Hypnosis Motivation Institute

The Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI), which operates as HMI College of Hypnotherapy, is a California nonprofit school whose training is devoted to clinical hypnotherapy and mind-body psychology. It is based in Tarzana, but its current instructional model is interactive distance learning: classes, live instructor sessions, peer practice, and supervision are delivered online. Its main pathway starts with a one-year, 720-hour Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma. Graduates can then apply to a second year leading to an Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree in Mind-Body Psychology; the combined sequence is described as 1,440 hours. This is a focused career-training route, not a general psychology bachelor's or master's program.

What the training includes—and what the credential means

The first-year curriculum moves from foundational hypnosis and clinical methods into a supervised residency. HMI lists practical skills workshops, case conferences, ethics and interviewing coursework, and a six-month clinical internship in which eligible students work with clients under supervision. Coursework also addresses business practices, advertising, and building a private practice. HMI says the diploma meets the requirements for its Hypnotherapist certification designation through the American Hypnosis Association (AHA). Completing that year makes a graduate eligible to apply for the second-year AOS in Mind-Body Psychology, which adds psychology coursework and further internship experience; the associate degree is awarded only after meeting its separate admissions requirements.

Prospective students should distinguish the school's national accreditation from state licensure and from a clinical psychology degree. HMI's 2026–27 catalog identifies the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) as its institutional accreditor, and California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education licenses it to operate. HMI itself says the program prepares students primarily for self-employment and does not guarantee employment or income. Hypnotherapist certification is not a psychologist, counselor, or marriage-and-family-therapist license. Check the laws where you intend to practice and ask how the training fits any existing professional license or credential.

Tuition, aid, and the price question to settle first

HMI's current program page lists first-year tuition of $17,297 before aid and discounts. The institute estimates an average adjusted first-year cost of about $9,500 for students who qualify for federal grants, scholarships, and discounts; that is an estimate, not an award guarantee. Eligible students may apply for Pell Grants, federal Direct Loans, and the institute's Community Service Work-Study program. HMI describes the work-study option as a way to reduce tuition in return for qualifying pro-bono service; confirm the required hours and terms with Financial Aid. Its admissions process includes a one-to-one financial-aid meeting so students can review individual eligibility and payment timing.

There is a material inconsistency in HMI's published second-year AOS price: the current program FAQ lists $18,287 before aid, while the 2026–27 catalog addendum lists $17,379. Do not calculate a two-year budget from one figure alone. Ask HMI for a dated, itemized written estimate covering tuition, fees, any required internship expenses, aid assumptions, and monthly payments before signing an enrollment agreement. Review the current school catalog and addendum and financial-aid details.

Admissions, online study, and support

Applicants start with a free online “Hypnosis in History” lesson and an online application, followed by a Zoom interview with an admissions representative. HMI requires applicants to be at least 18 and to document high-school completion or its equivalent; students also need a computer, reliable internet, and the ability to participate in live Zoom classes. The first-year program has enrollment starts throughout the year, approximately every four weeks, according to the catalog. The AOS is not a direct-entry program: applicants must first complete HMI's diploma year and meet the additional selection requirements. Students considering this path should ask about the expected weekly practice and study time, access to supervised client experience, withdrawal/refund terms, and transfer-credit limits; HMI's catalog limits eligible transfer credits.

The institute's main office is at 18607 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 310, Tarzana, CA 91356-4154; its main phone is (818) 758-2700. HMI lists operating hours of Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Pacific Time, and closure Friday through Sunday and on holidays. Student Services publishes separate hours, Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m., and a separate number, (818) 758-2720. Because the program is online, contact the school before traveling to the Tarzana office; HMI reports no branch or satellite locations in its California annual report.

Reading the available student comments

Independent student commentary is limited. Trustpilot has a single public review, which is positive about the educational resources, while Niche's student page contains only a few poll responses rather than a broad set of written accounts. HMI also publishes graduate testimonials describing flexible online study, instructor access, and personal or professional development; those are institution-selected stories and should be read as such. Ask the admissions counselor to connect you with current students or graduates, and specifically discuss the balance between recorded material and live practice, the pace of clinical supervision, the costs of establishing a private practice, and what support remains available after graduation.

For a prospective-student consultation, program details, and the application form, start on HMI's Clinical Hypnotherapy Program page. HMI also shares updates through its official Facebook page.