Do I need to be a coach to attend this program?

You don’t need to be a coach to attend Level 1 or Level 2 program. Our Mind Presence program will introduce coaching competencies and ethics necessary for you to become confident in coaching and Applied Mindfulness will prepare to bring mindfulness in your coaching practice and your life.

Do I need to have a personal mindfulness practice to attend this program?

Personal practice is necessary to attend both Level 1 and Level 2 programs. However there is a distinction to what counts as a practice.

For Level 1 program it is enough that you explored mindfulness through an app, read books and followed some online programs. Applied Mindfulness addendum and commitment to 100 days of practice will provide necessary skills and understanding of the practice to know if Level 2 program is for you.

If you want to start directly with the Level 2 program you will get the most if you have existing somatic practice that you would like to bring coaching into while working with clients: yoga, pilates, qigong, nature walks etc. This program will be of your interest if you want to combine your practice with coaching and work 1:1 or in groups. To attend Level 2 program we require:

• Previous attendance of any 8-week or long term mindfulness-based program, and

• Character reference by a therapist, mindfulness coach or mindfulness-based program teacher

How long does the program last?

Level 1 program has a total of 62.5 hours of live sessions and self-learning. You will need a minimum of 7 months to complete all modules and Mentor Coaching.

Level 2 program has a total of 130 hours and may take twelve to eighteen months to complete.

In between modules, you will be required to complete your coach practice hours. There is no time limit for when you must finish the program.

Is the program available online?

Our coach training programs are currently only available online. Dates for live sessions will be posted on our Calendar page.

You can choose to sign up for the self-study portion of each program at any time. Upon completion of registration and payment, you will gain immediate access to all self-study content via our online learning portal. Each module has a recommended reading list and links to research papers that the program is based on. You can study this material at your own pace until the next cohort opens for live sessions.

Which program should I attend first?

Both Level 1 and Level 2 programs begin with Mind Presence as the foundation for coaching, mindfulness and neuroscience application.

If you don’t have an existing mindfulness practice, we recommend starting with our online learning portal for Applied Mindfulness in tandem with Mind Presence.

How many client coaching hours do I need to have before I become a BMC Academy coach?

You will need to have a minimum of 80 client coaching hours to become a BMC Coach.

For ACC certification, the requirement is 100 hours. For PCC, the requirement is 500 hours.

Your peers are your first clients- however you can only log hours occurring outside of the classes and peer practice arranged by BMC Academy.

How can I maintain my BMC Academy coach credentials?

You will need to complete 3 mentor coaching sessions with a BMC Academy coach and one 5 day (or longer) silent teacher-led retreat every two years. You can attend the silent retreat in Plum Village or Vipassana tradition or mindfulness-based retreats (MBSR, MSC). Retreats led by BMC Academy faculty are also available - contact us for more information.

What kind of certification will I receive after completion of the program?

After the completion of Level 1 program you will receive an Applied Mindfulness-Based Coach certificate. Completion of the Level 2 program will grant you a Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness-Based Coach certification.

Will I receive a partial completion certificate?

You can receive a partial completion certification per completed module of the Level 2 program. Level 1 program requires full attendance to receive a completion certificate.

Are there any discounts or scholarships for the program?

You will receive a 10% discount for the purchasing the full program (Level 1 or Level 2). We also offer a payment plan as well as a scholarship. For more information contact Dalida Turkovic at dalida@beijingmindfulness.com

What if I can’t make all the live sessions?

You can make up for 1 missed live session by attending 2 coaching workouts (in addition to the number of workouts required per module). If, due to extenuating circumstances, you are unable to attend any live sessions it is possible to supplement all sessions through this method along with completing the self-study learning materials.

You can receive a discount if you have attended BMC Mindful Self-Compassion and/or Silent Retreat. There are no further discounts available after claiming this discount.

Purchasing a full program (all three modules) gives you a 10% discount.

Last-minute cancellations and transfers are very costly for us. As a courtesy to us and to your fellow students who may be on the waiting list, please submit your cancellation requests at least two weeks before the start of class. Our class withdrawal policy is as follows:

• More than 14 days prior to the start of class: BMC Academy retains a 20% of the fee for all cancellations.

• 8 – 14 days prior to the start of class: BMC Academy retains half of the class tuition.

• 7 days or less prior to the start of class: BMC Academy retains full class tuition.

There are no refunds after attendance of the program

After the completion of the fourth module, you will receive a certificate of completion with ICF logo.

You will be eligible to apply for the BMC Academy coach certification after:

• Confirmation that you have completed the (8-week or 5-day intensive) Mindful Self-Compassion program and a silent retreat lasting a minimum of 5 days.

• Attendance of the fourth module: Integration

• Submission of the Coaching from Within program evaluation

• Submission of the client log with minimum 100 client hours

• Delivery of 60 - 90 minutes presentation to the BMC Academy community (online or face to face). The topic of the presentation is related to coaching and mindfulness.