The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator certification is useful
I have always been somebody that believed you didn’t need a certification if you already have the practical experience. After all, a certification is just a piece of paper that says you have the median level of competency as assessed by that accredited institution or vendor.
I had been studying MBTI for 2 years prior to getting my certification, so I really didn’t see the need to get it as I felt like I was very much ahead of the class. I had essentially read the entire library of MBTI literature from David Keirsey to Dario Nardi to John Beebe. In my mind, I theoretically had all the concepts locked down.
When I finally bit the bullet and registered for the class, I quickly realized there were many small details that I would not have known without the class. Some of the details are crucial to your professional presentation and administration.
Ethical and Legal
For example, I did not know about the ethical and legal aspects of MBTI, nor did I have the professional know-how to look competent as I was delivering and administering both the test and the subsequent walk-through. I had the theory, but I was missing that logistical administration piece that truly makes you a professional practitioner.
The language of how you give feedback to your client is very important. What tends to happen when you are in “enthusiast mode,” is that you tell people what their Type is, instead of telling them, “Well, you probably prefer introversion over Extraversion, but you have the ability to do both.” During my class, I learned there are specific ways of speaking that both lend credibility and authority to you as a practitioner.
On the practical side of becoming certified, there is the Human Resources box that needs to be checked. When looking to hire an MBTI practitioner for a workshop or coaching session, oftentimes a credentialed professional is required internally to be approved. This ensures that the accredited institution has validated your ability to use the tool and administer it effectively. No matter the fairness of this process, the reality is what it is. I resisted this notion for so long (part of my INTJ personality, no doubt!)
New to Myers-Briggs
Many in the class were part of a larger group that was essentially enrolled by their Director for professional use. This group was part of a career readiness and up-skilling program that was looking to use MBTI as a career guidance tool.
Within this group, some had never heard of MBTI until they took the assessment a week prior. In that case, I do believe the class may feel rigorous and overwhelming with information. Coming in green will probably feel like learning an entire new language that you have to learn in 4 days.
The Final Test
Throughout the course, the instructor highlighted slides that were “important to take notes on,” which is code word for “these will be on the final test.” I found that this was accurate and that paying attention to these throughout the 4 days led to success on the final exam. What is essential to the Myers Briggs Company and the Myers Briggs Foundation is that those who are representing them, do so in an ethical, professional, and formal manner. This criteria manifests itself throughout the final exam.
Conclusion
Overall, it was worth getting the certification to essentially cross my T’s and dot my I’s so there can be no question as to my competency in administering the MBTI assessment. I would recommend certification to those who are already experienced in Typology and for those who are simply enthusiasts.
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