Practitioner Certification
Understand and experience the basic framework, concepts and practices of Theory U and apply them to your own life and work (Level 1). Apply tools and methods in your current project(s) or in the context of a broader field (Level 2).
We offer three Practitioner Certification pathways
Theory U | Awareness-Based Systems Change
Social Arts |
Visual
Presencing
By pursuing a Practitioner Certification, you will gain foundational knowledge of the core theory of your chosen pathway as well as relevant practice experience, which will equip you to use these tools and methods in your own work (action learning). Practitioner Certification pathways culminate in an applied project, putting the tools and methods into practice in your own context. Completion of all Practitioner Certification pathway components earns a u-school for Transformation Practitioner Certification.
How it works?
Complete the required programs for your chosen pathway, each covering core theory, action learning, awareness practices, and real-world applications. The journey culminates in an applied final project, leading to your u-school Practitioner Certification upon completion.
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Step 1: Complete the programs.
Register for the required and elective programs in your certification pathway, choosing formats that fit your needs and budget. With no time restrictions to complete the pathway, you can progress at your own pace. A program certificate or proof of completion from a u-school faculty member is needed for verification. Check the required programs for Awareness-Based Systems Change, Social Presencing Theater, or Visual Presencing pathways.
Step 2: Apply learning to a project.
After all programs for your certification have been completed, you will engage in an action learning project of your design, where you apply the relevant methods, tools and space holding capacities learned to your own context. Purchase the Certification Project Workspace to submit your final project. Check the costs for Awareness-Based Systems Change, Social Presencing Theater, or Visual Presencing pathways.
Step 3: Submit your final project story.
At the Certification Project Workspace you gain access to a form to document your final project experience. You can also upload images and videos to demonstrate your expertise. Reflective journaling questions will guide you in deepening your learning. Final certification projects are reviewed each semester. Our team will verify your submission and may provide feedback for potential iterations before certification.
Purchasing the Certification Project Workspace
What will you get?
- Access to a dedicated workspace for certification participants with specific content to guide you throughout the entire process.
- Dedicated support chat.
- A visual tracker that shows where you are in the process and what remains to be completed.
- Access to a personalized certification project portfolio form.
- A platform where you can share your project with the certification community and get feedback.
- Live AUA (Ask-Us-Anything) session(s) with u-school faculty and the community participating in the certification.
- Be able to print your certification project at the end.
- Easily share your Practitioner Certification to your CV or resume, or post it directly on LinkedIn.
- The capacity and confidence to start practicing awareness-based systems transformation in the world.
You will have access to this workspace at any point in time. Access to your Certification Project portfolio form will be opened after all required learning programs are completed. Please note that programs still need to be purchased separately.
Commonly Asked Questions
- What are u-school Practitioner Certifications?
u-school for Transformation by Presencing Institute offers three Practitioner Certification Programs: Awareness-Based Systems Change, Social Presencing Theater and Visual Presencing. Certifications are are comprised of a series of programs, plus a final certification project. - What is the cost of the certification?
The costs of the full pathway depend on the programs you select. Individual program costs vary depending on the format (online, or in person). We offer a range of prices reflecting differences in currency value across countries/regions. In addition, some scholarships are available. Please note that costs as such, travel, and accommodation for in person programs are not included in our programs’ price.
For the Certification Project Workspace, where you can also submit your final project, the cost is:
$975 USD for business/consultants, corporations, donor organizations, philanthropists, impact investors
$590 USD for non-profits, social leaders, community activists, members of the academic community
Like for individual programs, a limited number of scholarships are available to purchase this workspace, for those who experience an uncertain personal or professional financial situation. When you have completed all the required programs and you are ready to submit your final certification project, reach out to support@presencing.org if you want to apply to a scholarship to purchase the certification workspace. - If I have participated in PI/u-school programs in the past will that be taken into consideration?
Not all PI or u-school programs are part of the pathwy. For the ones required, if you have completed them with a certificate, those will be considered and displayed on your profile page. If any information is missing from your profile, you can manually upload your program certificate and, once validated, it will be included for the certification. If all required programs are reflected in your tracker (you can find it inside the Action Learning Project workspace), you can start your application project immediately. - I have taken a program with a similar name but outside the Presencing Institute or the u-school for Transformation. Will that count for the certification?
Only programs with a certificate from the Presencing Institute or u-school for Transformation are considered. - How do I earn a Certificate of Completion for the programs?
All u-school programs that are part of Certification pathways are eligible for Certificates of Completion. To earn your u-school for Transformation Certificate of Completion, you must attend the program and participate as required by each program. Certificates will be automatically awarded upon successful completion of the program and will be delivered to you if in person and/or appear on your u-school Profile. To locate your certificate, just login to your u-school account, and check your dashboard. Still don't see one you think you earned it in the past? If you have it, you will be able to upload it yourself on your profile very soon. Alternatively, you can contact us at support@presencing.org and we'll investigate.
- I have done a program with the Presencing Institute but never got a certificate. How can I get one for my past programs?
For u-lab 1x editions prior to 2023, certificates were issued by edX for those registered in the verified certificate track. If necessary, please contact edX directly to obtain your certificate.
For all other PI/u-school programs your certificate should now be reflected on your u-school Profile page. If not, you can upload a certificate and request validation. Alternatively, you can write to us at support@presencing.org. - What is the certification completion time?
The certification pathways are built in a flexible way so you can shape the learning journey to suit your needs. Some programs are several months long and others that take a few days. The primary focus of the certification pathway is application and that takes time, so if you know from the start that you would like to pursue a certification pathway, it will need some forward planning. - Can I apply for the certification now?
You can appli now for the Awareness-Based Systems Change Practitioner Certification. Other certifications are in soft launch mode and some of the functions are still in development. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive the launch announcement. - What is the enrollment period for the final certification project submission?
Enrollment to submit your final certification project can be done at any time. However, the verification from our team will be done at the first week of every month.
- Can I use a project I have already completed for my final Certification Project?
If you have completed all required programs before registering for the certification pathways, you can use a project completed within the past two years. If you are currently taking the certification programs, you will need a new Certification Project that allows you to put your new learning into practice in your context.
- Will getting this certificate entitle me to do work on behalf of the u-school or the Presencing Institute?
No, this certification does not entitle you to represent the u-school for Transformation and/or the Presencing Institute, use our brand or display on our website. But it does certify you to be recognized as a quality-level Practitioner of Theory U, with training in the frameworks, methods and tools, equipping you to start applying awareness-based systems transformation in your context. If you are interested in a more advanced level of certification in the future, please subscribe to our newsletter to receive new program announcements. - Can I take more than one certification at the same time?
We recommend focusing on one pathway at a time, but you are able to register in more than one Certification pathway, if your schedule allows. The primary focus of the certification pathways is application, and that takes time. We estimate that completion of a Certification in one-year requires a minimum of 5 hrs/week per Certification. If that does not feel feasible, we recommend taking the certifications separately. - Questions about the certification pathways?
Write to us for support.
