Criteria for Certification – ITTC
The following Criteria for Certification must be met by all students wishing to become Agama Yoga teachers. If during the Internal Teacher Training Course (ITTC) any staff member becomes aware of any breach of these criteria, the Administration will be notified, and will investigate and address the matter promptly, in a case-appropriate manner. We reserve the right to deny certification to any student who does not fulfill course obligations or who does not meet Agama Yoga standards, as detailed below. In the event that certification is withheld, it will be at the sole and final discretion of Swami Vivekananda to grant permission to retake the course.
Attendance
With the exception of emergencies, Agama Yoga expects full attendance of all ITTC sessions in order to earn the certificate issued at the end of the course, pending the successful outcome of a student’s exams. A student will be granted a small margin of excused absenteeism from class sessions (5 percent or less) to account for illness, visa runs, or emergencies. Attendance is defined as active participation in all facets of the program: theoretical presentation, asana practice, meditation, interviews, teaching workshops, etc. A student who does not meet the attendance minimum will not receive his or her teaching certificate.
If a student’s excessive absence is due to a legitimate reason, such as an illness or other health emergency, he or she may join a future ITTC at a cost of 25 percent of the course, and must successfully attend all classes and pass all exams (with the same margin of absenteeism as noted above, for the same acceptable reasons) in order to earn the course certificate. Otherwise, should certification be withheld due to unexcused absences, the student may – upon approval of a new application to the program – attend the ITTC again at a future date for the full program fee in order to receive certification.
It will be the student’s responsibility to make up any missed course material for excused absences.
Students may not attend any other Agama Yoga course levels, workshops, or retreats concurrently while enrolled in the Internal Teacher Training Course.
Exams
The final exam consists of a written section covering teachings and theory specific to the ITTC. Participants must complete the course with a cumulative passing average on exams, in addition to attendance verification, in order to receive their teaching certification.
Practicum Workshop Training
Successful completion of all practicum teaching assignments is a requirement for certification. Presentations must demonstrate a student’s ability to teach using the Agama Yoga methodology, including a good command of the scripted mnemonics as well as theoretical absorption of the material itself demonstrated by a proper understanding of the course material, correct answers to questions when student-teaching, etc.
Professional and Ethical Behavior
After certification, an Agama Yoga teacher is expected to adhere to certain standards, which will be described fully in the Spiritual Code that you will receive in your student booklet. If there is found to be a professional or ethical complaint against an Agama teacher, an inquiry will be made. If a legitimate basis for the complaint is found, it could result in revocation of certification, or other limitations placed on the teacher’s use of the name “Agama Yoga.”
Annual Empowerment
Agama Yoga teachers teach under the permission and spiritual protection of the founder and spiritual leader of the school, Swami Vivekananda Saraswati. At the end of each ITTC, graduates receive an empowerment to teach directly from Swami Vivekananda. In order to continue teaching under the Agama name and with the protection of Swami Vivekananda, you must receive an empowerment each year. This brief meditation is arranged at least twice annually, scheduled a minimum of three weeks in advance. Teachers worldwide are asked to synchronize their schedules with this announced meditation and to participate in order to renew their empowerment.
Use of the Name “Agama Yoga”
Use of the name Agama Yoga and the Logo are restricted by international trade mark only to be used in compliance with Agama Yoga terms and conditions. We encourage ITTC participants, upon graduation, to register themselves as an Active Agama Yoga Teacher and ambassador this esoteric yoga throughout the world.