"The interpretation of dreams is the royal road to a knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind."

— Sigmund Freud

The Interpretation of Dreams (1900)

Psychoanalytic Training: Admission Requirements

Eligibility for the Minnesota Psychoanalytic Institute

To apply for MPI Psychoanalytic Training, you must have a graduate degree from a comprehensive mental health training program. Approved training programs include those that award doctoral degrees in medicine and osteopathy (if supplemented by at least two years of psychiatry residency training), psychology, social work, and education (if that program included a strong clinical psychology component). 

Mental health professionals who have graduated from an accredited mental health degree program with a master’s degree are eligible for training. This must be a degree generally recognized as the highest clinical degree within a specific mental health profession (e. g., masters in social work, in marriage and family therapy, and in psychiatric nursing). 

Some individuals must also have completed at least two additional post masters’ degree years of didactic and clinical training including 3000 hours of clinical experience as well as either (1) 60 hours post-masters of psychodynamic psychotherapy supervision and 60 hours of psychodynamically-oriented courses and clinical seminars or, (2) a two-year organized post masters psychodynamic psychotherapy program including supervised clinical experience. The Psychotherapy Training Program  of the Minnesota Psychoanalytic Society  meets the latter requirement.

Waiver of Eligibility Standards

The Board on Professional Standards of the American Psychoanalytic Association has developed procedures and criteria for the consideration of a waiver of the usual eligibility standards for psychoanalytic education and clinical training to Institutes wishing to accept candidates who on assessment appear to be suitable to become psychoanalytic clinicians but do not fully meet the above eligibility criteria. Waivers for two categories of professionals have been established.

The selection of an applicant is also based on prior education, clinical training, clinical experience, aptitude and potential for psychoanalytic competence. 

Apply for Minnesota Psychoanalytic Training