ESD Global Certification Process

LEVEL
Level 1 Instructors are able to teach basic Empowerment Self-Defense classes to women or older female teens from 1 to12 hours long.​
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1

Requirements:
1. 45 - 60 hours of ESD Global Level 1 Training​
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2. Continued engagement with an ESDG Mentor and Mentorship Group.
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3. Completion and documentation of 30 hours of free ESD teaching in your community
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Note: Certifications in Basic First Aid and CPR are highly recommended, as well as ​
development of clear safety protocols for teaching practice.*
Application for Level 2
1. Additional 70 hours of teaching*​
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2. 4 case studies – reflecting on your role as a teacher​
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3. A resume of your relevant experience​
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4. A class plan​
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*Note: If you have previous experience teaching ESD, you may be able to count (some) hours towards certification.

2
LEVEL

Level 2 Instructors are able to develop and teach an in-depth self-defense class in a trauma-sensitive and socially aware environment.
Requirements:​
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1. Continued engagement with Mentor and Mentorship Group​
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2. Teach 100 hours of ESD​
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3. Complete 3 to 5 ESD workshops to enhance teaching, or outside workshops that include​ understanding trauma and creating trauma-informed​ teaching spaces​
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4. Create first draft of a business or social media work plan.*​
Application for Level 3
1. 100 hours of ESD teaching​
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2. 4 case studies – reflecting on participant experience​
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3. Draft business or social media work plan​
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4. Documentation of additional training completed

Level 3 Instructors will be able to show full competency in teaching a full basics class to
at least one specialty group in their chosen area.
Requirements: ​
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1. Continued engagement with Mentor and Mentorship Group​
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2. Teach 100 hours of ESD​
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3. Participate as an assistant/intern in 1 ESD Global Level 1 training​
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4. Complete 20* hours of training/research to enhance teaching ​
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5. Complete ESD Global online training in understanding trauma*​

3
LEVEL
Application for Level 4
1. 100 hours of ESD teaching​
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2. Documentation and summaries of additional training/research noting how it has been incorporated into your ESD teaching
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3. Submit a video from a portion of a special population course ​
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4. 3 case studies detailing participant response and teacher adaptations ​

Level 4 Instructors should be able to competently and comfortably teach Empowerment Self Defense classes in a wide range of circumstances and to a wide variety of groups and speak comfortably about the impacts of ESD on individual healing, growth, and community change.​

4
LEVEL
Requirements:​
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1. 100 hours of ESD teaching​
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2. Co-teach an ESD Global Level 1 program​
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3. Submit and reflect on participant feedback from Level 1​
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4. Review skills and experience with Mentor: identify and address gaps
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5. Make an ESD-related presentation to the Mentorship Committee​
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6. Submit letters of recommendation
Maintaining Certification
To maintain certification, instructors must:​
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Maintain a high standard of ESD teaching practice including:​
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Ensure that training environments are physically safe, trauma sensitive and free from bias, harassment, and abuse.​
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Show a commitment to ongoing learning and development​
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Certification can be revoked in cases where instructors act in ways which violate the mission, values, and policies of ESD Global Inc. such as:​
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Harassment, assault, or abuse of a student, co-trainer, partner, or community-member.​
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Fraudulent business practices​
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Teaching in a way that is dangerous to students’ emotional, mental, or physical health and wellbeing.​