Frequently Asked Questions
Organizational
The International Mindfulness Teachers Association (IMTA), a registered US non-profit 501(c)(3), is a global organization dedicated to the professionalization and standardization of the mindfulness field. The IMTA develops and maintains program and teacher standards, fosters an international community of mindfulness teachers, and offers two credentialing tracks – one for mindfulness teacher training programs to become accredited, and the other for individual mindfulness teachers to become certified.
IMTA’s mission is to provide guidelines and to oversee national and international mindfulness teacher education and training standards to ensure teaching and education programs continue to meet a level of depth and rigor needed to serve students and clients at the highest level and standardize the mindfulness teaching profession.
IMTA’s vision is to be the lead guiding professional association for the mindfulness field. IMTA strives to become a central place where the general public can come to identify high-quality, accredited training programs and institutions, as well as nationally and internationally credentialed and certified mindfulness teachers.
There is a great need in the mindfulness field for standards and professionalization that will serve both mindfulness teacher training providers, mindfulness teachers, and the general public. Previously, individuals would become mindfulness teachers with or without the appropriate training and deliver programs without any standards or oversight. These challenges impact the entire profession: high-quality instructors have challenges distinguishing themselves from others within the field; organizations, institutions, and individuals looking to hire mindfulness teachers cannot immediately assess a teacher’s qualifications to staff their programs; students looking to become teachers cannot easily distinguish between desired and undesirable education programs. IMTA solves these problems by establishing and maintaining a recognized set of global professional standards and a certification and accreditation framework to verify high-quality training centers and teachers.
IMTA collaborates with our growing community to establish standards that bring rigor and clarity to the field and will help legitimize mindfulness teachers in the workforce. We are bringing mindfulness further into the mainstream and ensuring our profession is a field worthy of dignity and respect. We facilitate pathways to greater professional acceptance and promote mindfulness as a service that should be accepted by health care providers and covered through insurance programs. We build community among members and provide continued professional development and education to support and encourage excellence.
IMTA offers two credentialing tracks for mindfulness practitioners: (1) an accreditation track for educational organizations and mindfulness training centers and (2) a professional certification track for individual teachers.
IMTA also has a membership program that provides our members with professional status, recognition, affiliation, and discounts on certification and accreditation fees as well as other programs and services. IMTA is also planning on developing robust professional development resources such as our informational newsletter, continuing education webinars, an annual Mindfulness Teacher Conference and a job board.
Although we offer two different major lines of service they operate independently. You can be a member of IMTA without pursuing your certification, and you can hold your certification and not be a member of IMTA. We encourage you to consider taking advantage of both options to get the full benefit of our IMTA programs and services.
IMTA was formed to meet the growing need and demand for professionalization in the mindfulness field. The IMTA is not rooted in any individual training philosophy, rather best practices gathered from a careful examination of a wide range of international mindfulness professional programs.
IMTA is a Delaware Corporation with a 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Governed by a board of directors, the organization hosts a Credentialing Committee and Advisory Board. IMTA plans to add international chapters to offer local support to practioners.
IMTA’s founding board members are Phillip Moffitt, Dawa Tarchin Phillips and Diana Winston. Dawa Tarchin Phillips is also the current acting President of IMTA. Phillip Moffit’s term has expired. Limited to 12 members, IMTA will be selecting additional board members from its existing members and representatives of member organizations in the near future.
Also, the IMTA’s substantial Advisory Board of leading figures in the mindfulness field provide support and direction, including Mirabai Bush, and Sharon Salzberg, among others. Visit the Advisory Board for a full directory of IMTA’s advisors.
Prospective members of the IMTA include operators of mindfulness teacher training programs, mindfulness teachers, and students who are currently enrolled in a teacher training program. IMTA is dedicated to building a community that is diverse and inclusive and we invite mindfulness teachers from all around the world to join. As mindfulness teachers you are all unique and we welcome the sharing of ideas, knowledge, and wisdom within our growing community of practitioners.
IMTA standards serve as important international guidelines and benchmarks, as they represent generally accepted best practices needed for an individual or center to become mature and effective mindfulness leaders. However, we realize different countries may have different needs and we want to engage in open dialogue with organizations who are seeking accreditation to ensure we are implementing standards that are culturally relevant. We want to collaborate with interested institutions worldwide to ensure our standards are respectful of and can be adapted when necessary to better serve practitioners in particular cultural settings.
Operators of mindfulness teacher training programs, individual mindfulness teachers, students who are training to be mindfulness practitioners, and the general public.
The money we receive from the dues and fees we charge for membership, certification, and accreditation programs goes toward member support and administering our credentialing and accreditation processes. We also use financial contributions to support our infrastructure and overhead such as maintaining our databases, online directories, marketing and communications, and our professional staff.
General
Mindfulness is the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of focused, open or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.
Currently none which is why IMTA has been formed. We intend our certification to fill that gap.
The IMTA certification track verifies high quality, professional teachers, and furthers the ongoing success of innovative and established training programs in this field. Using IMTA’s online certified teacher directory, private individuals and organizations can easily find and hire qualified mindfulness teachers.
Receiving mindfulness teacher training from an IMTA Accredited Center assures the participant that both the curriculum and the faculty have in-depth knowledge and advanced expertise in currently accepted best practices in the mindfulness field.
Once you’ve completed a mindfulness training program and get certified, you have the ability to teach mindfulness in any setting you desire. You can teach in person, online, or a combination of both. You can join an organization that is looking for qualified mindfulness teachers or start your own mindfulness teaching practice, business, or organization. As you gain more experience and expand your network, you may benefit from the opportunities such as public speaking or sharing your research and wisdom through your online content, podcasts, or books.
Yes. Emails you receive from the Accredible system are from us. Accredible is our third-party provider and they issue membership and certification badges and certificates for you to download and share at your convenience. You are automatically given your own account on the Accredible system that uses a separate login. Your IMTA login will not work on the Accredible system. If you need instructions you can let IMTA staff know and we will send an automated email from your Accredible account that should help you.
There are always questions we may not have thought of, and you are free to reach out to us through our contact form and we will reply to you as soon as we can.
Membership
The value of membership in IMTA comes from affiliation with and access to a growing community of international mindfulness practitioners, continuing education, our informational newsletter, membership discounts on certification application and renewal fees and access to special offers on tool, products, and services to enhance your practice.
IMTA is the professional home for people who are dedicated to bringing mindfulness and compassion into our globalized society. Members are individual mindfulness teachers and organizations that offer mindfulness teacher training programs. The IMTA community also benefits from the guidance provided by the IMTA Board of Directors – Phillip Moffitt, Dawa Tarchin Phillips and Diana Winston and the organization’s Advisory Board of world-renowned mindfulness experts including Mirabai Bush, and Sharon Salzberg.
Membership is made up of Individuals and Organizations:
- Individual Membership – $100 annually
- Student Membership – $25 annually
- Organizational Membership – $800 annually
Individual Membership Dues – $100 annually
Student Membership Dues – $25 annually
Organizational Membership Dues – $800 annually
An individual or organization joins by filling out our online application and submitting the requested information and fees. All membership applications are reviewed and approved by our IMTA committees who are comprised of volunteer leaders who are recognized professionals in the mindfulness field. Once you are approved, you will have full access to our services.
IMTA offers a member’s only directory on our website and peer network support. In the near future, IMTA will launch additional member resources such as continuing education, access to insurance, and publication opportunities. IMTA also envisions hosting an annual Mindfulness Teacher Conference.
No. Membership gives you the opportunity to obtain a discount on your application and renewal fees, but is not a requirement. What membership confers is the ability to take your career to the next level through the networking and professional development opportunities IMTA provides.
Members are mindfulness teachers, students, or organizations who want to be a part of the larger IMTA community and gain access to specific member benefits and discounts. They are listed in our private members-only directory on our website.
Accredited Centers and Certified Mindfulness Teachers are those organizations and individuals who have completed their accreditation and certification application process and who have been determined as having met the professional standards set by IMTA. Once approved, their credentials are conferred to them and they are listed in our online public directories.
Certification
Currently IMTA offers the 200-hour IMTA Certified Mindfulness Teacher, Professional Level (CMT-P) certification. This certificate is considered “Provisional” at this time. Our volunteer Credentialing Committee is working on the development of a psychometrically valid assessment exam. Once launched, all CMT-P holders will have one year to take and pass the exam. Upon passing, the “Provisional” designation will drop.
Eligibility and competency requirements for the IMTA teacher certification track are available here. The IMTA Credentialing Committee will determine if the professional’s application materials meet the eligibility and competency requirements for the 200-hour IMTA Certified Mindfulness Teacher, Professional Level. Mindfulness teachers who have graduated from an IMTA accredited training program are fast-tracked.
As of August 2024, application review fees of $50 are included in the $400 initial payment ($150 for Individual Members). After approval, the CMT-P will renew every three years at $400 for non-members, $150 for Individual Members.
If you receive the member discount, you must also maintain your membership status by paying the annual individual membership dues of $100 otherwise the full fee of $400 will be charged on your next renewal.
You will receive an automatic notification from our membership system as well as our third-party badge host service Accredible with instructions on how to login (they have a separate login), download, and share your digital credentials on social media channels.
You will also be authorized to begin to use our professional designation and will be placed in our public online certified teacher directory hosted by Accredible.
Your fees will be refunded minus the $50 application review fee.
If you receive the CMT-P credential, you may use it for three years before you will be required to renew. Renewal fees are $400 for non-members, $150 for members.
Yes, the IMTA’s Credentialing Committee is made up of IMTA’s Board of Directors, assisted by the organization’s administrative team.
The first step is to review the teacher competencies, and requirements to become an IMTA Certified Mindfulness Teacher. If you believe you meet the criteria, please fill out the online application, submit your supporting documentation, and pay the fee. The IMTA Credentialing staff will determine if the professional’s application materials meet eligibility requirements and will notify participants of their application status within 45 days.
IMTA Certified Mindfulness Teachers can use the associated digital seal or downloadable PDF for their websites and promotional literature. They can designate themselves as an “IMTA Certified Mindfulness Teacher” or use the acronym CMT-P on email signature lines, stationary, or business cards.
It depends and can vary depending on the specifics of each application, but on average you can expect a final determination within 45 days barring any unusual circumstances. Because our Credentialing Committee is comprised of volunteers, you may experience delays around major holidays.
No. We recognize there are many high-quality programs training qualified mindfulness teachers around the world that have not yet begun the ITMA accreditation process. Although we do fast-track graduates from IMTA Accredited Centers, we are also committed to offering an alternative pathway to individuals who have graduated from other in-depth teacher training programs to achieve their IMTA certification.
We’d love to hear from you and about your advanced professional background in teaching mindfulness and mindfulness-based practices, and look forward to working with you and welcoming you to the community. When you apply for certification, please select the “Alternate Pathway” option under the “Teacher Training Program” options on your application. Then proceed by sharing your background and experience.
No. As a third-party accreditor this would constitute a conflict of interest for us. We may offer IMTA professional development opportunities that may go toward meeting hours requirements for certification renewal, but those will be on a case-by-case basis.
No. Except for IMTA Accredited Centers there are simply too many programs for us to evaluate on an individual basis and offer a guarantee of acceptance. However, if you enroll in a program that fits the certification criteria you have a good chance of meeting the standard and having your application approved.
IMTA recognizes that more programs, especially since the global pandemic, are offering online programs. We support innovation in the delivery of learning and educational content. We do accept online programs with one caveat – training must have live session components on a service such as Skype, Zoom or other video/audio conferencing platform to ensure synchronous student-teacher interaction. Simply reviewing pre-recorded video or audio content will not be sufficient to meet our certification criteria.
Accreditation
For educational, institutional, and organizational teacher training programs, the IMTA offers the 200-hour Accredited Mindfulness Teacher Training Program, Professional Level credential.
The Credentialing Committee has standardized the tracks and oversees the growth of accredited, rigorous, well-designed, and impactful programs that will guide the development of a new generation of certified mindfulness facilitators, trainers, and teachers. For eligibility and competency requirements for IMTA Accredited Mindfulness Teacher Training Programs, click here.
An accredited organizational program can designate itself as an “IMTA Accredited Mindfulness Teacher Training Program” or AMTTP-P. They will also be given an associated seal to use on their websites, social media platforms, stationary, and promotional literature.
The IMTA has a Credentialing Committee that serves as its accreditation and certification review board. Currently, the IMTA’s Credentialing Committee consists of the IMTA’s directors, assisted by the IMTA’s administrative team.
The first step is to review the accreditation requirements. If you believe your program meets the requirements, please fill out an application and submit your application materials together with the application-processing fee of $500. Upon submission, the Credentialing Committee will review your application, and IMTA will notify recipients of their application status within 45 days. If your program is accepted, you will be invoiced for the full accreditation fee of $3,250 ($1,250 for Organizational Members). Subsequently, your program will be published in the public online directory of IMTA Accredited Mindfulness Teacher Training Programs.
The initial application review fee is $500, payable at the time of submitting your application.
If approved, we will send an invoice for the accreditation fee of $3,250 ($1,250 for Organizational Members with the member discount).
Once you become accredited, you must renew your accreditation every two years and pay a renewal fee of $3,250 ($1,250 for Organizational Members with the member discount) to retain your accreditation status.
If you receive the Organizational Member discount, you must also maintain your membership status by paying the annual organizational membership fee of $800 otherwise the full fee will be charged on your next renewal.
No. Membership gives you the opportunity to obtain a discount on your application and renewal fees, but is not a requirement.
However, membership does offer you additional benefits such as opportunities to network, access information, and attend events at a discounted rate.