Certification Evals

In order to become a Certified Craniosacral Therapist (CCST), students need to successfully complete three evaluations: one oral and two practicals. These evaluations are an incentive to study hard and provide an opportunity to show what the student knows (we are not interested in searching for what students do not know). Students are tested on the material presented during class and outlined in the handouts provided for each class, including the Elective Classes the student has taken. Students are given a printed ‘knowledge assessment’ at the end of Core 4 as a study guide. Evaluations are scheduled to take place independent of one another. Students must take and pass each evaluation before being eligible to sit for the following evaluation. (Passing score on each evaluation is 75%.) Scheduling is coordinated by the examiner.

Progression

Exams are scheduled to take place independent of one another. Students need to pass the Technical Eval before proceeding to the Oral Eval and pass the Oral Eval before proceeding to the Professional Session Eval. Please contact the teacher to schedule.

Technical Evaluation

This evaluation is held 2-3 months after the completion of Core 4 and covers the techniques taught in the Introductory Workshop and throughout the Core Series. The student is given a list of 10-12 techniques that they demonstrate on the examiner. Within these techniques, the student performs different treatment approaches in the cranial rhythm and mid-tide (feeling for the structure's movement, strain patterns/inertia, etc.). This is not a treatment session, so the pacing and completion of each technique is guided by the examiner rather than a therapeutic process. The evaluation is held at the office of the examiner and takes roughly 90 minutes. To be able to sit for this evaluation, all Core Series requirements must be complete.

Oral Evaluation

The oral evaluation is scheduled after all courses and extracurricular requirements have been met. This evaluation focuses on the theoretical, anatomical and methodology of the Introductory Workshop, Core Series and particular Electives of each student. Study guides are given at the end of the Core Series to assist students in preparing for this evaluation. It is strongly suggested to form study groups for support and deepening of your understanding of the material. A series of questions are asked: an individual student is asked a question and given time to respond to the best of their ability. Other students may be asked to add to the answer before moving on to a new question. The oral evaluation is held at the evaluator's office with an assistant present as a co-evaluator. Students are evaluated in groups of 2-4; depending on the size, the evaluation lasts between 2 and 3 hours, with a short break as needed. To sit for this evaluation, all coursework, professional sessions, case studies and practice sessions must be complete and documented.

Professional Session Evaluation

Students should approach this final evaluation as if it were a typical treatment session, with the examiner as a new client. If feasible, the evaluation will be held at the student's office. Students begin with an intake and whatever assessments they choose. The session can include all tides and is scheduled for 2 hours (10 minutes for orientation; 15 minutes for intake, 75 minutes for hands-on, and 15 minutes for discussion). Students are evaluated on their ability to provide a client-centered session that addresses their needs in a professional and effective manner. Both previous evaluations need to be passed to sit for this evaluation.

Results

For the practical evaluations, examiners will give modest feedback during the evaluation itself. For all evals, formal results will be communicated to students within one week of the evaluation.

Make-up Evals

If students do not successfully complete an evaluation, they are given detailed information about their areas of weakness and strategies for improvement. Each evaluation may be attempted no more than two times -- this provides the possibility of one retake per evaluation. The very first time a retake is done, the retake is free; but, from then on, should a student need do a retake on any other evaluation, the student will be charged a $200 fee per retake.