Meditation Instructor Certification Program - C.MI.

Common C.MI. Course Questions
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Q. I'm not sure I want to teach meditation. Would C.MI still be beneficial for me?
A. Yes! In fact a good percentage of C.MI students take the course for their own personal development - without an existing goal of teaching. While C.MI. is primarily for those wanting to teach meditation, much of the course is focused on developing your own personal practice - interacting with others in the course, and learning (or re-learning) the issues that are of importance to beginning mindfulness meditation students. The best teachers are usually those who are able to empathize with the needs of beginning and intermediate students - and the C.MI curriculum strives to provide a strong foundation in technique, as well as ample practice opportunities. In this way, the course is highly suitable for both future teachers and dedicated practitioners.

Q. Does the C.MI course focus upon a particular type of meditation practice ?
A. We focus primarily on Mindfulness / Insight Meditation (also known as Vipassana) methods in the C.MI program. Mindfulness meditation methods are extremely practical, straight-forward, and do not require adherence to any particular spiritual belief system. Mindfulness meditation provides a strong vehicle for the continued growth of the instructor / practitioner, - and also allows for a relatively simple classroom instruction format for the beginning instructor.

Beyond its popularity as a personal development tool, Mindfulness Meditation is currently a primary style for teaching meditation in the medical field (patients and physicians), Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction (MBSR), educational institutions (children and adults), corporate wellness settings - and even some high-security prison systems in the USA and worldwide. You've likely seen a great increase in recent years of traditional research showing Mindfulness Meditation to be a highly effective and safe practice. Resources and links to research papers and ongoing studies are provided during the C.MI. course, as they become available.

Note, however, that the course is not a traditional program in the sense that we focus only on one particular tradition or method. C.MI encompasses a wide range of meditation practices (both traditional and more "modern" techniques and practice tools). We also cover a variety of other styles and practices during C.MI as a way to help the student gain a broad basic understanding of the most common meditation practices. We discuss topics and practices such as Guided Meditation, Moving Meditation, Teaching Children, Using Audio-based Meditation tools, etc. New materials and resources are added continuously.

We will also examine the basics of Zen style (Rinzai) under the oversight of Kondou Satoshi of the Kokorono Sato School in Ito, Japan. Zen Meditation topics are covered during the program as a way to help round-out the student's knowledge of meditation styles and history, as well as the variety and uniqueness of the various practice styles. Kokorono Sato has also developed a very successful approach for teaching meditation to children - and we will cover some of the basics of this approach during the C.MI program.

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Q. What is the Practical Requirement for C.MI?
A. C.MI is a 150 contact hour program (15 CEU). C.MI requires 60-documented practice hours (These hours are in addition to 90 coursework contact hours). Students log practice hours using the supplied journal pages, which are then submitted (via the online course campus) for instructor review, feedback, and grading after each 20-hour segment. Students are allowed to log up to 1-practice-hour each day. Practice hours include limited preparation time, sitting time, and limited review and journal entry time. Your practice during the course is designed to coincide with your reading, research, written assignments, and review quizzes, to help encourage a highly effective learning process.

Q. Do I need to submit video documentation of my practice?
A. No. All documentation of your practice time is in written format only (see above), using the official Practice-Journal Submission Forms.

Q. Can I really learn meditation / how to teach meditation online?
A. Yes! Just ask any of our students and graduates. The C.MI. program has been designed with a full and experienced understanding of the challenges of teaching practical skills in an online format. You are not simply left to read a few pages and take a quiz. Instead you are guided along a process of learning, practice, discovery, interaction within our community, as well as feedback, guidance, and validation from your instructor (and Faculty Assistants). During the typical week in C.MI, you will have had the chance to log several hours of practice, apply what you are learning within those sessions, communicate challenges and experiences with our very active global community of C.MI students. Your growing understanding is tested and nurtured by way of various reading and written assignments, quizzes, discussions, etc. - however, you are never left to feel alone in this journey - there are always others close-by (virtually) to offer guidance, support, and encouragement.

Q. What is the tuition for C.MI.?
A. The current tuition for the course is US$595 (when paid in full). Extended in-house tuition plans are also available for students inside and outside the USA. --- U.S. students may now also choose PayPal Financing options. For details, please click one of the PayPal banners on this page.

Students are responsible for purchasing (or borrowing) the two required texts for the course. The approximate cost for these two books (if you purchase them) is about US$12 - $15 each (plus any shipping costs). Many public libraries (in the USA and possibly other countries as well) will also have these two books available to borrow. Both books are also available in Amazon Kindle format - for reading on your computer, tablet, Kindle device, or other mobile device.

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Q. Are there any extra costs besides my tuition and books?
A. No, there are no additional costs related to the course tuition itself. We utilize a new dynamic digital certification system (similar to what many colleges are now using now for their web-based certification programs). The digital system allows for providing proof of your certification and course work for potential students and/or employers - and excellent integration with popular social sites (such as Linked-In, Facebook, and Twitter). A printable version of your certificate is available within your account . The digital cetificate account is now included in your standard course tuition.

Q. How long will the course take from start to finish?
A. Your standard C.MI Tuition includes one-year of course access. Students work through the C.MI. course requirements at their own pace within that one-year period. On average, most students complete the course in about a 6 to 9-month period. The actual time needed will depend on several factors, including: how much time you have available to work through the course material, your familiarity with the subject matter - and the time it takes for you to complete the 60-hour practice component.

Students are expected to complete the course requirements within a 1-year period - or to be making good progress toward completion by that point. If an active student (one working at a reasonably steady pace) finds they need a bit more time to complete the program requirements, that is usually fine -- provided the student contacts the C.MI Administration Office to request a short extension by the 10th month after original registration. Additional terms may apply - including specific details for inactive students. Please see below for details.

Q. What's the fastest I can complete the course?
A. C.MI is not designed to be completed too quickly. The course has a built-in "speed-limit" of approximately 5-months - which is about the shortest practical time-period in which one could complete all required course work (and practice time), while working at a very steady pace - and allowing sufficient time for study and practice, as well as assignment / journal review and grading.

Q. Once I complete the C.MI requirements, do I need to be re-certified at some future date?
A. No, not at the present time. All past and current graduates of the standard C.MI program receive lifetime certification. This may change at some point, but those that register prior to that change will not be required to re-certify.

Q. Do students automatically receive certification upon successful completion of the course?
A. Yes, provided that all course work has been completed satisfactorily, according to our stated guidelines. C.MI has been designed to be challenging. It is presented as a college-level course that includes required reading, written assignments, sectional quizzes, a final exam - and a 60-hour documented (and reviewed) meditation practice component. Students must successfully complete all course work, written assignments, quizzes and the final exam with a passing score of 75% or higher to earn certification.

Q. Is certification required to teach meditation?
A. Private instructors may be able to teach in some locations and situations without certification. However, training centers, organizations and meditation students themselves have come to expect that their instructors have sufficient background and certification (that often includes documented and reviewed practice) such as the C.MI certificate. In the USA, some states may require certification as a basic requirement for operating your business or acquiring insurance. Please note that the guidelines are different throughout the US and around the world.

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Q. I've seen some meditation certificate programs with much lower (or much higher) tuition cost. What's the difference?
A. There are some low-cost - and also some much more costly - online certificate courses out there that issue certification with a questionable amount of work required - and in many cases, NO documented, instructor-reviewed and graded practice required. Be sure to choose a program, like C.MI™, that will help your personal meditation practice develop over time - as this must come first before one can effectively teach others. Meditation is not an intellectual pursuit - it is a practical exercise that helps us to build greater skill and awareness over time.

The C.MI program is one of a very few meditation certification courses that includes substantial graded course work, exams, ongoing student / faculty group communication - plus an additional 60-hours of documented, reviewed and graded practice. C.MI is an IAMI Course Provider (International Association of Meditation Instructors). C.MI Graduates are eligible for a discounted rate on their IAMI Level-2 Instructor membership - Visit the IAMI for more details (link opens in a new window).

The C.MI. program is managed by a team (BBI) with substantial experience in developing interactive online education programs. The C.MI. campus is a dynamic private campus system that allows for interaction and learning with fellow students located all around the world.

Q. Can I enroll in a resident program for this course, or complete it by mail correspondence?
A. C.MI is available only in this online program format. It has proven to be an excellent way for students to learn and practice.

Q. Who is the C.MI Course Instructor?
A. The C.MI Course Instructor is Stephen Rinaldi, D.MT. He is an experienced meditation teacher-training facilitator, with more than 25 years of developing web-based educational, teacher-training, and online mindfulness meditation study programs. Read more details here.

Q. Do other schools offer this same C.MI program?
A. This specific C.MI curriculum is only available under the instruction of course Director, Stephen Rinaldi. UHT is the primary certifying body for this course, along with affiliations with other organizations, such as the IAMI, and others - as expressly noted (either now, or at a future date) from this C.MI. web site: MeditationInstructor.Org.

Q. How long has the C.MI Program been running?
A. 2024 will be our 15th year! That's 15-years of course development, insightful forum posts and engaging discussions - supplemental materials, media, and more. There are few, if any, other web-based meditation instructor programs that can match the dynamic format, global reach, and maturity of the C.MI Course design. We invite you to enroll today and discover for yourself.

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Q. Is the C.MI course open to people of all spiritual paths and / or religious beliefs?
A. Yes, absolutely. While the practice of mindfulness meditation developed for the most part in Eastern (Asian) traditions, meditation itself belongs to all people - regardless of the spiritual path you follow. We neither force, nor promote our personal spiritual beliefs during the course. Keep in mind, however, that many of the philosophical references provided during the program will necessarily come from Eastern tradition, as the great majority of historical knowledge around the topic of meditation practice comes from that source.

Q. Are there any prerequisites for enrollment?
A. The C.MI Certificate program is open to everyone (18 or older) worldwide. All enrollees should hold a High School Diploma, or the equivalent in their country - however, that is not a rigid requirement. The course is currently provided in English-only. Due to the online nature of the program, all participants must have access to a computer connected to the Internet.

Participants should possess a sufficient reading and writing level. The course is organized similar to any college-level course in that it includes graded writing assignments of 4 - 5 pages in length, along with some fairly complex reading material. The C.MI program has been designed to be intensive, practical, challenging, motivational, and highly thought-provoking - but, not overly academic. Overall, we want your experience with C.MI to provide you with highly practical knowledge and skills you can use to expand your personal practice and help instruct others to do the same.

Q) Is CEU credit available for the C.MI course?

A) For those seeking CEU (Continuing Education Units) credit for their C.MI. course work, note that we have organized the course outline in accordance with accepted CEU standards (i.e., IACET Standards). At the time of this writing, we estimate the course to qualify for approximately 150-hours of contact-time (all course work, including documented practice time). With each 10-hour period equaling 1 CEU, graduates of the C.MI program are eligible for approximately 13 - 15 CEU's for completion of the course. Again, this is only an estimate at this time - and subject to change. If you require a specialized CEU (for continuing education, transfer credit, licensing, etc.), please make sure to contact the receiving party for their requirements. More details will be provided on this web site as they become available.

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Q) What is the refund and/or withdrawal policy for the C.MI course?
A) Upon receipt of your tuition payment and course registration, you are considered to be officially enrolled in the program. For those who have paid their tuition in full --- should you decide to withdraw from the program within the first two (2) days of your tuition payment, a full refund will be given, less a $50.00 administration fee. Withdrawals between 3 and 7 days will receive a 75% refund, less a $50 administration fee. Withdrawals between 7 and 14-days receive a 50% refund, less the $50 administration fee. After that point, no refunds will be given. No refunds are given (from our office) for any course books purchased through third-party vendors.

Those paying their tuition using one of our Extended Tuition Plan Options will have separate withdrawal policy terms. Please visit the Tuition Options page for details.

Q) What is the reinstatement policy if I become inactive with the C.MI Course?
A) Generally, students are expected to show steady progress - and complete the course within the standard one-year period.

Limited extensions beyond one-year are often approved for those students who submit a request in writing, provided that the student has been submitting course work - accessing the course campus regularly - and is moving toward completion of the program within 30 days of their one-year course period.

We know that life can sometimes get in the way of even the best plans, however - and we're here to help you get back on track with your study and practice if you've been away from the course for a while.

Inactive students (up to 3 years inactive) may come back into the course by submitting the standard Reinstatement Fee of US$125. Your reinstatement is active for another one-year period - and the student must either complete the course successfully during that period -- or, if needed, another one-year extension / reinstatement may be purchased to extend your course time.

For those who have been inactive for 3 to 5 years, the reinstatement fee is US$175.

If you have been inactive for more than 5 years (or have withdrawn from the course in the past and wish to return, please contact the C.MI Admin Office to discuss your options: cmi@meditationinstructor.org

Q. I am from outside of the USA. Will that be a problem?
A. Absolutely not. We welcome students from all over the world. All that is required is an Internet connection - and the ability to take a college-level class online in English. As of this writing, C.MI. has welcomed students from more than 47 countries!

Q. Do I need any special computers skills or software to take part in the course?
A. There is not much required beyond the basics. Students should have at least a basic familiarity with using the Internet. The online campus is very straightforward - and can be accessed in much the same way you'd access most social network web sites. Upon enrollment, you'll be issued a private username and password - and once inside the campus site, you'll be able to access your student profile, and course resources, materials, forums, etc.

The course campus is accessible via computer, tablet, and most modern mobile devices. Ideally, you will use a standard computer (desktop / laptop) to type your course work and/or post to the course discussion forums. If you use a tablet, a separate keyboard is strongly suggested for typing. While you can access the campus using a smaller mobile phone, the text will likely be quite small - so, we don't recommend using a phone as your primary method - although it can be handy for the occasional check-in.

As for software --- You'll just need a common word processing software to complete your written assignments and practice journals. We rely primarily on Microsoft Word -or- Apache Open Office Writer (the assignment templates are provided in those two formats). However, there is no need to purchase software. If you do not have Microsoft Word available to you, Open Office Writer is available free (and is an excellent software program as well). A PDF document reader software is also required for reading many of the supplementary handouts and course guides. Most computers (and mobile devices) today will include Adobe Reader or similar - so, it is very likely you'll already have what's needed. The reader software is also available as a free download if needed. More details are provided in the orientation e-mail you'll receive after registration (and within the C.MI Campus, as well).

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** The Online Campus System (and this C.MI. Certificate Program) is managed for UHT by BBI - a full-service inter-cultural communications company specializing in online education and training, educational TV / film production and inter-cultural consulting. For More Information visit: www.bbiworld.com

University of Holistic Theology (UHT) is approved as Religious-Exempt by the Commission for Independent Education, Independent Colleges and Universities, Non-Secular Division, Florida Department of Education.

The institution offers only educational programs that prepare students for religious vocations as ministers, professionals, or laypersons in the categories of ministry, counseling, theology, education, administration, music, fine arts, media communications, or social work. ( Florida Statute 1005(1)(f)(2).

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