Choosing an EMDR basic training is one of the bigger professional decisions a therapist makes. It shapes how you will practice EMDR for years, whether you feel confident using it with real clients, and whether the credential actually counts toward EMDRIA certification later. Not all trainings are equal, and the differences are not always obvious from a sales page.
Here are seven questions worth asking before you register for any program, ours included.
1. Is the training actually EMDRIA-approved?
This is the non-negotiable. If a basic training is not approved by EMDRIA (the EMDR International Association), it will not count toward EMDRIA certification, and many employers and referral networks will not recognize it. Plenty of short “EMDR-informed” workshops exist that do not meet the standard. Ask directly, and verify the provider on EMDRIA’s website. PTI’s 6-Day Basic Training is EMDRIA-approved, and we encourage you to confirm that with EMDRIA yourself.
2. Who is teaching, and will you actually get access to them?
Some large trainings put hundreds of clinicians in a room with a rotating cast of presenters. Ask who the trainer is, what their clinical background looks like, and whether you will be able to ask questions about your own cases. A training led by someone who still thinks like a clinician, not just a presenter, changes what you take home.
3. How is the training structured?
EMDR basic training is a marathon, not a weekend certificate. PTI’s program runs 6 days, split into two 3-day parts, so you have time between parts to absorb the material and begin practicing. Ask any provider how their days are structured, how much is lecture versus practice, and whether the schedule is realistic alongside a caseload. We offer both virtual cohorts and in-person events.
4. How much supervised practicum time will you get?
You do not learn EMDR by watching slides. You learn it by doing it, in small practice groups, with someone experienced watching and giving feedback. Ask how many practicum hours are included, how large the practice groups are, and who supervises them. This is where confidence with real clients is actually built.
5. How is the required consultation handled?
EMDRIA requires consultation as part of basic training, not as an optional add-on. Ask whether consultation hours are included in the price, how they are scheduled, and who provides them. Programs vary widely here, and it is a common place for hidden costs to appear.
6. What happens after the training ends?
The weeks after basic training are where most new EMDR therapists wobble. Ask what support exists once the 6 days are over. PTI trainees keep access to course materials and can return through our Basic Training Refresher, our consultation offerings, and a community of clinicians trained in the same model. A training that ends at graduation leaves you alone exactly when you need backup.
7. What CE credits come with it?
Basic training is a large investment of hours, and those hours should count. PTI’s 6-Day Basic Training carries 40 CE credit hours. Check the course page for the current accreditation details, and confirm acceptance with your own licensing board, since regulatory boards are the final authority on what they accept.
What this looks like at PTI
Our 6-Day Basic Training teaches the standard EMDR protocol along with the S.A.F.E. Approach (Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR), developed by PTI founder Deb Kennard. You leave with the full EMDRIA-required curriculum plus a framework for the clients who do not fit neatly into the standard protocol, which in real practice is most of them.
Two practical notes if you are comparing dates: registering at least 30 days early saves $100, and groups of 4 or more save $200 per person (the two discounts stack). You can see every upcoming cohort, with trainer information, on our training calendar.
Go deeper before you decide
If you want a feel for how we teach before committing, join a free monthly webinar and hear the approach directly.
👉 Sign up for our next free EMDR webinar
👉 View 6-Day Basic Training dates and register
👉 Access the Pathways CE Library