Everything you need to know.
ISHS answers, criteria and commitments, all in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What is ISHS?
International Society for Holistic Studies supports professional recognition, continuing education and responsible practice in coaching, human development and holistic studies.
Who can apply?
Practitioners, schools, institutions and independent educators who can document their training or activity and commit to our criteria and ethical code.
What does membership include?
A recognition certificate, register listing and one professional update training per period. Education plans also include a website link, a register of graduates accredited by the provider and authorised mark use on its certificates.
Is approval automatic?
No. We review your background and documents and may request additional information before a decision. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval.
How much does it cost and how does renewal work?
Professional: After approval, we activate 3 free months without PayPal or a card. You may then request optional renewal at US$49.50 every 6 months. No automatic charges. School or educator: After approval, we activate 3 free months without PayPal or a card. You may then request optional renewal at US$64.50 every 6 months. No automatic charges. We review your application and, if approved, activate your free period and all benefits without PayPal or a card. Pioneers: 3 months. Founders: 6 months. Renewal is optional.
What does an ISHS certificate recognise?
It identifies the person or institution recognised by ISHS, their membership type, fields and validity. It is private recognition, not a state academic degree or professional licence.
Do my graduates automatically become ISHS members?
Their training can appear in the register of graduates accredited by your school. The school remains the issuer. Individual membership requires a separate application.
Can I list several fields of practice?
Yes. Declare the disciplines you practise or teach and provide supporting information. The register displays fields accepted after review.
What happens if I do not renew?
Active benefits and authorisation for new mark use end. Verification may show an expired membership. Historical graduate records are retained.
How do I raise a question or concern?
Use Contact and select the topic. Include a member code if known and a specific description for the secretariat to review.
Recognition criteria
We recognise your background and help you strengthen your work.
Explore the process and how we support you
Origins and foundations
We identify where each approach comes from and what supports it: established or emerging evidence, theoretical plausibility, tradition, symbolism or spirituality. We request sources, references or background information to understand it. Claims must match the available support; historical use or plausibility alone does not demonstrate effectiveness.
Documented training and experience
We review the preparation of practitioners and educators in each field. Depending on the activity, this may include formal education, specialist training or learning and experience passed down through a tradition. This background must be documented through certificates, statements, references from teachers or communities, or relevant practice records.
Scope of the approach, method or practice
We ask you to describe what you offer, for whom, with which objectives and within what limits. We distinguish a therapeutic approach, a working method and a specific technique or practice. Preparation and supporting information must match the stated scope; knowing a technique alone does not establish comprehensive therapeutic training.
Coherence and training time
For schools and educators, we review objectives, content, duration, practice, guidance and assessment, alongside educator backgrounds. Time and practice opportunities must be sufficient to develop the stated competencies. Review considers the whole programme and the stated field, rather than simply adding up hours.
Documentation and responsibility
Records must allow us to verify who teaches, what is taught and what each document attests to. We review consistency between the application and public information, together with commitment to the code of ethics and the boundaries of the activity. We request clarification or additional supporting material when needed.
Review, guidance and decision
The secretariat reviews the application and communicates approval, areas to complete or reasons for non-admission. When areas can be strengthened, we offer guidance and agree on actions, documents and a reasonable timeframe for another review. You may provide new information and request reconsideration. Guidance does not guarantee approval: recognition reflects the verified criteria and scope.
Validity and updates
Validity appears on each record. Members update information, report material changes and participate in the included training. Renewal requires continuing to meet admission criteria.
Code of ethics
Recognition is sustained through responsible practice.
Respect and autonomy
Treat everyone with dignity and without discrimination. Respect beliefs, decisions and the right to stop a process. Explain objectives, methods, conditions and fees in advance.
Professional honesty
Describe training, experience and scope truthfully. Do not guarantee outcomes, make unsupported cure claims or present beliefs and experiences as established scientific facts.
Competence and boundaries
Work within training and relevant authorisations. Recognise when referral is needed. Wellbeing practices do not replace medical or psychological care when required.
Confidentiality
Protect client and student information. Obtain permission before sharing testimonials, images or identifying data and explain relevant confidentiality limits.
Educational responsibility
Communicate learning objectives, hours, requirements and assessment. Respect intellectual property and issue certificates only when students meet stated requirements.
Learning and addressing concerns
Maintain a learning mindset and cooperate in reviewing concerns. Breaches may lead to corrections, suspension or withdrawal of recognition, with reasons communicated and an opportunity to respond.
Membership terms
Clear benefits, validity and renewal.
Admission and recognition
Membership is subject to review and acceptance. Recognition is privately issued by ISHS to the named person or institution. It is not state authorisation or a guarantee of professional, commercial or health outcomes.
Fees and benefits
Professional: After approval, we activate 3 free months without PayPal or a card. You may then request optional renewal at US$49.50 every 6 months. No automatic charges. School or educator: After approval, we activate 3 free months without PayPal or a card. You may then request optional renewal at US$64.50 every 6 months. No automatic charges. We review your application and, if approved, activate your free period and all benefits without PayPal or a card. Pioneers: 3 months. Founders: 6 months. Renewal is optional.
Application and PayPal authorization
We review your application and, if approved, activate your free period and all benefits without PayPal or a card. Pioneers: 3 months. Founders: 6 months. Renewal is optional.
Invitations and renewal
Private invitations may include six initial months at no cost with the same benefits, starting at activation. Renewal is then optional for twelve months at the disclosed price. There is no automatic renewal or obligation to continue.
Graduates and certificates
Providers are responsible for record authenticity and graduates’ permission to publish them. The institution is the training issuer. Registration does not grant individual membership to graduates.
Cancellation and concerns
Use Contact to decline renewal, request corrections or raise concerns. Duplicate charges and incorrect activations are reviewed and the decision communicated. Transaction terms are confirmed before a paid purchase.
Privacy and data use
Your application documents are not part of the public register.
Controller and optional communications
ISHS — International Society for Holistic Studies manages information submitted through this website. Contact ISHS at ishsglobal.org/contacto and select Privacy. Founding applications record the language, submitted public reference, terms version and acceptance date. Subscription to news, invitations and offers is optional, recorded separately and can be withdrawn through Contact. It is not required for membership.
Information and purpose
We receive information provided when applying, contacting us or registering graduates: identity, contact, training and files. We use it to review applications, manage memberships, verify records and respond. We do not request your clients’ clinical information.
Payments through PayPal
PayPal manages payment methods and billing authorization. ISHS keeps identifiers, status, amount, dates and payer email to reconcile memberships. ISHS does not store card numbers, PayPal passwords or full bank details. Billing data is private and accessible only to authorized administration.
Public and private information
The register shows name, code, country, fields and validity; schools may include a website. Authorised graduate records show name, training, issuer, date and code. Application emails, phone numbers and files remain in restricted management.
Retention and requests
We retain information as needed to manage the relationship and maintain recognition records. Request access, correction, register removal or deletion through Contact by selecting Privacy. Your identity is verified before processing.
Preferences and access
We remember your language in this browser. Member and admin areas use ChatGPT authentication. External sites have their own policies. We do not sell applicant or graduate data.
Using the ISHS mark
A shared identity with a clearly defined scope.
Authorised use
Active members may identify their membership using the mark for their category. Certificates and codes belong to the named person or institution and cannot be transferred.
Graduate certificates
Providers may include the mark, their code and “ISHS member school or educator”. The issuer must remain visible. The mark does not identify ISHS as the issuer of the graduate’s qualification.
Identity and validity
Preserve proportions, colours and legibility. Leave clear space and do not add claims beyond the recognition granted. Expiry or suspension ends authorisation for new use. Historical documents are verified by date and issuer.