Independent Track Application

Thank you for applying to become a Professional Member of ISMETA! We are a global collaborative of individuals and organizations advancing the profession of Somatic Movement Education and Therapy. As a professional association, we support high standards of practice and maintain a registry of qualified practitioners. 

If your training was not completed through an ISMETA Approved Training Program but your experience fulfills our Professional Member Requirements, you may apply via our Independent Track application.

All applicants must demonstrate that they abide by the values and curricula that are articulated in ISMETA’s Mission, Vision, Scope and Standards of Practice, Core Competencies and Code of Ethics as articulated in the Pillars of the Profession.

This application can be used for the 250-hour credential of Associate Somatic Movement Professional (ASMP) as well as the 500-hour credentials of Registered Somatic Movement Educator or Therapist (RSME or RSMT).

To complete this application, you'll need:

• Copies of certificates from training programs you have completed.

  • If you trained long ago and no longer have a certificate, you may provide a statement of completion from the training program.

• Two letters of recommendation: a letter of recommendation from a mentor or colleague and a letter of recommendation from a client/student who has experienced your Somatic Movement work to be submitted by the person who wrote it

• A Personal Statement. This is part of the online application called “Why are you interested in joining ISMETA?” You will find this on the next page after you complete the online sign-up.

• To arrange payment of the $75 application fee with info@ismeta.org

Your application will be reviewed by our Professional Standards Committee. Please note that this review process typically takes between two to three months. Should the committee require any additional information or documentation from you during this time, we will contact you directly.

Letters of Recomendation 

We require two letters of recommendation: one letter from a mentor or colleague and another letter from a client/student who has experienced your Somatic Movement work. The person who wrote the letter must be the one to submit it. As the applicant, please follow these steps to collect and submit your letters of recommendation:

1. Click “Save and Continue Later” at the bottom of the form.
2. Enter your email to receive a unique resume link.
3. Copy and share that link with your letter writers — they’ll use it to upload their recommendation letters directly into your application.
4. When you’re ready, use the same link to return and finish your application before submitting.

Be sure to follow up with both recommenders to ensure their letters are submitted.

Letters of Recomendation 

We require two letters of recommendation: one letter from a mentor or colleague and another letter from a client/student who has experienced your Somatic Movement work. The person who wrote the letter must be the one to submit it. 

For applicants: Please follow these steps to collect and submit your letters of recommendation:

1. Click “Save and Continue Later” at the bottom of the form.
2. Enter your email to receive a unique resume link.
3. Copy and share that link with your letter writers — they’ll use it to upload their recommendation letters directly into your application.
4. When you’re ready, use the same link to return and finish your application before submitting.

Be sure to follow up with both recommenders to ensure their letters are submitted.

For recommenders: Please upload your letter of recommendation using one of the fields below.

Please provide information about all the Somatic Movement training(s) you've completed. There is no required number of trainings, only the required total training hours for each credential (250+ hours for the ASMP credential, 500+ for RSME, RSMT, or RSME/T credential). Please note: The field to enter the total number of training hours you've completed appears at the bottom of this page.

If you trained long ago and no longer have a certificate, you may provide a statement of completion from the training program.

All material submitted should demonstrate proficiency and adherence to the Pillars of the Profession and the Professional Member Training Requirements.

Please review:

ISMETA’s Pillars of the Profession

Professional Member Training Requirements

Please provide information about the Professional Somatic Movement Training(s) you have completed below: 

Include here a detailed description of how your coursework specifically prepared you to meet the ISMETA Core Competencies. Please be concise using under 300 words for each competency.

  Pillars of the Profession:  Review Document        

  Logo Usage Agreement:

We encourage Professional Members to use their credentials after their names wherever possible: when speaking, in print, and/or digitally on websites. The ISMETA Logo can be used in print or in digital applications. We ask that when using the logos, you hyperlink to the ISMETA homepage www.ISMETA.org. Please note these Logos are dated and will need to be updated yearly on your materials.

Along with the Logo, we ask that you include the following language wherever possible:

"As a Professional Member of the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association, I meet the high Standards of Practice and uphold the Code of Ethics. For more information visit www.ISMETA.org"               

Each individual applying for ISMETA Professional Membership agrees to pay a $75 application fee. Please note the review process only begins once payment and all supporting documents are received and may take up to two months to complete.

If you are accepted, your Professional Member fee will be collected at that time. If you are not accepted, you may still become a Friend of ISMETA. Renewal notices are sent by email one month before your membership is due to expire. Professional Member fees are due once a year. Please make sure to complete your renewal before your membership lapses.

Thank you for completing the ISMETA Independent Track Application. Please take a moment to follow up with your recommenders to ensure they have submitted your letters of recommendation. Once your application is complete, including both letters, we will begin the review process. Our goal is to complete the review within two months. As part of the review, we may request the following:

• a Zoom or phone call to clarify any questions the committee may have about your application

• video or written samples of your work