NLP Training Schools (e.g., NLP University, Society of NLP)
NLP training spans dozens of schools across multiple lineages, rooted in Bandler and Grinder's 1975 modelling work, with no single certifying authority.
- Type
- Coach Training Organization
- Founded
- 1975
- Headquarters
- United States
About
Neuro-Linguistic Programming emerged in the mid-1970s at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where linguistics professor John Grinder and psychology student Richard Bandler collaborated to model the communication patterns of three exceptional therapists: Virginia Satir, Fritz Perls, and Milton Erickson. Their findings, published in The Structure of Magic (1975) and Patterns of the Hypnotic Techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. (1975–77), proposed that excellence in human performance follows identifiable patterns, and that those patterns can be extracted and taught. This premise, called "modelling," remains the intellectual core of NLP.
The term "Neuro-Linguistic Programming" appears to have been coined around 1976. The first formal certification training was run by Steve and Connirae Andreas (then operating as NLP of Colorado) in Denver in September 1979. That same year, Bandler and Grinder established the Society of NLP as the original certifying body. The field then fractured: legal disputes between Bandler and Grinder in the early 1980s meant neither could claim exclusive ownership of the NLP name or curriculum, and the training world evolved into the decentralized, lineage-based ecosystem it remains today.
A coach who has trained through an NLP school has completed a structured programme in perceptual, language, and behavioural change tools, and typically holds at least a Practitioner certificate from one of the active certifying bodies.
Training structure
NLP certification follows a broadly accepted three-tier hierarchy, though hour requirements and assessment rigour vary by school and certifying body.
NLP Practitioner
The entry-level certification. Hour requirements vary. INLPTA, which publishes the most detailed standards, requires a minimum of 130 hours of formal classroom training across at least 15 days. The core models covered are: the Meta Model (language precision), the Milton Model (therapeutic language patterns), representational systems, rapport, anchoring, submodalities, reframing, and strategies. Completion is assessed by demonstration of skills with self and with others. Duration ranges from 7-day intensives to multi-month part-time programmes.
NLP Master Practitioner
Requires prior Practitioner certification. Standard minimum is 120–130 hours of advanced training (INLPTA: 130 hours, 15 days minimum). Emphasis shifts to modelling projects, working with beliefs and values, meta-programmes, sleight of mouth patterns, and conversational change. This level develops the practitioner's capacity to design bespoke interventions rather than apply pre-set techniques.
NLP Trainer (Trainer's Training)
Qualifies the holder to certify others at Practitioner and Master Practitioner level. Requires prior Master Practitioner certification. Training focuses on course design, skills demonstration, group facilitation, and assessment methodology. It is the highest commonly available credential, though some schools offer a Master Trainer level above it.
Lineages and leading schools
Five main lineages shape the NLP training world, each tracing back to Bandler, Grinder, or their early collaborators:
Bandler / Society of NLP — Richard Bandler's lineage, delivered through licensed trainers authorised by the Society of NLP (founded 1978/1979). Pure NLP® (John and Kathleen La Valle) is the longest-standing affiliate. Certificates carry Bandler's personal endorsement.
Grinder / New Code NLP — John Grinder's post-split lineage, developed with Carmen Bostic St. Clair. New Code NLP emphasises implicit learning and high-performance states. Grinder certifies trainers directly.
Dilts / NLP University — Robert Dilts and the late Todd Epstein established NLP University (NLPU) in Santa Cruz in 1991. NLPU, now trading as NLPU International, historically ran a summer residential curriculum in Santa Cruz and currently delivers its trainer-level certifications online. It is particularly associated with "Third Generation NLP," systemic coaching, and the Logical Levels model. Dilts is widely regarded as NLP's most prolific developer and author.
Andreas / NLP Comprehensive — Steve Andreas and Connirae Andreas founded NLP Comprehensive (originally NLP of Colorado) in 1979. They organised the first NLP Practitioner certification training anywhere and have since produced a body of work on phobia, grief, and Core Transformation processes. Phobia and grief work sit close to clinical territory; NLP certification confers no licence to treat either.
O'Connor and European schools — Joseph O'Connor co-authored Introducing NLP (1990), the field's best-selling introduction, and the International Coaching Community (ICC), which he also co-founded, integrates NLP approaches into its coaching training.
Accreditation bodies
No single body regulates NLP training globally. The designations "NLP practitioner" and "NLP master practitioner" are not trademarked, so in principle anyone can use them. In practice, four bodies have emerged as de facto standard-setters:
Society of NLP — the original certifying body, founded 1978/1979 by Bandler and Grinder.
INLPTA (International NLP Trainers Association) — founded 1993 by Wyatt Woodsmall, Bert Feustel, and Marvin Oka; maintains published competency standards and minimum hour requirements.
ABNLP (American Board of NLP) — an extension of the American Board of Hypnotherapy, widely used in the US market.
ANLP (Association for Neuro-Linguistic Programming) — the UK-based professional membership body, functioning more as a practitioner community than a training accreditor.
These bodies do not cross-recognise one another, and their standards differ in meaningful ways. A Practitioner certificate from one school is not automatically accepted as equivalent by a school operating under a different body's framework.
Relationship to mainstream coaching (ICF, EMCC, AC)
Most NLP-only certifications are not accredited by the ICF, EMCC, or AC. NLP schools award proprietary credentials (Licensed Practitioner, Certified Master Practitioner) that sit outside the ICF's Level 1/Level 2/MCC credential ladder. A handful of training providers have secured ICF accreditation for programmes that combine NLP techniques with ICF-aligned coaching competencies, but this is the exception rather than the rule, and the NLP credential itself is distinct from the ICF credential.
This matters practically: a coach holding an NLP Practitioner certificate cannot apply those training hours directly toward an ICF ACC or PCC credential unless the specific programme carrying that certificate has itself received ICF programme accreditation. Coaches seeking both NLP skills and ICF credentials typically need to complete two separate pathways.
The EMCC and AC have no formal accreditation relationship with NLP bodies either, though individual EMCC- or AC-credentialed coaches may also hold NLP qualifications.
What this means for you
If a coach lists an NLP credential, it tells you they have completed formal training in a specific set of communication and change models, typically rapport-building, precision questioning (the Meta Model), state management, belief-change work, and behavioural pattern modelling. What it does not tell you is whether that training was assessed rigorously, how many hours it comprised, or which certifying body endorsed it, because all of those vary significantly between schools. It also does not carry the ethical oversight infrastructure that comes with membership of a body like the ICF, EMCC, or AC. The practical questions to ask a prospective NLP-trained coach: which certifying body issued your credential, how many hours did your training involve, and do you hold any additional professional coaching credentials?
Human excellence is learnable. Every NLP training school, across every lineage, exists to test the field's foundational bet: that the patterns behind outstanding performance can be modelled, codified, and taught to anyone.
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Questions about NLP Training Schools (e.g., NLP University, Society of NLP)
Q.01What is NLP and where did it come from?
What is NLP and where did it come from?
Neuro-Linguistic Programming was developed by Richard Bandler and John Grinder at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in the mid-1970s. Their core method was modelling, which meant studying the communication patterns of highly effective therapists (Virginia Satir, Fritz Perls, Milton Erickson) and turning those patterns into teachable frameworks. Their foundational books, *The Structure of Magic* (1975) and the Erickson patterns volumes, established the intellectual basis still taught in NLP schools today.
Q.02What are the main certification levels in NLP?
What are the main certification levels in NLP?
Most NLP schools use a three-level hierarchy: NLP Practitioner (entry level; INLPTA requires a minimum of 130 hours over at least 15 days, though requirements vary by certifying body), NLP Master Practitioner (advanced, requires prior Practitioner certification, typically 120–130+ additional hours), and NLP Trainer (qualifies the holder to certify others, requires Master Practitioner status). Some schools add a Master Trainer level above Trainer.
Q.03Which organisations certify NLP practitioners?
Which organisations certify NLP practitioners?
There is no single global authority. The main certifying bodies are the Society of NLP (founded 1978/1979, Bandler's original body), INLPTA (International NLP Trainers Association, founded 1993), ABNLP (American Board of NLP), and ANLP (Association for Neuro-Linguistic Programming, UK-based). These bodies do not cross-recognise one another and operate different standards.
Q.04Are NLP certifications accredited by the ICF?
Are NLP certifications accredited by the ICF?
In most cases, no. NLP schools award proprietary credentials that sit outside the ICF's accreditation framework. A small number of providers have gained ICF programme accreditation for courses that blend NLP with ICF coaching competencies, but the NLP credential itself is not an ICF-recognised qualification. Coaches seeking ICF credentials alongside NLP skills generally need to complete both pathways separately.
Q.05How do the main NLP lineages differ?
How do the main NLP lineages differ?
The five main lineages trace back to different early figures. Bandler's lineage (Society of NLP) emphasises the original models with his personal endorsement. Grinder's New Code NLP focuses on implicit learning and high-performance states. Robert Dilts and NLP University developed Third Generation NLP and systemic coaching applications. Steve and Connirae Andreas (NLP Comprehensive) are known for phobia work and Core Transformation. Joseph O'Connor's lineage produced the field's best-selling introductory text and influenced European NLP coaching.
Q.06Is NLP a regulated profession?
Is NLP a regulated profession?
No. The terms 'NLP practitioner,' 'NLP master practitioner,' and 'NLP trainer' are not trademarked or legally protected in any jurisdiction. Anyone can use them. This makes the choice of school and certifying body particularly important. The credential's value depends entirely on the standards of the body that issued it.
Q.07What is NLP University and who runs it?
What is NLP University and who runs it?
NLP University (NLPU) was founded in Santa Cruz, California in 1991 by Robert Dilts and Todd Epstein. Now operating as NLPU International, it historically ran a summer residential curriculum on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus. As of its published 2026 schedule, its Trainer and Consultancy (NLPU 400) and Master Trainer (NLPU 700) certifications run as online programmes, while Practitioner (NLPU 100) and Master Practitioner (NLPU 200) dates are listed as to be confirmed. Dilts, widely regarded as NLP's most prolific developer, is the principal trainer. NLPU is particularly associated with Third Generation NLP and systemic approaches to coaching and leadership.
Q.08What is the Society of NLP?
What is the Society of NLP?
The Society of NLP was established in 1978/1979 by Richard Bandler and John Grinder as the original certifying body for the field. Today it operates as Richard Bandler's personal licensing body. Schools authorised by the Society of NLP issue certificates bearing Bandler's signature. Pure NLP® (run by John and Kathleen La Valle) is among the longest-standing Society-licensed training providers.
Q.09How long does NLP training take?
How long does NLP training take?
A Practitioner programme typically runs 7–20 days of classroom time (or equivalent online hours), often spread over several months part-time. Master Practitioner adds another 8–20 days. Trainer's Training is a further multi-day intensive. In total, moving from beginner to Trainer level involves several hundred hours of study and practice, though exact figures depend on the school and certifying body.
Q.10What should I ask an NLP-trained coach before hiring them?
What should I ask an NLP-trained coach before hiring them?
Ask which certifying body issued their NLP credential, how many training hours the programme involved, and whether they hold any additional professional coaching credentials (such as ICF ACC/PCC, EMCC EIA, or AC accreditation). NLP training varies widely in rigour and scope. Those additional data points help you assess whether the training was substantive and whether the coach is also held to an external code of ethics.
Q.11What does an NLP certification tell me about a coach?
What does an NLP certification tell me about a coach?
It tells you the coach has completed structured training in a specific set of communication and behaviour-change models, typically including rapport-building, the Meta Model (precision questioning), the Milton Model (therapeutic language patterns), submodalities, anchoring, reframing, and state management. What it does not tell you is whether that training was rigorously assessed, how many hours it involved, or which certifying body issued it, all of which vary significantly between schools. NLP credentials are not legally protected: the terms 'NLP practitioner' and 'NLP master practitioner' can be used by anyone regardless of training quality. NLP is not a regulated clinical profession, and an NLP-trained coach is not a licensed therapist, psychologist, or counsellor unless they hold separate clinical qualifications. NLP training is also not accredited by the ICF, EMCC, or AC unless the specific programme independently sought that accreditation; most have not. The credential alone does not imply external ethical oversight or professional accountability in the way that ICF or EMCC membership does.