How best to become an NLP practitioner
September 26, 2008 10:28 AM Subscribe
Considering becoming an NLP practitioner - are the courses bunk?
I have been exposed to NLP for about 6 months now, and am seriously considering becoming a practitioner. A quick google search yeilds many results for online courses, BUT, which are good, which are bad?
There seems to be little to no information about becoming a practitioner (is there a real certification board, or is it all marketing?)
I have been exposed to NLP for about 6 months now, and am seriously considering becoming a practitioner. A quick google search yeilds many results for online courses, BUT, which are good, which are bad?
There seems to be little to no information about becoming a practitioner (is there a real certification board, or is it all marketing?)
There is no official, external-to-the-profession "certification board" in the sense that there are, say, medical certification boards or electricians' certification boards, because being an NLP practitioner is not regulated by any authority.
There are several organizations that describe themselves as NLP "Certification Boards" and I suppose if one wanted such certification, one would be well advised to choose the organization whose certification board's members seem the most distinguished.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:45 AM on September 26, 2008
There are several organizations that describe themselves as NLP "Certification Boards" and I suppose if one wanted such certification, one would be well advised to choose the organization whose certification board's members seem the most distinguished.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:45 AM on September 26, 2008
My first thought is "why is he taking NLP if he's concerned the training is bunk?" My second thought is to ask the people you're currently working with where they got their training, provided you believe them to competent.
posted by tommasz at 11:09 AM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by tommasz at 11:09 AM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
Robert Dilts is still around, and was considered legit as long as 10 years ago. It looks like he has some online courses, but I think the practitioner courses are in person.
posted by cocoagirl at 11:30 AM on September 26, 2008
posted by cocoagirl at 11:30 AM on September 26, 2008
Best answer: I hold practitioner and master practitioner certifications in NLP. I would strongly recommend an in-person training program. So much of the material is about practicing techniques in the presence of a trainer who can give you immediate feedback, I would be very worried about attempting to learn the techniques only through online learning.
That being said, there are lots of great books about NLP which can be very useful in understanding the concepts (as opposed to doing the techniques). I would recommend Frogs into Princes and Use your Brain, for a Change.
posted by hworth at 11:41 AM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
That being said, there are lots of great books about NLP which can be very useful in understanding the concepts (as opposed to doing the techniques). I would recommend Frogs into Princes and Use your Brain, for a Change.
posted by hworth at 11:41 AM on September 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I also hold practitioner and master practitioner certifications. I agree with hworth about the essential need for doing NLP training in-person.
I come from an engineering background, so I'm used to having to work really hard to understand something (e.g. partial differential equations) but that once I understand it, working problem after problem is not nearly as hard. Learning NLP isn't like that. It is more like learning how to downhill ski. You can read about how to parallel ski, and it seems pretty straightforward. But, get on a slope and try, and you find there is a vast difference between understanding conceptually how to do something and being able to do that. NLP is like skiing. I do not think it is something you can effectively learn on-line.
posted by elmay at 12:58 PM on September 26, 2008
I come from an engineering background, so I'm used to having to work really hard to understand something (e.g. partial differential equations) but that once I understand it, working problem after problem is not nearly as hard. Learning NLP isn't like that. It is more like learning how to downhill ski. You can read about how to parallel ski, and it seems pretty straightforward. But, get on a slope and try, and you find there is a vast difference between understanding conceptually how to do something and being able to do that. NLP is like skiing. I do not think it is something you can effectively learn on-line.
posted by elmay at 12:58 PM on September 26, 2008
Note that while you can take courses who'll give you certificates at the end, they're not officially recognised by... well, anyone really. It's nothing at all like being a registered therapist or doctor. Be wary of courses where you pay to take part and everyone gets the qualification at the end.
Call yourself an NLP practicioner and you are one. It's that simple. That and the rest is up to your conscience.
posted by metaBugs at 2:59 PM on September 26, 2008
Call yourself an NLP practicioner and you are one. It's that simple. That and the rest is up to your conscience.
posted by metaBugs at 2:59 PM on September 26, 2008
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You might want to check out NLP University, which seems to be taught by some original founders/developers.
posted by suedehead at 10:45 AM on September 26, 2008