Qi Gong is a system of breathing, movement and exercise based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. According to the National Qi Gong Association, no national standard exists for Qi Gong certification. Certification is voluntary, so some instructors who are experienced Qi Gong practitioners are not necessarily certified. Those who want to be certified have many training options.
Qi Gong Overview
In traditional Chinese medicine, energy in the body is referred to as qi, and it is believed to govern all aspects of a person's health. Qi Gong is pronounced "chee gong" or "chee kung" and is spelled several ways. According to the Qi Gong Institute of Rochester, "The goal of an individual studying Qi Gong is to learn to sense this energy, develop it, and control it. Like learning to play chess, only a few moments are required to learn the basic principles and yet it takes a lifetime to master." Experienced instructors can be certified as teachers or therapists.
National Qi Gong Association
The National Qi Gong Association offers certification to its members based on their hours of formal training and years of experience. Four certification levels are available for teachers and two levels for therapists who use Qi Gong in a health care setting. Training programs around the country offer programs for basic certification, but those who want more advanced certification often take individual training from a master teacher. After completing their training, people apply directly to the National Qi Gong Association for certification.
Teacher Certification
Teacher certification ranges from level one instructors with 200 hours of formal training to level four instructors with 1,000 hours of education and 10 years of teaching experience. Training programs nationwide offer classroom or home-study programs that fulfill the 200-hour level one requirement. Students learn the principles of Chinese medicine and Qi Gong; breathing and movement exercises; and the anatomy of Chinese meridians, which are the pathways through which the body's energy travels.
Therapist Certification
The National Qi Gong Association certifies therapists on two different levels. Those who qualify for the Clinical Practitioner level have at least 500 hours of training and two years of clinical experience. Advanced Clinical Therapist certification requires 10 years of clinical experience and 1,500 hours of training. Qi Gong therapists can prescribe exercises and give massage and other treatments to their patients. These advanced practitioners, according to the National Association, can control their own qi, absorb qi from the atmosphere, and emit or project healing qi to others.
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