Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies
Application Process & Policies
The Naropa University Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies is designed for advanced professionals working in related therapeutic areas such as mental health counseling, medicine, chaplaincy, social work and other licensed practice areas.
- Applicants must hold an active license or registration in a counseling/psychotherapy field; a nursing or medical degree; or chaplaincy certification (BCCI); Licenses or certifications include: LSW/LCSW; LPC/LPCC; PhD psychologists; LMFT; MD; DO; Acupuncturists (LAc); DC; ND; PA; RN; NP; PsyD.; BCCI, and others.
OR
- Applicants must be in a post-doctorate, postgraduate internship, residency program, or have completed one unit of ACPE-Certified Clinical Pastoral Education by the time the program begins in May.
- Applicants currently enrolled in the final year of a relevant graduate degree program with a clinical internship may be considered.
- Federally recognized tribal enrolled Native Americans, First Nations, and Indigenous lineage carriers who can provide a letter of recommendation from an elder in their community, are encouraged to apply, regardless of clinical licensure.
Naropa University especially encourages practitioners from historically underrepresented groups to apply and offers financial assistance as described below. Scholarships are awarded as part of Naropa’s commitment to helping promote diversity, equity, and access in the emerging field of psychedelic studies.
Please know that because Naropa assesses many factors in determining eligibility, it is difficult to determine in advance whether or not a prospective participant will be competitive for the program without a full application review. In general, trainees must be certified or licensed in their fields (or on the path to licensure or certification). Due to the high volume of requests, we are unable to provide an advance review of credentials for eligibility.Â
Live Info Sessions
Join us live online to ask questions and learn more about our 2025 Certificate program!
Live Info Sessions will be available in January
Certificate
Info Sessions
Thurs, January 18th, 2024,
Recording Now Available
With Sara Lewis, Ph.D, LCSW & Audra Barber, MA
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Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Info Sessions
Weds, January 31st, 2024,
5:00 – 6:00 pm MTÂ
With Victor Cabral, LSW & Syre Saniyah, Ph.D
Key Program Dates
Applications Open: Jan 6, 2025
Application Deadline: Feb 10, 2025
Admissions Status: Opens Jan 6, 2025
Program Start: May 2025
Opening Retreat: May 14-18, 2025, Naropa University, Boulder, CO
Practicum Experientials: Oregon & Colorado
Program Ends: December 2025
Live Info Sessions
Join us live online to ask questions and learn more about our 2025 Certificate program!
Live Info Sessions will be available in January
Key Program Dates
Applications Open: Jan 6, 2025
Application Deadline: Feb 10, 2025
Admissions Status: Opens Jan 6, 2025
Program Start: May 2025
Opening Retreat: May 14-18, 2025, Naropa University, Boulder, CO
Practicum Experientials: Oregon & Colorado
Program Ends: December 2025
Application Process
Applications for the 2025 certificate program will be accepted through an online form beginning January 6, 2025. The deadline for applications is February 10, 2025.
A $35 non-refundable application fee is required. NCPS recognizes that the costs associated with training can present economic barriers to access, and strives to offer significant scholarship opportunities. If the application fee poses a barrier to access for you, please contact us to make alternative arrangements.
Applicants will be asked to submit the following as part of the application process:Â
- Education and licensure
- Licensing board(s) and license/registration number where applicable
- Total number of years of licensed care provided
- Brief description of experience working with trauma and/or PTSD
- Brief description of current treatment population, including the extent of service to marginalized communities (if any)
- Interest and inspiration for working with Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies
- Contemplative practice experience
- Brief description of strengths and growth edges as related to this program
- A 3-minute video submission
- Scholarship essay for eligible/interested applicants
Financial Assistance
Scholarships for Diverse, Historically Excluded, Underrepresented Groups
With generous support from donors, partner organizations, and related charitable initiatives, we offer various types of financial assistance, including Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Scholarships, as well as support for specific program aspects, such as select Apprenticeship Training Retreats, in an effort to support program access for a diverse and dynamic cohort.
Naropa believes that psychedelic therapy may be a tool to support a just and equitable future. We recognize the need to support the training of psychedelic-assisted therapists from historically underrepresented groups to facilitate this vision. Historically-underrepresented groups include but are not limited to People of the Global Majority, LGBTQIA+, military service members and veterans, persons with disabilities, those experiencing economic marginalization with demonstrated financial need, and those with related experience.
Members of historically underrepresented groups and those with related experience are especially encouraged to apply for JEDI scholarships, however, an applicant’s gender identity, race and/or national origin will not be a determining factor in the selection process:
Native American, Indigenous, and First Nations People
A limited number of full regular-tuition scholarships are available, with preference given to federally-recognized tribally enrolled members Native American, Indigenous, and/or First Nations individuals. Applicants are invited to submit a letter of support from an elder or tribal community member for consideration.
People of the Global Majority (PGM)
People who identify as a Person of the Global Majority including those of Indigenous, African, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Latine, Southwest Asia and North Africa/Middle Eastern and North African (SWANA/MENA), and other multiracial descent.
LGBTQIA+Â
People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, two spirit, as well as others under the queer spectrum and/or those marginalized due to their gender and/or expression. People who identify as trans are especially encouraged to apply.
Military Service/Veterans
Active military service members, including Reserves, and military veterans.
People with Disabilities, Chronic Illness, and/or Neurodivergence
People affected by or living with disabilities, chronic illness, and/or neurodivergence. Describe your qualifications for services or protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or if you otherwise identify as an individual with disabilities.
Socioeconomic Accessibility
People whose self-reported income is in the lowest income bracket and experience economic marginalization. We are aware that multiple considerations can impact socioeconomic accessibility, including household size and number of dependents, expendable income, access to generational wealth, and debt to income ratio.
Continuing Education
In all previous years, the certificate program was approved to offer 40 hours of CE credits for certain credentials through the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA). Every effort will be made to offer the same to the 2025 cohort. CE credits for eligible credentials are included in the cost of program tuition.
Information on Continuing Education Credit for Health Professionals:Â
- CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.Â
- The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.Â
- LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.Â
- SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their Certificate of Attendance for 4 years after the course concludes.
For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance, contact psychedelicstudies@naropa.edu. For questions about CE, contact Spiritual Competency Academy at info@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com.
Payment & Withdrawal Policies
Certificate Program Tuition Cost: $10,000
Retreat Costs
Program Tuition includes all course content conducted during each of the required in-person program retreats. Travel costs and accommodation for these retreats are not included in the certificate program tuition.
Opening Retreat: Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and lodging in the Boulder area. Naropa will provide on-site breakfast, catered lunch and refreshments, as well as basic travel information and resources for finding accommodation.
Practicum Experiential(s): Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and lodging in the Boulder area. Those wishing to participate in Psilocybin Practicum may do so by choosing Psilocybin Practicum for an additional cost ($1,500 expected), in consideration of the longer practicum length necessary to fulfill psilocybin facilitator requirements.
Confirming Enrollment
Once an applicant is offered admission to the 2025 CPAT program, an initial tuition payment is due by March 30, 2025. This first payment will be no more than $1,250 of the total tuition cost, with the specific amount determined by any financial assistance awarded. Following the initial tuition payment, remaining tuition will be paid in seven monthly installments equivalent to the first payment.
Total Estimated Costs for Program Participation
Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies Tuition – $10,000
Opening Retreat – May 14-18, 2025 (4 nights minimum) – budget $150-$250/night for Boulder area lodging, plus travel and evening meals
Practicum Experiential – Various Dates TBD (3 nights minimum for Ketamine Practicum) – budget $150-$250/night for Boulder area lodging, plus travel and evening meals. Those wishing to participate in Psilocybin Practicum may do so by choosing Psilocybin Practicum for an additional cost ($1,500 expected), in consideration of the longer practicum length necessary to fulfill psilocybin facilitator requirements.
This cost estimate is provided as a courtesy and may differ based on individual participant’s travel and lodging preferences. Participants will be fully responsible for costs not included in program tuition.
Tuition and Payment Details
A $35 non-refundable application fee is required for all submitted applications. The application fee is not deducted from the certificate program tuition, which totals $10,000. Following the initial tuition payment, remaining tuition will be paid in seven monthly installments, less any scholarships or other awarded aid.
Program tuition totals $10,000 and does not include the cost of any facilitator licensure application or training license fees—these additional costs, assessed by the state in which a prospective licensee is seeking licensure, shall be the prospective licensee’s sole responsibility.
Practicum Opportunities
In addition to the successful completion of an approved training program, state licensure for psilocybin facilitation in Oregon and Colorado requires the successful completion of a practicum requirement, and in Colorado, the completion of a 50-hour consultation period.Â
The practicum is an in-depth opportunity for trainees to facilitate a non-ordinary state of consciousness experience under the guidance of a qualified supervisor. Trainee placement in practicum opportunities will be prioritized, but approved service center limitations and other factors may impact availability, and placement is therefore not guaranteed. Given limited practicum site availability as Colorado’s Natural Medicine Program takes full effect in 2025, trainees are able to choose one practicum option (ketamine or psilocybin).
For 2025 trainees, Ketamine practicums will be held in Colorado in the fall of 2025. Psilocybin Practicums prioritizing those seeking Oregon Licensure will be offered in Oregon in the fall of 2025. Psilocybin Practicums prioritizing those seeking Colorado Licensure will be offered in Colorado beginning in 2026, after the conclusion of the program (as required by Colorado regulations).
Practicum and consultation opportunities will be offered to Naropa certificate program enrollees as such opportunities are confirmed. Practicum opportunities will entail additional screening, and travel/lodging costs for practicums are not included in certificate program tuition. Additional educational opportunities that may be made available to certificate graduates in the future, including consultation, peer support, and continuing education, are not included in the certificate program tuition, and will entail extra costs.Â
Deferral, Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Due to the contemplative, cohort-based nature of this intensive training program, participants are strongly encouraged to commit to completing the entire program in a single iteration. However, participants who wish to withdraw may do so in accordance with the following policies. Requests for withdrawal must be documented in writing to the Directors and Coordinator for the program, and may require a meeting to ensure a mutually supportive transition. Tuition refund will be determined based on the program’s published policy and the documented date of the participant’s request (see below). Â
Withdraws: The following is the withdrawal fee schedule for participants who may choose to withdraw. Any scholarships, awarded aid, and processing fees will be deducted before refund, if any, is determined. Participants who have withdrawn may reapply for a future iteration of the program, but will be required to pay full tuition and complete all coursework for the new year.Â
- If a participant withdraws by April 13, 2025, all tuition paid to date will be refunded, less a $250 processing fee.
- If a participant withdraws by June 30, 2025, then 50% of their full tuition (less any financial assistance) will be due, and the remainder will be refunded.Â
- If a participant withdraws on or after August 3, 2025, then the participant will be responsible for the full program tuition cost (less any financial assistance).
Please note that for withdrawals, scholarships and discounts do not carry forward from the original year: new application statements for scholarships and discounts must be submitted and reviewed. Tuition fees, including deposits, cannot be applied toward other Naropa programs.Â
Deferrals: Because our program evolves each year in keeping with the rapidly changing nature of this field, accepted applicants may not defer their acceptance, and will need to reapply in a future year should they choose not to enroll in 2025. This includes those who begin the program and withdraw.
Attendance and Missed Content Policy
It is important to note that participants must complete the entire curriculum to earn the certificate and meet the necessary state requirements for facilitator licensure, which specify the number of training hours that must be fulfilled. Attendance at live classes and pod small groups is therefore mandatory.
Live Classes: Saturday virtual live classes are a critical aspect of the certificate program. For every live class missed, participants must write and submit a short reflection paper about the content in the corresponding module. If a participant misses more than two live sessions, they may be required to attend the closest equivalent live session the following year of the program. Please note that participants’ certificate of completion will be held until all make-up work has been addressed in full.Â
Clinical Skills Practice Groups: Participants may miss one practice group meeting without penalty. After the first absence, participants are required to write and submit a short reflection paper about the topic of the missed session. If a participant misses more than three practice group meetings, they will need to return the following year to continue with the certificate unless an exception to policy is granted in writing.
Participants who miss substantial live class sessions in full or part will not receive a certificate of completion. Participants assume full responsibility for ensuring timely program completion, including any necessary make-up work.
Considerations Regarding COVID-19
Governmental, University and vendor guidelines may continue to change in response to COVID variants. All certificate program retreats and education events will be held in person as described unless prohibited by relevant governmental, University or vendor restrictions. In such cases, impacted retreat(s) will be moved fully online. There is otherwise no online-only option for retreats. Please note that attendance at program retreats is mandatory. All attendees are responsible for the costs of travel to program retreats, and Naropa is not responsible for refunding travel costs to participants who are unable to attend.Â
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All 2025 retreats will be held in person. In order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, Naropa University strongly encourages all participants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We strongly encourage all participants to mask and take other relevant precautions during transit to each retreat, especially when traveling by air, to help ensure a safe and healthy retreat container for all. All participants must provide proof of a negative FDA-approved at-home test, rapid antigen, or PCR test taken within 24 hours prior to the start of each retreat. Participants are required to adhere to all health and safety measures as determined by Naropa University and partner retreat sites. Naropa University reserves the right to modify the delivery of or cancel retreats in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.
Exceptions to Program Policy
Participants who wish to seek any exception to the above-stated Withdrawal, Payments and Refund policies due to a medical emergency or extenuating circumstances may present a formal written petition to the Program Administrators via email. Petitions must provide a detailed summary and timeline of the relevant circumstance, and must be accompanied by supporting documentation. Completed petitions must be submitted in full within 30 calendar days of the last day of the program in which the participant was enrolled, or within 30 calendar days of the relevant due date or deadline, whichever is first.
Accessibility Services & Resources
The online components of the certificate program are primarily facilitated via Zoom along with industry-leading learning management software platforms, all of which include built-in accessibility features. The Opening Retreat will be held within ADA-accessible spaces at Naropa University’s Main Campus. Every effort will be made to offer practicum opportunities at sites where facilities are fully ADA accessible. Certificate program staff will notify practicum sites of any accessibility needs.Â
Admitted program participants requesting support services and/or reasonable accommodations from Naropa University are required to submit documentation of a qualified disability to verify eligibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Disability Resources policies. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with qualified disabilities after appropriate review by Naropa’s Office of Accessibility. For more information please contact psychedelicstudies@naropa.edu.
Participant Use of Psychedelic Substances
Consistent with university obligations under the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Community Act Amendments of 1985, Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies (NCPS) certificate programs do not require the use of psychedelic substances by program participants in order to successfully complete training. In alignment with the Center’s mission, participants will be educated in the competencies required for psychedelic treatment and research where legal. Participation in apprenticeship trainings, practicums and experiential opportunities involving ketamine, psilocybin or other medicines shall be entirely voluntary, and all reference to such options will be to clinics or facilitators located in jurisdictions where training in the therapeutic use of these substances is legal.
Commitment to Anti-Oppressive, Brave Space Learning Environment
Certificate program trainees are expected to contribute to the creation of an anti-oppressive, brave space learning environment by interrogating systems of oppression, engaging in their own inner work of examining their intersecting identities, implicit bias, and experiences of power and privilege, and centering the experience of those most impacted. Our work is dedicated to going beyond espousing commitments to social justice; we are committed to embodying these commitments and operationalizing them in practice. We acknowledge that this is a process, and as such we are moving toward an aspirational goal of anti-oppressive space, which often requires a deep unlearning of ways of being that have been culturally ingrained over generations. We invite trainees to join us in this practice with gentleness, personal and collective accountability, and an openness to learning and growth.
Please see the Center’s Integrity Commitments for more details and resources.
Certificate Program and University Policy
Non-degree certificate program enrollment does not constitute admission to a Naropa University degree program. Non-degree certificate program participants are not eligible to earn a degree. Those seeking a degree must apply for the specific academic program of interest. Should a non-degree certificate program participant later enroll in a Naropa University degree program, no hours or work completed for a certificate program shall apply toward the requirements of a degree program. Participants registered in a non-degree certificate program are not eligible for federal financial aid, Naropa University student scholarships, or student employment positions. Non-degree certificate program financial assistance, including program scholarships and need-based aid, is administered by the respective program and is in no way related to Title IV federal financial aid funds.
Contact Us
You are welcome to email directly at any time: psychedelicstudies@naropa.edu. Questions about Program Eligibility? Please know that because Naropa assesses many factors in determining eligibility, it is difficult to determine in advance whether or not a prospective participant will be competitive for the program without a full application review. See Eligibility and Admissions Criteria for more information. Please sign up for the virtual open houses or open office hour sessions with the Center to get more information.
Thank you! We look forward to hearing from you.
Psychedelic Studies at Naropa
The Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies is facilitated by the Naropa Center for Psychedelic Studies (NCPS). Guided by a vision for a contemplative approach to psychedelic studies, the Center for Psychedelic Studies was established to support the development and integration of psychedelic studies at Naropa, and to offer a range of public education opportunities focused on the transformative healing potential within this emerging field. The work of the Center for Psychedelic Studies has been supported in close collaboration with Naropa Extended Campus.