So what is all this hoohaa with accreditation?

For many years I have been wanting the accreditation stamp for the Laughter Yoga Training courses in the UK.

I already had Laughter Therapist Training accredited by an American organisation back in 2016 when I launched the course under the UnitedMind umbrella of training courses and now it has been accredited in the UK together with the Laughter Yoga training courses.

FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapists) is the awarding organisation and I am so thrilled this process is now complete. It has taken almost four months from first application and until the criteria for tutors and training have been met fully in order to comply.

There are currently two Laughter Yoga Teacher who can teach Accredited Laughter Yoga Leader Training but the list will grow in the coming months.

The requirements for the Accredited Laughter Yoga Training are first and foremost to comply with the training standards of delivery and assessment.

There is a fee of £25 annual renewal fee for Laughter Yoga Leaders, and £50 for Laughter Yoga Teachers and Laughter Therapists to complete and maintain the accreditation for covering external verification and admin.

Laughter Yoga Leader Accreditation

• The training must have been facilitated by an FHT Accreditation Approved Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher
• Complete verbal assessment at 2-day training
• Complete written assessment within 10 days of 2-day training
• Start a Laughter Club
• Complete video assessment recorded at firsts Laughter Club session or workplace session (the Laughter Yoga Leader’s own workplace)
• Assessment by teacher and approved verifying teacher
• Hold valid public and professional liability and indemnity insurance
• Preferable. Member of ICO. A commitment to handling data correctly and in accordance with GDPR data protection specifications

Laughter Yoga Teacher Accreditation

• Completed 2-day Certified or Accredited Laughter Yoga Leader Training with a Certified or Accredited Laughter Yoga Leader Teacher or Master Trainer
• The training must have been facilitated by an FHT Accreditation Approved Certified Laughter Yoga Master Trainer
• Complete verbal assessment of standard 2-day training presentation at 5-day training
• Complete written assessment wihtin one week from 5-day training
• Run a Laughter Club
• Complete video assessment recorded at first Laughter Club session or workplace session (the Laughter Yoga Leader’s own workplace) following teacher training
• Complete 40-day diary as a combination of video and written observations during the course of the 40-day challenge which involves all breathing exercises, laughter alone exercises and Gibberish
• Assessment by teacher and approved verifying teacher
• Hold a valid First Aid Level 3 Certificate
• Hold valid public and professional liability and indemnity insurance specifically for teaching purposes
• Preferable. Member of ICO. A commitment to handling data correctly and in accordance with GDPR data protection specifications
• Preferable. Hold a certificate in teaching, e.g. PTLLS Award, NVQ or similar in adult teaching and education

Laughter Yoga Coach Accreditation

• The training must have been facilitated by an FHT Accreditation Approved Certified Laughter Yoga Master Trainer or Laughter Yoga Coaching Tutor
• Complete video assessment recorded at first Laughter Coaching session or workplace session (the Laughter Yoga Teacher’s own workplace) either as a group or individual Laughter Coaching session
• Complete an 8-week diary as a combination of video and written observations during the course of the 8-week Laughter Yoga Coaching programme which involves warm up exercises, breathing exercises, laughter alone exercises and Gibberish
• Assessment by teacher and approved verifying teacher
• Hold a valid First Aid Level 3 Certificate
• Hold valid public and professional liability and indemnity insurance specifically for teaching purposes
• Preferable. Member of ICO. A commitment to handling data correctly and in accordance with GDPR data protection specifications

Laughter Therapist Accreditation

• The training must have been facilitated by an FHT Accreditation Approved Certified Laughter Therapist Teacher
• Hold a professional certificate as holistic therapist, psychotherapist, counsellor, hypnotherapist or similar (online training is not accepted)
• Personally complete all training exercises and the 8-week Laughter Therapy programme
• Complete a minimum of two case studies as 1 x one-on-one case study, 1 x group-on-one case study, over an 8-week programme
• Complete an 8-week diary as a combination of video and written observations during the course of the 8-week Laughter Therapy case studies as well as personal evaluation
• Submit dissertation with observations, recommendations and conclusion to include video and and written material
• 2-hour presentation of dissertation
• Assessment by teacher and approved verifying teacher
• Hold a valid First Aid Level 3 Certificate
• Hold valid public and professional liability and indemnity insurance
• Preferable. Member of ICO. A commitment to handling data correctly and in accordance with GDPR data protection specifications

What are the benefits of Accreditation?

Accreditation can offer several important benefits, some of which are:

• First of all it puts a stamp of approval on graduates. Graduating from an accredited institution indicates that graduates are expected to be ready to practice at a certain level.

• Accreditation is about creating standards and best practices to follow. Ensuring the understanding and delivery is up to the level required to become a facilitator and tutor with professional attitude and skills.

• Accreditation is a means to building your reputation as a professional tutor and be known as a premier provider. This may be a real deal breaker for potential clients choosing your training and workshops.

• Knowing the services are being provided in a way that complies with high standards and professional conduct.

• Accreditation protects the interests of students, the training provider themselves, as well as potential clients looking for professionals, as it ensures that the training offered have met and exceeded standards that were developed by experts in the field of the topic.

• Although accreditation does not ensure that every Laughter Therapist, Laughter Yoga Leader, Coach or Teacher completing on the programmes will become successful with Laughter Yoga and Laughter Therapy, it does guarantee that the graduate has demonstrated a certain set of skills and abilities which are defined and reflected in the accreditation criteria.

• Furthermore, in this world of alternative methods and practices the accreditation may indeed be the reason some choose the courses.

In any case, I am really chuffed that the Laughter Yoga Training courses are now accredited and provided by approved Laughter Yoga Teachers in the UK.