What to do After EMDR Basic Training

Written By Carly Costello

You finished Basic Training but now what?

  • Am I officially “EMDR trained”?

  • Can I start doing EMDR with clients?

  • Can I start working towards my full certification?

  • Can I advertise that I’m certified in EMDR?

All of these are great questions and sometimes, even after Basic Training, it can feel a little confusing.

Let me break it down for you because I know that every Basic Training does things a little differently and that’s where the confusion comes in!

You go to Basic Training and during that time you will complete 20 hours of lecture and 20 hours of practicum. Sometimes it’s 5 days in a row, other trainings split it up into part 1 a few days and part 2 the rest of the hours.

So that’s the actual Basic Training part. But, you also need to get 10 hours of consultation…this usually happens with the trainer, the CIT or consultant that “helped” them OR another approved consultant through the Basic Training company.

You might have these 10 hours of consultation scheduled for you and it may feel like it’s wrapped up nicely with your Basic Training in one pretty package. Other times, it’s on YOU to schedule these hours afterwards, and that’s where it can get confusing.

So after you fully completed Basic Training, which includes those 10 hours of consultation…you should receive a certificate of completion that clearly states all of this information.

THEN YOU ARE OFFICIALLY TRAINED IN EMDR! You can practice EMDR with your clients and never choose to get certified.

If you do want to get fully certified in EMDR then you are able to start working towards that after are trained and got your certificate of completion.

Here’s a breakdown of the key rules for the certification requirements (at this time it’s May 2026):

  • 20 hours of consultation

  • at least 10 hours need to be individual

  • minimum 5 hours with an EMDRIA Approved Consultant

  • 15/20 hours can be with a consultant-in-training

  • you need to complete 50 hours of EMDR sessions with at least 25 different clients

Hope this helps clear up any questions you might have.

I know I had these questions but I felt embarrassed to ask because I had completed my EMDR Basic Training so I should know the answers.


Carly Costello https://www.emdrwithcarly.com