
• Two years of consistent formal daily meditation practice preferred, with a minimum of one year required
• Yoga or other contemplative movement practice experience
• A graduate degree (or completion of graduate degree equivalence document, which is submitted at the time of Foundations application). While professional and graduate degrees in psychology, social work, medical school, nursing or education are most typical, those who’ve been working in business, law and finance sectors and have completed other pre-requisites are welcome to apply.

On Taking MBSR: Taking an MBSR class is a prerequisite for MBSR Foundations. MBSR is an 8-week program that is available four times a year through Brown and can be taken in person or live-online. This prerequisite is required before applying for any of our MBSR Foundations 10 Sessions (online or in-person). Taking MBSR before beginning your training to teach MBSR provides you with the opportunity to experience the class fully as a participant and to have a direct experience of the value of the class. 

As an integral part of the MBSR Foundations program, 10 Sessions, you also attend the related MBSR class. This will be, at least, the second time you will take the class. What transpires in the MBSR class each week becomes an essential part of the discussions in the Foundations program, in terms of personal practice, group dynamics and teacher choice points. You participate in the MBSR program as both a participant and an observer as a means of developing comprehension of the MBSR curriculum, teaching competencies and  the underpinnings of the program. 

Recognition  

After successful completion of both MBSR Foundations and MBSR Teacher Advancement Intensive (TAI), you are eligible to be  listed on the Brown University Mindfulness Center website,  in the MBSR Teacher Registry as having completed:  “MBSR Teacher – Training Level 1”  

Click here to submit your name and contact information if you have completed these requirements through Brown. 

After completing these requirements you begin teaching 8-week, in-person or online MBSR programs. 

Recognition  

Your name listed on the Brown University Mindfulness Center website, in the MBSR Teacher Registry as having completed:  “MBSR Teacher – Training Level 2”

Click here to submit your name and contact information if you have completed these requirements through Brown. 

Continue teaching 8-week, in-person MBSR programs.

Certification materials are accepted twice per year: 

Submission deadline December 30
Review completed by March 30

Submission deadline June 30
Review completed by September 30

In order to make certification accessible during the pandemic, we have altered the policy for online teaching, and we now accept review of online classes. In addition, if someone has taken the Teaching MBSR Online course, the  requirement for having taught at least (six) 6 cycles of MBSR, stands. If this course has not been taken, the new recommendation is to have taught (eight) 8 cycles. There may also be a situation that someone has a mix of in-person and online classes, and in that case, the requirement of six (6) classes will be adequate. 

The certification review process is modeled after the process created at Bangor and Oxford Universities. 

Full submission information can be found on this pdf document.

Submit your information and apply 
Submit your information and apply for MBSR Teacher Certification of Successful Completion by clicking this link and completing the application. 

Submit Payment
To submit payment for the application please click here. 

Before applying for review of your materials, the following prerequisites are required:

• Successful competition of “MBSR Teacher – Training Level 2”
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Medicine, Practice & Science*
• Four qualifying teacher-led, silent retreats
• Successfully completed teaching six (6) MBSR programs

Recognition  

Award of a Certificate of Successful Completion of Teacher Training in MBSR:  Your name listed on Brown University Mindfulness Center website in the MBSR Teacher Registry as a fully-trained and recognized MBSR Teacher.

• Successful competition of “MBSR Teacher – Training Level 2”
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Medicine, Practice & Science*
• Four qualifying teacher-led, silent retreats
• Successfully completed teaching six (6) MBSR programs

More information about Teacher Certification in MBSR

Continuing Training Programs include:

• The Practice of Inquiry in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Programs
• Supporting the Inner Teacher with the MBI-TAC
• MBSR Teachers: Coming Together for Dialogue, Connection, Learning
• Teaching Yoga for MBSR: A Workshop for Teachers - Online 
• For MBSR Teachers: Teaching MBSR Online - An MBI:TAC Approach 
• And many more.