EMDRIA Certification in EMDR: A Practical Guide

Source checked: May 23, 2026

This guide is about EMDRIA certification in EMDR. It focuses on the EMDRIA path: EMDRIA Certified Therapist, EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant.

Independent note: EMDRNews is not EMDRIA and does not determine certification eligibility. Confirm current requirements directly with EMDRIA. EMDRIA can change application language, fees, forms, and credential rules.

EMDR-trained is not the same as EMDRIA certified

Completing an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Basic Training makes a clinician EMDR-trained. It does not make the clinician EMDRIA certified.

EMDRIA certification in EMDR is a separate credential. It comes after basic training and adds more practice, consultation, documentation, and EMDRIA Credits.

That distinction helps clinicians avoid a common mix-up: the basic training certificate documents training completion. The EMDRIA Certified Therapist credential documents a later credentialing process through EMDRIA.

EMDRIA Certified Therapist: the 2026 checklist

As of May 23, 2026, EMDRIA describes the Certified Therapist path as requiring:

  • completion of an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Basic Training;
  • a current license to practice independently as a mental health professional;
  • at least two years of experience in the clinician’s field of license;
  • at least 50 EMDR therapy sessions with at least 25 clients;
  • 20 hours of EMDR-focused consultation after completion of basic training;
  • at least 10 of those 20 consultation hours as individual consultation;
  • no more than 10 of those hours from small-group consultation, with group size limits;
  • up to 15 certification consultation hours from an EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training, with the remaining 5 from an EMDRIA Approved Consultant;
  • recommendation letter or letters from one or more EMDRIA Approved Consultants;
  • two peer or colleague letters about professional use of EMDR, ethics, and professional character;
  • 12 EMDRIA Credits earned after basic training;
  • agreement to EMDRIA policies.

EMDRIA says the 20 consultation hours must be completed within the five years before the application is submitted. EMDRIA also notes that the certification credential is granted for a two-year period and must be renewed every two years.

What to track while you are working toward certification

Keep the tracking boring. Boring is good here.

Track the date basic training was completed, consultation dates, consultant name and credential, individual versus group hours, group size when relevant, EMDRIA Credits, case-session counts, and documents needed for recommendation letters.

The issue that slows applications is often not clinical. It is paperwork: unclear individual versus group hours, missing notarization, the wrong basic training certificate, or a recommendation letter that does not meet EMDRIA’s requirement.

Consultant-in-Training: the 2026 pathway

The consultant path changed in 2026. EMDRIA says its Approved Consultant Standards were updated and implemented in January 2026.

A clinician must be a current EMDRIA Certified Therapist before declaring EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training status and starting work toward the initial EMDRIA Approved Consultant application.

For clinicians entering the CIT path, EMDRIA’s 2026 materials describe:

  • reviewing the initial consultant application requirements;
  • securing an EMDRIA Approved Consultant;
  • informing EMDRIA of the intent to become a CIT;
  • completing required consultant courses;
  • maintaining active EMDRIA Certified Therapist status;
  • completing the consultant requirements within five years, but no earlier than one year after the CIT declaration date.

For consultation-of-consultation, EMDRIA describes 20 hours total. At least 10 must be individual hours. The remaining hours can be individual, group, or a mix. EMDRIA says it will accept consultation-of-consultation hours from up to three EMDRIA Approved Consultants.

The newer process also uses the CIT Verification, Evaluation, and Recommendation form. EMDRIA describes this as replacing the traditional consultant letter for the initial consultant application.

EMDRIA Approved Consultant: what the 2026 path is asking for

The EMDRIA Approved Consultant credential is not just "more certification." It is a consultant credential for clinicians who are already EMDRIA Certified Therapists and are preparing to consult with other clinicians.

EMDRIA’s current public application language includes:

  • current independent mental health licensure;
  • current EMDRIA Certified Therapist status;
  • active EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training status;
  • at least one year of experience after the CIT declaration date;
  • at least 300 EMDR sessions with at least 75 clients;
  • consultation experience with at least five consultees, including at least three who have completed EMDRIA Approved Basic Training;
  • at least 15 consultation hours provided to consultees on their use of EMDR;
  • 20 consultation-of-consultation hours, including at least 10 individual hours;
  • completion of 12 EMDRIA Credits, including the required consultant courses listed by EMDRIA;
  • consultant evaluation and recommendation through the VER process.

EMDRIA also notes transition language. Current CITs who completed the declaration before January 1, 2026 may be able to apply under older standards during their existing five-year window. Clinicians entering the process now should read the 2026 requirements directly.

Which EMDRIA page to start with

If you completed basic training and want the next EMDRIA credential, read the EMDRIA Certified Therapist application first.

If you are already an EMDRIA Certified Therapist and want to provide consultation toward other clinicians’ EMDRIA certification in EMDR, read the Consultant-in-Training page before you start counting hours.

If you are already a CIT, check whether your declaration date places you under the old or new consultant application path.

Sources

For clinicians seeking consultation support after EMDR basic training, Paradise Institute offers structured EMDR consultation at a steady pace. If you are pursuing EMDRIA Certification, confirm current requirements directly with EMDRIA and your consultant. Learn more at ParadiseInstitute.com.