All classes are 100% digital! We’ve designed the course to be completely remote so that students can learn from anywhere in the world. All you need is a reliable internet connection and a device capable of streaming videos and videoconferencing – most laptops, tablets and even smartphones will work. While there is never any travel requirement to attend classes, students are required to travel to attend one of our in-person experiential retreats (at an additional cost).

All lectures are recorded on the platform for review any time. There are minimum attendance requirements that students need to adhere to in order to remain in the program and successfully graduate. Weekly live study groups are especially important to attend in real time rather than simply watching the recordings due to their small-group format and interactive nature. Please refer to the curriculum for full detail about making up missed classes.

Each week, Vital core faculty will hold 90-minute study groups to help deepen your understanding of course material and integrate learning. We believe openness and sharing is valuable to learning, especially in the realm of psychedelics. Vital offers students a safe space to be heard and to listen.

Vital is designed to equip participants with the knowledge they need to move their existing practice forward. Every student is different, and Vital will appropriately challenge you to reflect on your unique intentions, goals, and vision. Students will learn the art and skills of psychedelic therapy and integration as well as gaining a new insight into how to translate this into meaningful personal and professional growth. 

The majority of mandatory course materials are digital, and are included with tuition. Should additional reading mandatory materials be required, students will be notified by the teaching team. Each of our five online modules will have optional book lists to purchase additional study materials. We welcome you to invest in these special books but your learning will not be directly held back if you choose not to purchase them.

We want you to have permanent access to answers and inspiration you need to inform your future practice. We provide students with access to all course materials and do not have an expiry date on this offering! As long as the internet still works, they’ll be there!

Each week, students will participate in a two-hour live webinar-style lecture with one of Vital’s expert teaching team. An interactive Q&A discussion follows each lecture. Students will also attend weekly study groups with their particular home group. These peer interactions will also be supplemented by 24 months of free membership to the new Psychedelics Today online community platform. This virtual community enables students to find each other and find their own unique voice and idiosyncratic interests. Students are also encouraged to join together in peer-support groups, this has been very helpful in the past. Regular ongoing office hours are available with instructors for students to ask questions not covered in class time.

Vital is a 12-month certificate program, made up of five core modules between 6-10 weeks duration. The program commitment is 180 hours, though additional electives and intensive lectures are available as add-ons (ask us for more details).

During the five Core modules there will be weekly classes and study groups. Every student will attend the live, 2-hour webinar taught by a special guest and followed up by Q&A. There will also be a weekly 90-minute study group where each student can choose the day/time that best suits their schedule. These are closed small groups of students led by two of the course’s core faculty. We also expect students to spend at least 2 hours a week reading articles/books, watching Masterclass videos, listening to podcast episodes and engaging in conscious reflection and integration of personal insights.

On April 17, 2023 we will host an introduction class to run through logistics and housekeeping, and to explain the rationale behind the creation of Vital. The first class starts on April 18. Vital classes wrap up on April 2, 2024, following submission and grading of Final Projects. During the final week, we will have breakout sessions for students to present their projects in their study groups. After students’ grades are assessed and hours are counted, they are awarded a Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Integration.

Participation in one retreat is mandatory for program completion. We’ve structured our retreat options to accommodate students with varying needs and interests, and will be happy to help you find the best one for you!

Vital has five retreats planned for our students to choose from. Two retreats will be held in July/August/September 2023. Three retreats in December 2023/January 2024. Other retreat options are being planned and will be released soon. Retreat dates are subject to change. Updates will be provided throughout the course.

Restrictions on domestic/global travel are very difficult to predict. If a student is unable to attend a Vital retreat due to travel restrictions, the Vital team will review their situation and potentially authorize an independent retreat instead.

It is highly likely that these retreats will require some kind of health screening prior to entering a communal in-person event. Full details will be provided closer to the date of each retreat, due to the unpredictability of current events.

Scholarships are awarded on a case-by-case basis, and are reserved for people who: 
• Demonstrate financial need
• Identify as BIPOC
• Identify as LGBTQ+
• Are military service members or veterans
• Serve marginalized communities 
To be considered for a scholarship, complete a Scholarship Application Statement and include it with your application.*Please note: scholarship recipients are not eligible for Early Bird discounts.

After being formally accepted for admission to the Vital course, students will have two weeks to submit a $1,000 non-refundable deposit, that will be deducted from the total amount of tuition. This secures their place in the program. After the deposit is paid, students will then need to either pay the full tuition amount or begin their payment plan. Please note that if you do so early, you are eligible for an Early Bird discount.
• Payment in full — $10,000 if paid in full before January 29 ($1,000 off), or $10,300 ($700 off) before March 3 
• 3 Monthly installments — $3,734 (including processing fees)
• 6 Monthly installments — $1,867 (including processing fees) 
• 12 Monthly installments — $950 (including processing fees) 
*Prices above are reflected after the initial $1,000 deposit. Total tuition (not including retreats) is $12,000. All base rates listed may be subject to national or regional sales tax, depending on applicable sales taxes (HST, VAT, etc.) in your area. Any applicable taxes will be calculated automatically on checkout. All prices listed are in USD. The monthly installment will be collected on the day of the month that students begin their payment plan. (For instance, if you submit your first installment on the 12th of January, the next installment will be automatically withdrawn from your account on the 12th of February.)

Yes! We offer two tiers of discounts, Early Early Bird, and Early Bird: 
Early Early Bird
• Pay in Full by January 29 - $1,000 off total price (applied to first payment)
• Payment Plans by January 29 - $500 off total price (applied to first payment)
• Enrollment in the Vital Book Club (from February to April 2023) 
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Early Bird
• Pay in Full by March 3 - $700 off total price (applied to first payment)
• Payment Plans by March 3 - $300 off total price (applied to first payment)

*Please note: Your $1,000 deposit and your tuition payment (either in-full or the first payment in your payment plan) must be received in advance of these dates in order to qualify for any discounts. Scholarship recipients are not eligible for Early Bird discounts. All early admissions will automatically receive an email confirmation with coupon codes that give them access to the discounts.

After paying the $1,000 deposit, students must submit their first tuition payment latest by March 31. Students who submit their first tuition payment by January 29 will be accepted into the Vital Winter Book Club, and may be eligible for the Early bird discounts (described above). Students must be in good standing regarding academic and tuition requirements in order to successfully graduate and receive their certificate.

While no license or other prerequisites are required to apply, Vital was designed for practicing professionals who are looking to incorporate psychedelic knowledge and integration modalities into their therapeutic practice. We welcome a wide variety of medical and mental health specialists, therapists, and wellness practitioners. And while the material will be geared towards clinical professionals who serve clients, the program is not limited to licensed mental health professionals. For the full list of eligibility criteria, please see our brochure. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact us via email.

Yes. The application fee is $75 USD (non-refundable), and is due at the time of application. Please submit your payment after you have submitted your application form. Applications without payment will not be accepted for review.

Students who are accepted to Vital, submit their deposit and make their first tuition payment by January 29 will be invited to the Vital Winter Book Club, which runs during February and March before class commences. During these meetings, the students will discuss a wide range of carefully selected material that will act as a preparatory reading for the actual course.

Our team will review your application once submitted. You may be asked to formally interview with a Vital team member over Zoom. If you are accepted into the program, we will contact you to let you know that you have been accepted. You will then have two weeks to pay your $1,000 deposit to confirm your offer. After paying the deposit, you will need to secure your spot latest before March 31, either by paying your tuition in full or by paying your first installment of a payment plan. As spaces are limited, we expect that some applicants will not be offered a place in Vital during this cohort - these applicants are encouraged to apply for future cohorts. All applicants will be informed about their admission by email.

Applications will be given preference based on experience, credentials, date of application being received and JEDI status. Students that are not automatically accepted into Vital will be added to a waitlist. Students on this waitlist will still be considered for a space once more applications have been reviewed.

No. However, we do encourage our students to have completed some previous psychedelic education and have a basic understanding of psychedelics.

Registrations for Vital close midnight EST February 28, 2023. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis which means that preference is given to students applying early. If you consider delaying your application, please note that it is possible that all the available spaces may have been filled by February 28. As soon as all places have been filled we will close the application process and no longer accept applications for the 2023/24 cohort.

While we may have already processed your application, please send us any outstanding documents as soon as you can. You can reach our team at vital@psychedelicstoday.com.

Successful Vital students will be awarded a Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Integration following completion of all required assignments, electives, final project, one retreat and required in-class time.

This certification does not give you additional legal ability to do anything with psychedelics that you are not currently allowed to do. Currently, there are no government sanctioned training programs that qualify practitioners to work with psychedelics.

Students who complete the program can apply their certification to their work in various ways. Students will develop competencies to offer psychedelic harm reduction and integration services. Students will gain the skills, knowledge, confidence and community to create their own niche within the psychedelic landscape of their choosing. Whether this is in private practice, R&D, training, retreat centers, ketamine clinics, or MAPS - you will be supremely positioned to take the right steps forward in this rapidly growing field!

Upon completion, students may be eligible to receive up to 68 Continuing Education credits (check with your licensing authority). CE credits and number of hours are pending approval. CE credits will be available at an additional cost.
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Information on Continuing Education Credit for Health Professionals

*CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
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*The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
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*LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
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*SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes.

For questions about enrolling in CE or receiving your Certificate of Attendance, visit Psychedelics Today or email Johanna Hilla: johanna@psychedelicstoday.com.

For questions about CE, contact Spiritual Competency Academy at info@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com.