About Us
Training
Research
Harm Reduction
Integration Support
5-MeO-DMT Information
9-Month Certification Program

5-MeO-DMT
Facilitator Training

A 9-month professional certification preparing experienced
practitioners to support the 5-MeO-DMT experience safely and
ethically, taught by 30+ clinicians, scientists, and legacy facilitators.

At a glance 85+ hours online · 100+ hours in person · No more than 15 students per year · Continued pathways after certification

Apply for Admission →Schedule an Admissions Consultation →
In research partnership with
Imperial College LondonUniversity College LondonThe University of UtahMINDSUniversité de MontréalQualia Research Institute

Next cohort: September 2027 limited to 15 seats per year Applications open now

Apply Now →
Why This Training

A Profession
Built on Safety

A training for those who take safety seriously and who are ready to make facilitation a profession.

The FIVE Institute offers the industry’s leading 5-MeO-DMT facilitator training. This 9-month professional certification prepares experienced practitioners to support the 5-MeO-DMT experience safely and ethically, from medical and psychological screening through preparation, facilitation, integration and so much more.

The curriculum is informed by 2,500+ participant outcomes, real world evidence, research and taught by 30+ clinicians, scientists, and legacy facilitators. Unlike general psychedelic training programs, this psychedelic facilitator training is dedicated entirely to 5-MeO-DMT.

Apply for Admission →Meet the Faculty →
A trainee in a red patterned cardigan writing in her notebook
A facilitator seated on a cushion facing a group of trainees
A facilitator in a striped shirt speaking with the group
Alumni Testimonials

What Graduates Say

Graduates across 11+ countries now offer the highest standard of care and protocols informed by research and real-world evidence.

5-MeO-DMT Facilitator Training with The FIVE Institute
Dr. JoQueta Handy, program graduate, in the testimonial videoDr. JoQueta HandyProgram graduate
Chris Bair, program graduate, in the testimonial videoChris BairProgram graduate
Don Mullen, program graduate, in the testimonial videoDon MullenProgram graduate
Jackie Tileston, program graduate, in the testimonial videoJackie TilestonProgram graduate
Hardy Wallace, program graduate, in the testimonial videoHardy WallaceProgram graduate
Angela Balboa, program graduate, in the testimonial videoAngela BalboaProgram graduate
Roger Kaufmann, program graduate, in the testimonial videoRoger KaufmannProgram graduate
Tish Steenkamp, program graduate, in the testimonial videoTish SteenkampProgram graduate
Dr. Rick Barnett, program graduate, in the testimonial videoDr. Rick BarnettProgram graduate
Thorarinn Aevarsson, program graduate, in the testimonial videoThorarinn AevarssonProgram graduate
Andrew Lanterman, program graduate, in the testimonial videoAndrew LantermanProgram graduate
Apply for Admission →

Alumni Testimonials

The training was exceptional, its deep commitment to safety set a gold standard for this work. It's one of the most valuable trainings I have completed.
Dr. Rick BarnettProgram graduate
If you want to be the most prepared, safe, and professional facilitator you can be, this is it.
Chris BairProgram graduate
Hands down, out of all the trainings I have taken in the past 5 years, this is the best.
Dr. JoQueta HandyProgram graduate
This training is exactly what I was looking for to continue to enhance my facilitating skill set.
Patrick MurphyProgram graduate
That call to higher integrity for harm reduction and the best possible outcome for clients is what encouraged me to do it, and I'm glad I did.
Chris BairProgram graduate
I was struck by the depth, integrity and complexity of this training, ranging from the brain imaging research to mysticism.
Jackie TilestonProgram graduate
It's not a weekend experience. It's a nine-month container that builds all the support to serve this molecule with the utmost integrity and safety.
Hardy WallaceProgram graduate
I left feeling so confident in my skills, my education and my knowledge, knowing there's ongoing support if I have a question.
Angela BalboaProgram graduate
Witnessing so many people in our cohort have their experiences taught me to be unshakable in the face of huge cathartic releases.
Roger KaufmannProgram graduate
If I had not had this training, I would not be equipped to facilitate this medicine in a way that is truly safe.
Tish SteenkampProgram graduate
FIVE is the gold standard. I think there's a consensus on that.
Thorarinn AevarssonProgram graduate
This is an in-depth training that spans so many subjects, so you can really understand how to use this molecule in a way that's safe and supportive.
Andrew LantermanProgram graduate
1 / 12
9
Months
8.5
Months Online
2
Weeks In-Person
15
Seats

A Peek Inside the
Training Curriculum

The cohort begins online in September and closes in May.

Every Week
  • Live Zoom calls
  • Discussion & exercises
  • Guest speakers
  • New videos & handouts
  • Focused coursework
First Quarter · Online

Module 1
Foundations

The evolution of 5-MeO-DMT and its current landscape, best practices and ethics in facilitation, safety, trauma, and understanding how to best hold space for it.
Second Quarter · Online

Module 2
Protocols & Safety

The protocols and logistics of serving, with safety as the keynote: the toolsets to keep participants safe while supporting them to get the most out of the experience.
Third Quarter · Online + In Person

Module 3
Integration & Intensive

The importance of integration, followed by two weeks in person in Mexico: practicing critical facilitation skillsets under supervision by lead teachers, and final exams.
The Curriculum

What You
Will Master

A complete professional skillset, built to meet the depth of this experience.

9Months of training
45+Hours of video content
40+Weekly handouts
40+Hours of LIVE calls
100+Hours of onsite instruction
2Weeks of experiential training

Ethics & Best Practices

Safety Standards

The FIVE Institute Protocols

Dosing Protocols

Integration Essentials

And much more

To protect our methods, the full syllabus is shared with enrolled students only.

Apply for Admission →Schedule an Admissions Consultation →
The Field’s Leaders

Expert-Led Faculty

Credibility transfers. The people who teach this training are the people publishing the field’s research and setting its standards of care.

Our interdisciplinary faculty of 30+ clinicians, scientists, therapists, legacy facilitators, and educators contribute original research, clinical expertise, and applied training methodology to this program.

Portrait of Joel Brierre, Co-Founder & Lead Facilitator, The FIVE Institute
Joel BrierreCo-Founder &
Lead Facilitator
Portrait of Victoria Wueschner, Co-Founder & Lead Facilitator, The FIVE Institute
Victoria WueschnerCo-Founder &
Lead Facilitator
Portrait of Dr. Manesh Girn, PhD, Neuroscientist, The FIVE Institute
Dr. Manesh GirnPhD, Neuroscientist
Portrait of Dr. Bianca Sebben, PhD, Psychologist, The FIVE Institute
Dr. Bianca SebbenPhD, Psychologist
Portrait of Dr. Jack Alloca, PhD, 5-MeO-DMT Scientist, The FIVE Institute
Dr. Jack AllocaPhD, 5-MeO-DMT
Scientist
Portrait of Dr. Benjamin Malcolm, PharmD, Pharmacologist, The FIVE Institute
Dr. Benjamin MalcolmPharmD,
Pharmacologist
Portrait of Dr. Ido Cohen, PsyD, Doctor of Psychology, The FIVE Institute
Dr. Ido CohenPsyD, Doctor of
Psychology
Portrait of Dr. Jeff Tarrant, PhD, Neuro-therapist, The FIVE Institute
Dr. Jeff TarrantPhD, Neuro-therapist
Portrait of Dr. Matthew Hicks, PhD, Naturopathic Physician, The FIVE Institute
Dr. Matthew HicksPhD, Naturopathic
Physician
Portrait of Dr. Azul DelGrasso, PhD, Ecopsychologist, The FIVE Institute
Dr. Azul DelGrassoPhD, Ecopsychologist
Portrait of Marc Aixala, MS, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, The FIVE Institute
Marc AixalaMS, Psychologist,
Psychotherapist
Portrait of Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MFT, Somatic Trauma Psychotherapist, The FIVE Institute
Manuela Mischke-ReedsMFT, Somatic
Trauma Psychotherapist
Portrait of Roger Kaufman, LMFT, Psychotherapist & Educator, The FIVE Institute
Roger KaufmanLMFT, Psychotherapist
& Educator
Portrait of Dan Zalcberg, MPsych(Clin), Psychologist, The FIVE Institute
Dan ZalcbergMPsych(Clin),
Psychologist
Portrait of Anthony Sosa, Psychotherapist, Neuro, The FIVE Institute
Anthony SosaPsychotherapist,
Neuro
Portrait of Eugene Alliende, Transpersonal Psychologist, The FIVE Institute
Eugene AlliendeTranspersonal
Psychologist
Portrait of Sky Weaver, Somatic Trauma Therapist, The FIVE Institute
Sky WeaverSomatic
Trauma Therapist
Portrait of Kimon de Greef, Author & Journalist, The FIVE Institute
Kimon de GreefAuthor &
Journalist
Portrait of Jackie Tileston, MFA, Professor of Art & Mysticism, The FIVE Institute
Jackie TilestonMFA, Professor of
Art & Mysticism
Portrait of Allison Hoots, Esq, Psychedelic Attorney, The FIVE Institute
Allison HootsEsq, Psychedelic
Attorney
Portrait of Fernando Suárez Bleck, Lawyer & Conservationist, The FIVE Institute
Fernando Suárez BleckLawyer &
Conservationist
Portrait of Robert Falconer, IFS Educator & Author, The FIVE Institute
Robert FalconerIFS Educator
& Author
Portrait of Bill Gallagher, Internal Family Systems, The FIVE Institute
Bill GallagherInternal
Family Systems
Portrait of Otto Maier, Head of Integration, The FIVE Institute
Otto MaierHead of
Integration
Portrait of Sky Cielita Flor, Animism Ritualist, The FIVE Institute
Sky Cielita FlorAnimism
Ritualist
Portrait of Pyasa Neko Siff, Somatic Sexologist, The FIVE Institute
Pyasa Neko SiffSomatic
Sexologist
Portrait of Charlotte James, Decolonization Educator, The FIVE Institute
Charlotte JamesDecolonization
Educator
Portrait of Chad Charles, 5-MeO-DMT Educator, The FIVE Institute
Chad Charles5-MeO-DMT
Educator
Portrait of Colette Condorcita, Integration Specialist, The FIVE Institute
Colette CondorcitaIntegration
Specialist
Portrait of Quilley Powers, 5-MeO-DMT Educator, The FIVE Institute
Quilley Powers5-MeO-DMT
Educator
Portrait of Jamie Evans, Hospitality Educator, The FIVE Institute
Jamie EvansHospitality
Educator
Portrait of Cory Firth, Strategic Development, The FIVE Institute
Cory FirthStrategic
Development

Our Training Mission

Setting the Standard of Care

The FIVE Institute’s mission is to advance the safe, ethical, and effective use of 5-MeO-DMT through rigorous, evidence-informed facilitator education. As interest in 5-MeO-DMT grows, the field remains largely unregulated, and many available trainings lack standardized protocols, supervised practice, and real oversight. Our 9-month Facilitator Training was developed to address this gap, establishing a comprehensive standard of care grounded in harm reduction, participant outcome data, and current research.

  • 01

    Harm Reduction

    Protecting participants through thorough screening, preparation, and emergency protocols.

  • 02

    Evidence-Informed Practice

    A curriculum shaped by 2,500+ participant outcomes and current research.

  • 03

    Professional Standards

    A rigorous, accountable standard of care for the field.

The FIVE Institute Research Partners
Imperial College LondonUniversity College London (opens in a new tab)The University of Utah (opens in a new tab)MINDSUniversité de MontréalQualia Research Institute (opens in a new tab)
Prerequisites

Is This Training
Right for You?

This is not an entry point to 5-MeO-DMT.
Admission is selective. You may be ready if you are:

  • Experienced with 5-MeO-DMT. Applicants have sat 7–10+ times with full doses,
    with exceptions for licensed therapists 6+.
  • Grounded in prior self-work. You have done your own work before attempting to serve others,
    with at least one year to process since your first experience.
  • Practiced in self-inquiry. A working understanding of your own patterning
    is required to step into this role.
  • Community-minded. Suited to those who want to work within a community
    rather than make the service about themselves.
  • Service-oriented. Driven by a yearning to support others,
    rather than an unconscious patterning to be the healer.

Newer to 5-MeO-DMT? Book a discovery call to work towards the program.

Schedule an Admissions Consultation →
A participant speaking to the circle during an in-person training session
Not Ready Yet?

Start With the Foundations

Don’t have enough full-dose experiences yet? Begin with
Foundations 101: Understanding 5-MeO-DMT, and we’ll send
you resources to build the experience you need to apply.

Browse the mini-courses →

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Admissions

The Admissions Process

Admission runs through a written application and interview.

  1. 01
    Submit your application.Submit the written application. Seats are limited to just 15 per year and are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  2. 02
    Schedule your interview.Selected applicants are invited to a video interview with The FIVE Institute admissions team. You will be contacted by our team to schedule the call.
  3. 03
    Join the cohort.Accepted students will leave a $3,795 deposit to reserve their seat in the program, along with a student agreement to sign.
01020304ADMISSIONS · 04 STAGESONE COHORT · 15 SEATS / YEARAPPLICATIONSubmit the written application.15 seats a year, first come, first served.INTERVIEWA video interview withThe FIVE Institute admissions team.ACCEPTANCEA $3,795 deposit reserves your seat,with a student agreement to sign.COHORT BEGINSThe 9-month program beginsonline in September.
Fig. 2 · The Admissions Pathway
Trainees in an in-person session of The FIVE Institute's 5-MeO-DMT facilitator training
If you’re going to do it, do it right. This is doing it right. It’s an investment and you get what you pay for.
Angela Balboa, Program graduate
Tuition & Payment

Investing in
Your Training

A training program for those who
take 5-MeO-DMT facilitation seriously.

$1,400/month for 8 monthsafter a $3,795 deposit to reserve your seatTotal tuition $14,995

Tuition Includes

  • 9-Month Facilitator Training
  • 45+ Hours of Video Content
  • 40+ Weekly Handouts
  • 40+ Hours of LIVE Calls
  • 2 Weeks of Experiential Training
  • 100+ Hours of Onsite Instruction
  • 2 Weeks of Accommodations
  • 2 Weeks of Meals
  • 30+ Faculty and Guest Teachers
  • Weekly Alumni Community Calls

Prefer smaller payments? Begin installments earlier, before the program starts, to spread the cost over a longer period.

Apply for Admission →Schedule an Admissions Consultation →
After Graduation

Certification Is
the Beginning

The training does not end when you receive your certificate. Graduates join a working professional community.

Graduates gain access to a professional community with weekly meetings, continued advanced programs and ongoing guidance. Many graduates have gone on to join our team in a range of roles, launch their own practices and retreat centers, and even step into the role of public educators.

Equipped with the knowledge and the professional network, graduates of this program become ambassadors in the world, setting the standard for 5-MeO-DMT care.

Apply for Admission →
A smiling participant seated with the cohort during an in-person session
Ceremonial glass pipes set out on a sheepskin during an in-person session
Admissions

Train to the Standard
the Field Respects

Get the free info packet with everything you need to decide if this training is right for you.

  • Information on The FIVE Institute
  • Program overview, structure and schedule
  • Faculty and lead teachers
  • Tuition, payment plans and what’s included
  • Admission requirements and how to apply
Ready to talk? Schedule a free thirty-minute consultation with our admissions team below to ask your questions and confirm fit before you apply.
Apply for Admission →Or schedule an admissions consultation →

Still deciding? Get the Info Packet

We respect your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.

Schedule an Admissions Consultation

Choose a time to talk with our admissions team about 5-MeO-DMT facilitator training and whether it is the right fit.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does 5-MeO-DMT facilitator training cost?
A deposit of $3,795 to reserve your seat and monthly payments over 8 months of $1,400 (total tuition $14,995). This includes the online portion of the training and 2 week in person training, including instruction, accommodation and food. You can also spread your payments out longer before the program starts to make them smaller.
How long is the training and how is it structured?
Nine months. The online portion runs September through spring, 85+ hours of pre-recorded material, weekly live Zoom classes, and focused coursework, followed by a two-week in-person intensive (100+ hours) with supervised practice and final exams.
What are the admission requirements?
Thorough experience with 5-MeO-DMT, around 7–10 full-dose sits, with exceptions for licensed therapists, at least one year since your first experience, an established self-inquiry practice, and a service orientation. Admission runs through a written application and video interview. If you do not have enough sits for the requirements, you can take the Foundations 101: Understanding 5-MeO-DMT program to gain the experience needed to apply. Book a discovery call to take next steps.
Do I need to be a therapist or clinician to apply?
No. Many students come from teaching, coaching, and practitioner backgrounds. Licensed healthcare professionals may qualify for exceptions to the sit-count requirements.
How many students are accepted each year?
No more than 15, in a single annual cohort. The cap exists so every student receives focused, individualized attention.
Where does the in-person training take place?
The two-week in-person intensive takes place in Mexico. Tuition includes instruction, accommodation and meals for those two weeks. Our admissions team shares the location and travel details with accepted students.
Is it legal to practice as a 5-MeO-DMT facilitator?
5-MeO-DMT is a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States and is regulated in many other countries. Laws vary by jurisdiction, and a certificate is not a government license, so check our legality guide and local law before you practice. The FIVE Institute does not provide, sell, or source 5-MeO-DMT.
What certification do I receive?
A certificate recognized by professionals in the psychedelic field, signalling best facilitation practices. Graduates can also join The FIVE Institute alumni professional community with ongoing calls each week to continue your growth.
Why should I choose this training over other cheaper, or shorter programs?
You are investing in a career with high stakes. As a facilitator you are taking on the responsibility of your participants’ life and wellbeing. Participants from poorly trained facilitators have resulted in suicide, psychosis, destabilization and death. Like any profession, you will need to invest time and money into a good education. A good education will show in your participants’ outcomes and your name as a professional facilitator. Many students join this program after receiving training where they felt unequipped to keep their participants safe. Unfortunately that is the large majority of the training available today and exactly why we created this very program. If you are choosing to take this step, please do it responsibly rather than trying to take the shortcut. Your participants will thank you for it! To compare programs side by side, see how to choose a 5-MeO-DMT training.
What makes this training the best option?

The FIVE Institute is a highly respected organization with an impeccable reputation in the psychedelic field. They have partnered with multiple academic institutions on research projects, including conducting the world’s first EEG study on 5-MeO-DMT. Known as leading experts in the field, they advise and consult for major pharmaceutical and drug discovery companies, and support policy initiatives to shift regulations in various states to include 5-MeO-DMT.

The FIVE Institute also offers the most in-depth training program in the field, featuring 30+ teachers and guest faculty who are experts in their respective disciplines. Their partner company, Tandava, was the world’s first medically supervised 5-MeO-DMT retreat center and serves as a real-world evidence data site whose findings are integrated alongside their research to continuously inform the program. Their other partner company, Five Discovery, a drug discovery company focused on 5-MeO-DMT neuroplastogen research and development, keeps The FIVE Institute at the cutting edge of understanding the impacts of 5-MeO-DMT on the brain, further enriching the training material. At its core, the team at The FIVE Institute is committed to seeing 5-MeO-DMT enter the world in the safest, most ethical way possible.

How do I become a 5-MeO-DMT facilitator?
Build personal experience first (The FIVE Institute requires 7–10+ full-dose sits and at least a year of processing). Next complete a structured, trauma-informed training covering screening, preparation, facilitation, and integration, practice under supervision, and earn certification. The FIVE Institute’s 9-month Facilitator Training is built as that complete pathway. If you do not have enough sits, you can setup a discovery call to get support in gaining the experience to apply. Read our step-by-step guide on how to become a 5-MeO-DMT facilitator.
How is this different from other psychedelic facilitator training?
Most psychedelic training programs cover psilocybin, MDMA or ketamine in general terms. 5-MeO-DMT is short-acting, extremely intense and carries its own physical and psychological risks, so it calls for dedicated protocols for screening, setting, dosing and emergency response. This psychedelic facilitator training is dedicated entirely to 5-MeO-DMT, taught with ethically produced synthetic 5-MeO-DMT rather than toad secretion, with a curriculum informed by 2,500+ participant outcomes.
Do you offer bufo facilitator training?
No. The FIVE Institute does not train facilitators to serve Bufo alvarius (toad) secretion, for ethical and safety reasons. The secretion does contain 5-MeO-DMT, which is why the two are often confused, but its potency can vary up to threefold between batches, it carries other active compounds including heart-active bufadienolides, and harvesting it harms wild toad populations. Every protocol we teach uses ethically produced synthetic 5-MeO-DMT, for precise, predictable dosing. Read more in our guide to bufo facilitator training.
Next Cohort · September 2027

Ready to Train to the Standard?

Applications are open for the next cohort,
limited to 15 seats per year.
Apply for Admission →Schedule an Admissions Consultation →