Tarot certification is a hot topic in the Tarot community. Some readers get absolutely offended when the topic is even raised and there is little nuance to the subject. In this article, we’ll step back a bit and look objectively at Tarot certification.

What is Tarot Certification

There is no official regulating body that certifies Tarot readers. Unlike counselors or massage therapists, anyone can call themself a Tarot reader, professional, or advisor. To fill this gap many certification programs have sprung up. These usually consist of a professional reader who has stepped into a more advisory role to budding Tarot readers. They usually offer programs consisting of classes (at wildly differing price points) at the end of which there may be a test. Upon completion, the student receives a certificate. They can call themselves certified.

Why Certification Can Be Useless

Most of these classes or programs are self-guided; you work on your own and at your own speed. This is great, but there is little oversight by the instructor. Any chapter tests or quizzes are open book and pretty simplistic. As with any kind of learning, how much is really learned depends upon the student. Everyone can usually pass through most of these programs without much difficulty. Tarot certification is not a good indicator of skill level. Tarot reading involves a great deal of intuition, it isn’t just rote memorization of the cards and two or three spreads. A person could easily gain one of these certifications without actually doing a reading! Additionally, the majority of these programs or classes just cover how to read the cards. They don’t discuss ethics, discovering the kind of reader you are, where your skills lie, or how to actually work with clients. Finally, the majority of great Tarot readers aren’t, and have no need for, certification! They are self-taught, have been reading for years, access and trust their intuition, and are stunningly accurate. Certification is just irrelevant for them.

Why Certification Can Be Important

There are a few programs that are more involved in all aspects of preparing a novice reader to read Tarot at the professional level. These programs include not only classes on reading the cards and using spreads, but may also include:

• Instruction on accessing and learning to trust your intuition.
• A deep dive into the ethics of Tarot reading, including legal and medical issues as well as reading for minors or those with cognitive issues.
• Client care, including how to craft questions, getting to the heart of the issue, and finding points to “turn the cards around”.
• Discovering who you are as a reader; your style, your strengths, and your weaknesses.
• Learning how to set boundaries and hold space for yourself while working with clients.

All really good Tarot readers have learned this on their own through trial and error. The programs that include this curriculum in their Tarot certification are helping newer readers get up to speed faster.  They are better equipped to work with clients after the program and have less of a learning curve.

My Experience With Tarot Certification

In March 2020, a week or two into lockdown, I decided to take up Tarot reading after a long period away. As a person who does well with structured learning, I was interested in classes and found a program that seemed to meet my criteria of teaching me the basics of reading Tarot. This was the “Master the Tarot Card Meanings” program through Biddy Tarot. While not cheap by any means, this program really inspired me and quickly leveled up my skills. I believe I receive a free month of the Biddy Tarot community which turned out to be amazing. We were all in lockdown and I had a very limited number of people who were interested in receiving readings. Through the community, I was able to do free readings for other aspiring readers as well as the general public.  Each client supplied feedback as the “price” of their reading. I also met a like-minded reader with whom I’ve set up a mastermind group to build our businesses. This experience expanded my skills so much more than simply reading for friends. In one year I was able to complete 150 free readings, teaching me real-world Tarot reading skills. I found the courses so valuable I signed up for the certification program which added “Read Tarot with Confidence” and “Become a Tarot Advisor”. These programs each go deeper into working with Tarot and discovering my own ethical and moral boundaries. New skills such as guided meditations and integrating other modalities were added.

Taking the Tarot Certification Test

At the end of the program, I dithered about actually taking the tests and completing the certification. I didn’t feel I needed the piece of paper or the validation.  I discussed it with my mastermind partner and she counseled me to go ahead and do it. The certification consisted of three exams, a statement of ethics, completion of at least 20 readings within the free tarot reading interface, and a reading for the examiners.  The process was easy for me because I had studied so hard along the way and already set up my business with a code of ethics and other important information. At the time of the test I’d done 200+ readings, both free and paid, so the reading was no different than any other client reading.

Going Forward

For me, the substantial cost was worth it. I feel that I received 5 years of experience in one year. I have a burgeoning Tarot practice that is becoming full-time. I’ll likely put my certification logo on my site because to me it symbolizes a real achievement. Is certification necessary? Should it be? Absolutely not! Should you choose a Tarot advisor on the basis of certification? No, but it might be worthwhile to ask a potential advisor what they got out of their certification and why they did it. In the end, the results matter. The majority of Tarot readers I admire are not and will never be certified. They are still the best, and most talented, community for which a person could ask.