Program Standards

Standards for IMTA Accredited Program 200-Hour, Professional Level

The following table outlines the minimum competency areas, contact hours and program components required for accreditation.

Teacher Training Competency Area	Examples	Minimum Contact Hours
Required Contact (Classroom) Hours
Mindfulness Studies	Overview of the mindfulness field History of mindfulness Science of Mindfulness Secularization of mindfulness Complementary practices (eg. cultivation of positive emotions, relational mindfulness, inquiry, working with trauma etc.)	40
Personal Practice Maturation and Development	Ongoing mindfulness practice in group setting with instruction and community support Personal exploration work of relevant issues to mindfulness facilitators such as presence and embodiment, cultivation of confidence	25
Teaching Methodology, Training and Supervision	Community building practices Mentorship and Supervision Feedback and peer support for facilitation practice Group facilitation skills Working with conflict in groups Working with individuals	50
Contemporary Mindfulness Applications	Exploration of practical applications of mindfulness in any of the following areas or related others: Education and youth Academia Workplace/business settings Medicine Psychology/Clinical Applications	10
Cultural Competency	Diversity issues in the mindfulness field Working with diverse populations, cross-cultural issues Professional Ethics for Teachers Accessibility of language, and presentation, removing barriers	20
Professional Development	Bringing mindfulness into institutions Financial issues in mindfulness facilitation as a career path Marketing Creating livelihood Networking	20
Required Non-Contact (Non-Classroom) Hours
Practicum / Field Work	This component requires students to actively facilitate mindfulness in their work or volunteer setting	35
TOTAL REQUIRED HOURS		200
Recommended Additional Non-Contact (Non-Classroom) Hours
Personal Practice Maturation and Development	Personal daily practice 5-day or longer mindfulness meditation retreat with a qualified instructor Attendance in related mindfulness classes	250
Study	Related reading, writing and academic work connected to the program	50
Other Required Components
Requirement	Criteria
Prerequisites for Program-entry	Accepted students should have: A minimum 2 years of regular mindfulness meditation practice Attended at least 1 mindfulness meditation retreat of a minimum of 5 days with a qualified instructor. More than 1 retreat is highly recommended. Attended a mindfulness course like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) or equivalent
Supervising Teachers	Supervising teachers must have a minimum of 10 years of advanced mindfulness experience and personal practice, and 5 years of teaching experience as evidenced by verifiable personal statement on application.
Observation and Feedback Mechanisms	Students teaching skills should be observed live or on video for at least 2×30 minutes and provided feedback in written and verbal form a minimum of two times. (Mid-program and final)
Personal Interaction between student and supervising teacher	Opportunities for personal contact between students and supervising teachers must be available in the form of individual or group teaching or mentoring sessions as demonstrated by program curricula.