Curriculum
The MBSR teacher training pathway involves coursework along with personal practice and progressively more advanced teaching practice.
MBSR Teacher Certification Pathway
Brown University's Certificate in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teaching is a sequential, three-step training pathway of six courses and one final review. Included in these three steps are silent retreats and teaching requirements that are necessary to complete the training.
We encourage all participants to take the full pathway with our program and faculty, however, we understand you may have already started the pathway with another provider. Brown University will recognize and accept from another school and/or provider the MBSR Foundations course only. As of June 1, 2022, we no longer accept any courses as transfer other than MBSR Foundations. If you have taken MBSR Foundations with another provider you will be asked to indicate the course details when registering for the Teacher Advancement Intensive.
Training Pathway at a Glance
View the infographics to understand your training options, from Mindfulness Facilitator to Certified MBSR Teacher.
The prerequisites* to begin MBSR teacher training involve both formal learning and personal practice experiences and are outlined below.
Prerequisites:
- Maintain a personal meditation practice of at least two years (less experience may be considered)
Graduate Degree or Equivalent Experience
While a graduate degree in fields such as healthcare, education, psychology, medicine, or business is preferred, applicants may also meet this requirement by demonstrating equivalent professional, community, or life experience. This could include:- Leadership roles in work or volunteer settings
- Managing a family or household
- Completion of relevant trainings, such as yoga teacher certification
Most applicants are able to demonstrate equivalency without issue, and many find the process brings unexpected confidence, clarity, and insight into their learning path.
If you do not hold a graduate degree, you’ll be invited to submit a Graduate Degree Equivalency Statement as part of your application.
- Yoga or other contemplative movement practice experience
- Attendance at an 8-week MBSR course
- It is important to take this MBSR course before deciding to be an MBSR teacher and before beginning the training so that you make a more informed decision that requires a major commitment and can experience the program fully as a participant. You will then take a second 8-week MBSR course as part of MBSR Foundations. The second time around, you will be invited to participate fully in the classes, and you will also be invited to observe what is happening in the classes. The weekly MBSR class becomes a key part of each Foundations seminar as you have an opportunity to unpack the program with your classmates and the instructor.
- Attendance at your first qualifying silent, teacher-led meditation retreat. You may complete either a one 5-7 day retreat or two 3-day retreats.
*Please note, Brown University offers the prerequisite MBSR course. More information about retreats can be found here.
**These requirements are not included in the MBSR Certificate fee, and may incur an additional cost.
The first step in the certificate explores the very personal nature of mindfulness practice and students begin to cultivate skills for the classroom and private practice.
Level 1 Requirements:
- MBSR Foundations and Facilitator Training
- Upon completion of this course, you'll earn the Mindfulness Facilitator credential, qualifying you to teach introductory mindfulness sessions and workshops in a variety of settings, including the workplace and in the broader community.
- Teach three introductory sessions
- Attend your second qualifying retreat** You may complete either one 5-7 day retreat or two 3-day retreats.
- MBSR Teacher Advancement Intensive
Upon completion of Level 1 requirements, you are qualified to teach the 8-week MBSR program.
**These requirements are not included in the MBSR Certificate fee and may incur an additional cost.
During this step of the certificate, students strengthen their teaching skills and focus their practice. It is highly-recommended students teach one 8-week MBSR program before enrolling in Curriculum Study Group and Skill Building Workshop.
Level 2 Requirements:
Completing the Certificate represents a culmination of formal training programs, teaching, as well as one's personal meditation and retreat experience.
Certification Requirements:
Ethos of Mindfulness-Based Programs (MBPs)* – offered as two six-week hybrid courses:
- Dialogue and Inquiry for Mindfulness-Based Programs*
- Attend your third and fourth qualifying retreats** You may complete either one 5-7 day retreat or two 3-day retreats. Note that the Insight Inside Us retreat is required as one of the four total retreats.
- Successfully completed teaching a total of six (6) 8-week MBSR programs
- MBSR Teacher Certification Review
*May be taken anytime after completion of MBSR Foundations and Facilitator Training.
**These requirements are not included in the MBSR Certificate fee, and may incur an additional cost.
What You Will Learn
As a global leader in MBSR teacher training, the Mindfulness Center at Brown through the School of Professional Studies offers an experiential and didactic education. In the certificate program, as an MBSR teacher-trainee, you can:
- Apply the training to enhance your mindfulness practice
- Cultivate skills to guide meditation practices and group learning
- Use the only researched rubric available for assessing mindfulness-based teaching effectiveness
- Ground yourself in the science of mindfulness
- Understand the underlying principles of trauma-sensitivity, inclusion, and diversity
- Develop the skills necessary to guide MBSR mindfulness practices for clients, patients, or students