Guides / EMDR training online: what counts toward EMDRIA and what doesn't
EMDR training online: what counts toward EMDRIA and what doesn't
Updated October 27, 2026 by The Therapy Tap team
Short answer: to practise EMDR as an EMDRIA-trained clinician you need an EMDRIA-approved basic training, which includes live practice and consultation. Online EMDR CE courses, like EMDR Step-by-Step PLUS, don't replace that. They are for deepening your skills and earning CE hours, before or after basic training.
Two kinds of EMDR training
| EMDRIA-approved basic training | EMDR CE courses | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Become EMDR trained under EMDRIA standards | Learn and refine skills, earn CE hours |
| Format | Lectures plus supervised practice and consultation hours | Usually recorded, self-paced video |
| Cost | Usually well over $1,000 | Often under $200 (this one is $199.99) |
| Counts toward EMDRIA certification | Yes | No |
When an online EMDR course makes sense
- You've done basic training and want to get better. Watching an experienced clinician prepare clients and handle sessions is where a recorded course shines.
- You're deciding whether to invest in basic training. A course is an affordable way to see the method in action first.
- You need CE hours and want them to count toward something you actually use.
The course we recommend
EMDR Step-by-Step PLUS with Linda Curran, LPC. Knowing when a trauma client is ready for EMDR, and what to do once a memory opens up, is the hard part. Here you watch Linda Curran prepare clients and run the standard and modified protocols. Best if you've had some EMDR training; it isn't EMDRIA training.
- 20+ hours of video with real client sessions and demonstrations
- Guest teaching from Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine, Janina Fisher, Stephen Porges and Babette Rothschild
- Bonus consultation series (5+ hours) on EMDR over telehealth
- Linda's two best-selling workbooks as PDFs, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee
$199.99, up to 20.5 CE hours. It works best if you've had some EMDR training; beginners get an "EMDR 101" bonus to start with.
CE approval depends on your profession and state. Before you buy, open the credit details on the provider's page and check that your board is listed.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: registering through them costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission.
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