NLP Practitioner standards ANLP ABNLP INLPTA

When you are looking for an NLP Practitioner affiliation body, who are ANLP, ABNLP, INLPTA or other affiliation bodies and what do they stand for?

What is NLP Practitioner Certification or NLP |Practitioner affiliation? Which nlp trainers, nlp training schools, or nlp trainers are certified? Which accredited NLP courses should I look for? These questions are often asked by people wanting to study NLP. The following page attempts to answer some of these questions and provides details of the current schemes available.

In the world of NLP training, there is no official government or legal affiliation or certification standard, no official course content , duration of training or levels of competency (this applies within the UK and outside).

There are a number of groups, organisations, associations, boards and bodies who have set up their own standard by creating certification / affiliation schemes in order to reflect how they believe NLP should be taught and practiced. These organisations often differ in their opinion. Each organisation has a different judgment and none are mandatory to join or achieve training through. Many training providers choose not to affiliate themselves with any certification or affiliation bodies.

Certification and Affiliation has, for over 20 years, been debated within the field as to how it should be organised and structured, thus there are many varying models. Confusion often arises from the public when trying to decide on which NLP training provider to train with or which training provider has the 'right' certification / affiliation scheme and is recognised by which group. The simple answer is that there is currently no 'right' answer. Its all down to personal choice after consideration.

There are many organisations that promote NLP or recognise the many different companies and have different standards; so how do you know what they stand for?

Even the research that's out there is mostly out of date, so in the huger playing field who can you trust and what are the standards?

We will give you some information here that we intend will help you sort out your own thinking towards the kind of companies you can trust or not.

Let's start with UKs' own ANLP. Here's what they say accrediting trainers: This information is true as of September 2007:

ANLP Accredited & Recognised Trainers Scheme
As ANLP is an independent organisation, which is not affiliated with any specific training school, we offer a universal Accreditation Scheme which is open to all certified NLP Trainers.

Any trainer can, if they choose, go through a peer reviewed accreditation process, where they submit their training manuals and all other information relating to their course management and promotion to an independent ANLP Accreditation Panel for review.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the models, patterns, techniques and their application in NLP. They will need to demonstrate that they have grasped the underlying attitude and flexibility that constitutes the methodologies of NLP. This will be done through assessment and evaluation.

This program is designed for trainers who require ANLP International Certification. Accreditation and recognition is based on agreement on the Core Syllabus, method of delivery, trainee support prior, during and after the training, follow up procedures, problem solving procedures, guarantees and conflict resolution procedures, ethics, promotion materials and any other issues which may affect the experience, learning and transfer of skills to a trainee. In particular, ANLP will examine any areas that may adversely affect their good name and reputation.

To apply to be an ANLP Accredited and Recognised Trainer, applicants must submit their training manual, core syllabus and promotional materials. Applicants will be required to produce at least five testimonials from students trained at least 6 months previously. Depending on the completeness of this information, the Board may request a site visit to gather further information.

When an application is successful, the Trainer becomes an ANLP Fully Accredited or Recognised Trainer (highlighted in yellow on the search facilities)

A trainer may, for any number of reasons, be awarded Provisional Accreditation as a transient step. This will usually be because the Trainer has wanted to gain Accreditation in principle, based on their application, and before the observation part of the process has taken place.

"I would like to congratulate ANLP on their recent development in comprehensive guidelines and standards for NLP Trainings and Trainers. This is much needed within the field and will aid the credibility of NLP as a powerful technology of communication excellence. It is a pleasure to endorse the standards and I look forward to supporting ANLP as they continue to facilitate members to embed the standards and ethics of quality training."
Lisa Wake, INLPTA & Certified Trainer of NLP

Here is what ANLP have as a guide of ethics about themselves:

1. ANLP does not and will never affiliate with any specific NLP professional, training body or organisation. ANLP prides itself on its inclusive and neutral accreditation policy as laid out below.

2. ANLP places no hierarchical value on who its members trained with or for how long they have trained. We believe that it is quality and skill of practice that count every time when it comes to accreditation by us.

3. ANLP places value only on best practice, which is determined by the quality of skills of the person who is seeking accredited membership of ANLP, and is proven by hours worked and testimonials gained and given in proof to ANLP.

4. ANLP works with a body of legislators from all NLP backgrounds to resolve any disputes that may arise, and to decide the issue of Trainers Accreditation for ANLP. All other levels of accreditation are determined by the level of qualification an interested party already holds with their chosen training body. No membership decisions are made directly by the employees of ANLP, and all membership level requirements are freely available for anyone to see on the website. If you would like more information on this please contact us.

5. It is entirely possible for anyone holding an NLP qualification to become a member of ANLP.

6. The level of training a person has undergone will be reflected in the nature of their membership. The reason for this is that ANLP is the number one port of call for the majority of members of the general public seeking to find training in NLP, and we are not in the business of misrepresentation. This policy is totally non-negotiable. Any disputes will be dealt with by our adjudicating body.

7. Anyone who meets the required levels of training can become an ANLP Accredited Trainer. In some cases ANLP will also consider accrediting particular trainings rather than individuals, if said training meets the guidelines laid out for best practice, in terms of hours taught and testimonials given. Again, accreditation of training is won through approval by our Accreditation Board and not through personal opinion.

8. ANLP has no political axe to grind and endorses no divisive policies, factions, or any in fighting that has marred ANLP as an organisation in its past. It will not involve itself in any such activities and will take steps to bar any such activity in its name, or through any of its mouth pieces.

9. ANLP is dedicated to working towards a unified, harmonious future for the NLP community, working in its best interests and promoting its benefits to an interested general public.

Here is what ABNLP says about itself:

The American Board of NLP was founded in 1995 by Dr. A. M. Krasner as an adjunct to the American Board of Hypnotherapy and has functioned as its sister organization since then. We have a convention every February on President's Day weekend in Newport Beach with the ABH. Today we have over 500 institutes worldwide approved at the Trainer Level of NLP, and thousands of members. We believe in NLP and we believe in Hypnosis as being most excellent ways of creating our own personal growth and development.

Standards:
Through-out the world, the standards for each of the membership levels below are pretty much the same. For example, an NLP training in Australia, the UK or Germany is very much like an NLP Practitioner Training in the United States . Each of the Certified Trainers will cover the same content as is outlined on the pages below. What differs is style of presentation, length of time, use of computer graphics and the use of multi-media learning options. Through-out the world compliance with these standards is voluntary, and so you will also find people teaching NLP who do not adhere to these standards. We highly recommend our Approved Institutes and when you see the seal of the ABNLP, below, you can be sure that this high level of excellence has been subscribed to by the Training Institute.

International NLP Training Association (INLPTA)

Created by: Wyatt Woodsmall.
Head Office: Virginia, USA
www: http://www.inlpta.co.uk/index.html

INLPTA Standard Diploma
Prerequisites: None

NLP Practitioner
Prerequisites:

None (INLPTA Diploma counts towards study hours)
INLPTA Standards:

130 hours tuition over a period of a minimum 15 days (recommended 18 days) formal classroom training.
Certificates:

Must be signed by an INLPTA Registered Trainer and carry the INLPTA seal.
Enables:

Practitioners may use NLP techniques for business or personal development and counseling. Certificate entitles them to membership of their National Association for NLP (the ANLP in the UK) and Graduate Membership of INLPTA.

Certificates: To be signed by an INLPTA Trainer.

Professional Guild of NLP
Created by: Fran Burgess & Derek Jackson.
Head Office: Lancashire, UK
www:http://www.professionalguildofnlp.com

The Professional Guild of NLP

As a result of the change in the role of ANLP the body had become less relevant to those training providers who wanted a central body overseeing standards and giving potential NLP students guidance of how to select a reliable and professional training body.

As a result the Professional Guild of NLP was formed at a meeting in May 2003 near Birmingham. Pegasus NLP along with 8 other of the UK's most respected and long established NLP training providers, founded the Guild to provide such a resource for the NLP community.

Members of the Professional Guild of NLP agree to adhere to common principles, share a common training approach and code of ethics, and recognise one another's trainings. The Guild now has around 20 Member organisations in England, Wales, Scotland and Australia.

Professional Guild Standard
Prerequisites NLP Training Organisation teaching 120 hours contact time practitioner courses.
Practitioner Standard: NLP Practitioner Trainings are a minimum of 120 contact hours.

NLP Trainers Training Standard: NLP Training Organisation teaching 120 hours contact time practitioner courses.