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Are other IFS-informed courses or workshops equivalent to IFS Institute trainings?

IFS Institute’s Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Trainings are the only programs that fulfill the formal IFS training pathway.

What counts as an official IFS training?

Only the following trainings are recognized by IFS Institute as part of the official IFS training pathway:

  • Trainings organized directly by IFS Institute

  • Trainings offered through IFS Institute International Partners

  • Trainings offered through IFS Institute North American Partners, including:

    • Central Connecticut State University (CCSU)

    • Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)

    • IFIO (facilitated by Toni Herbine-Blank)

Completion of these programs is required to:

  • Progress through Levels 1 → 2 → 3

  • Apply to become a Program Assistant

  • Pursue IFS Certification

  • Represent yourself as IFS Level 1 Trained, Level 2 Trained, etc.

What about other IFS-informed courses, workshops, or events?

Many high-quality IFS-informed learning opportunities exist, including:

  • Conferences and workshops hosted by IFS Institute

  • Online courses offered through the IFS Learning Hub

  • Events or retreats with Dick Schwartz

  • Trainings or workshops offered by independent organizations (e.g., PESI or similar providers)

While these offerings can be valuable for learning and professional development, they are not equivalent to IFS Institute Level 1, 2, or 3 Trainings and do not substitute for them.

These programs:

  • Do not replace Level 1, 2, or 3 Trainings

  • Do not fulfill prerequisites for advanced training or certification

  • Do not grant IFS Trained status

Why aren’t other programs considered equivalent?

IFS Institute Trainings are:

  • Cohort-based and experiential

  • Structured around supervised practice groups

  • Delivered over extended, multi-day sessions

  • Designed to meet specific training, attendance, and completion standards

Independent workshops or short-form courses—while often informative—do not meet these requirements and therefore cannot substitute for official IFS trainings.

Bottom line

IFS-informed workshops and courses can support your learning, but they do not replace IFS Institute Level 1, 2, or 3 Trainings.

If your goal is to become formally IFS Trained, advance through training levels, or pursue certification, you must complete the official IFS Institute training pathway.