Continuing Education and Professional Credits

This page summarizes the kinds of credits we are currently offering for Oren’s online courses: Teacher/Educator Professional Credits, or a Certificate of Completion. We are a small team so thank you in advance for your support by reviewing all of the information on this page BEFORE emailing us with questions.

NOTE: We no longer offer Continuing Education Credits for licensed health professionals, mental health providers, or coaches. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

general overview

The information on this page applies only to classes and trainings which Oren hosts (listed below). For events sponsored by other organizations or groups, such as a meditation center or sangha, please contact that organization to learn if they offer CE credits or certificates and how to apply. Please read all of the information below relevant to your profession prior to your training. 

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, if you wish to apply for credits or a Certificate of Completion: 

  • In-person Training: Let us know prior to the training so you can sign in manually at the event. Instructions will be provided in your welcome email when you register for the training.

  • Online Training: Apply for credits or your Certificate of Completion after completing the training. We will send instructions near the completion of the event.

  • Paying for Credits: Credits are purchased separately after you have completed your program and are not included in the price of the event itself. Payment may be made to a different organization depending on the type of credits you are seeking.


Professional Credits for Teachers and Educators

Professional credits for educators are provided by Courses for Teachers through the University of the Pacific, which is fully accredited with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. These units are Graduate-Level Professional Development Semester Units/Credits intended to help teachers advance on the salary scale or to renew credentials.

See the chart below for cost and registration details, and review the information here for more details. Please be sure you are aware of the requirements before your training begins. Apply for your professional credits after you have completed the training. The first step is to request a Certificate of Completion from us. (Please read the information below on the Certificate of Completion process.) Note that you have one year from the date on your Certificate of Completion to apply to Courses for Teachers for your professional credits.

Questions? First review this information. Then, if you still have questions, please contact Courses for Teachers: courses4teachers@courses4teachers.net or 925-837-3817.

General Certificates of completion

Certificates of Completion are issued upon request and work on the honor system. You must attend all sessions live OR listen to the recordings, and complete the reading and practice assignments within 60 days of the course closing date. 

You must apply for a Certificate of Completion within sixty days of the course / retreat / workshop concluding. We regret that we are unable to grant requests that come after this deadline of 60 days (two months after the end of the course).

To obtain your certificate:

  • Complete the application form (we will provide the link via email towards the end of your course) when you have attended all of the sessions or listened to all of the recordings, and completed all of the reading and practice assignments. You have up to 60 days after the training ends to complete this work and apply for a certificate.

  • We aim to email you your certificate within a week of receiving the questionnaire back, but we are a small team and it may take a couple more days. If you do not receive a certificate within two weeks of completing the application form, please contact admin@orenjaysofer.com to check in with us.

List of Trainings

Say What You Mean: Mindful Communication, Part I (8-week Live Online Course)

Teachers:

  • Professional Semester Credits: 2 graduate level professional development semester credits are available for this course. To obtain the credits, you are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of professional development work (which can be met through a combination of attending the Zoom sessions or watching the recordings, doing course readings, doing course homework, and optional buddy practice sessions and/or engaging in the optional online course forum).
  • Cost: $198 additional fee, paid to the University of the Pacific via Courses4Teachers website.
  • Attendance: You must attend ALL sessions live or watch the recordings within one month after the course ends.

Say What You Mean: Mindful Communication, Part II (8-week Live Online Course)

Teachers:

  • Professional Semester Credits: 2 graduate level professional development semester credits are available for this course. To obtain the credits, you are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of professional development work (which can be met through a combination of attending the Zoom sessions or watching the recordings, doing course readings, doing course homework, and optional buddy practice sessions and/or engaging in the optional online course forum).
  • Cost: $198 additional fee, paid to the University of the Pacific via Courses4Teachers website.
  • Attendance: You must attend ALL sessions live or watch the recordings within one month after the course ends.

Cultivating Authentic Communication (8-week Online Class; Say What You Mean, part III)

Teachers:

  • Professional Semester Credits: 2 graduate level professional development semester credits are available for this course. To obtain the credits, you are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of professional development work (which can be met through a combination of attending the Zoom sessions or watching the recordings, doing course readings, doing course homework, and optional buddy practice sessions and/or engaging in the optional online course forum).
  • Cost: $198 additional fee, paid to the University of the Pacific via Courses4Teachers website.
  • Attendance: You must attend ALL sessions live or watch the recordings within one month after the course ends.

6-day Wise Speech Retreat

Teachers:

  • Professional Credits: 2 graduate level professional development semester credits are available for this course. You must attend the entire retreat, all days from beginning to end. No additional work is required outside of the retreat, which includes the required minimum of 30 hours of professional development work. We will send you more information after you register for the retreat.
  • Cost: $198 additional fee, paid to the University of the Pacific via Courses4Teachers website.
  • Attendance: You must attend the entire retreat.

Mindful Communication Foundations (6-week Class, Berkeley)

Teachers:

  • Professional Credits: 1 graduate level professional development semester credit is available for this course. To obtain the credit, you are required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of professional development work.
  • Cost: $99 additional fee, paid to the University of the Pacific via Courses4Teachers website.
  • Attendance: You must attend all six classes
  • Registration: We will send you more information after you register for the class.

Spirit Rock Retreats and Daylongs

Spirit Rock Meditation Center offers CE Credits for many of Oren's programs and retreats there. Please see Spiritrock.org for details. (Click here for a list of Oren's upcoming events at Spirit Rock).

FAQ

A colleague of mine / I received Continuing Education Credits (CECs) for this course in the past. How come I can’t receive them now?
Due to the large amount of time and energy it took to process a relatively small number of requests for CECs, we are not offering Continuing Education Credits for Oren’s courses at this time.

I’m a teacher. How do I know if I’m eligible for Professional Teacher Credits? 
If you have questions about eligibility for educators, please contact Courses for Teachers: courses4teachers@courses4teachers.net or 925-837-3817.

How do I get a certificate of completion?
Near the end of your training, we will send everyone registered a link to apply for a certificate of completion. Use the link in that email to appy.

How much do Professional Teacher Credits cost?
Please refer to the chart above for specific pricing for each training. Contact Courses for Teachers if you have questions about their rates at: courses4teachers@courses4teachers.net or 925-837-3817.

How do I pay for Professional Teacher Credits?
Please send your payments for Professional Teacher Credits directly to Courses4Teachers following the information in their packet.

I have questions not answered on this page, who do I contact?
Send your questions about our policies to admin@orenjaysofer.com. Please send questions about Professional Teacher Credits to courses4teachers@courses4teachers.net.