Course Approval for Training Providers

Abstract design with beige circle and black line leaves

Get your mindfulness, meditation or forest bathing course approved by IMMA

When your course carries IMMA approval, prospective students know that an independent body has reviewed the qualifications of your teachers and the content of your training. Graduates of approved courses are eligible to apply for IMMA membership, giving them a recognised credential when they begin teaching.

IMMA approval also means your school is listed on our Approved Schools directory, giving you visibility among students searching for quality training.

What IMMA approval means — and what it does not

IMMA is a members association. We are not a government-recognised accreditation body. What we offer is an independent review: we check teacher qualifications, training hours, subjects covered, and that your course falls within our areas of practice. We confirm that your teachers hold the certifications that demonstrate they are proficient to teach, and that the training meets a reasonable professional standard.

We do this for individual courses, not whole schools. A school may offer training across many areas, some of which fall outside our remit. By reviewing courses individually, we assess only what we can genuinely stand behind. If you offer more than one course within our areas, each course requires its own application.

This process is straightforward and the fee reflects that. What it gives your graduates is meaningful: a third party has looked at their training and considers it sound.

What we assess

We review mindfulness, meditation, forest bathing and nature connection training courses. We evaluate each course on its own merits. In general, courses need to meet the following criteria:

  • Taught by a suitably accredited teacher

  • Students complete an assessment process

  • Training is a minimum of 30 hours, which can include practice periods

For forest bathing and nature connection courses, we recognise this is a newer field. We assess each application individually.

What to submit

When you apply, please include:

  • Names and qualifications of the course owners

  • Qualifications of the teaching staff, including copies of their certifications

  • Total length of training in hours

  • How students are assessed and what they need to demonstrate to qualify

  • A list of subjects covered in the training

  • Your website URL

Course Approval Costs

Annual course approval is AUD $159 per year. Your approval renews automatically each year at the same fee.

If your application is not approved, we refund the fee in full.

If your course has additional modules or add-ons, these may be included in the review or may require a separate application, depending on the length of the material and the volume of content to assess. Additional fees may apply. Write to us at enquiries@internationalmindfulness.org for details before applying.

To apply for course approval, you must first hold IMMA membership as an individual.

Ready to have your course recognised by IMMA?

Process summary

  1. Check that you hold IMMA membership or apply here.

  2. Complete the application form below

  3. Pay the annual fee of AUD $159

  4. We review your course documentation

  5. If accepted, your course is listed on the IMMA Approved Courses directory

  6. Your course approval fee renews automatically each year

Helping your graduates join IMMA

Once your course is approved, graduates who have completed their training and passed all assessments to gain their qualification are eligible to apply for IMMA membership. Many schools include a short note in their graduation communications so graduates know how to apply. We can give you:

  • A short paragraph to include in your graduation emails

  • A digital badge your graduates can share on becoming members

Write to us at enquiries@internationalmindfulness.org and we will send these to you.