societyofnlp.com

What It Is

Society of NLP says it was founded in 1978 and describes itself as one of the earliest and larger licensing and certification bodies in the field of NLP. Its core positioning is not as a standalone online course platform, but as an organization built around Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), setting training standards, licensing trainers, certifying students, and providing official resources. Its website also offers access to in-person licensed training, trainer search, certification renewal, audio/video programs, and a free Newsletter.

Core Courses and Certifications

Based on the site content, its course areas include NLP Practitioner, Master Practitioner, Licensed Trainer, as well as applied tracks such as Charisma Enhancement, Design Human Engineering, Persuasion Engineering, and Neuro-Hypnotic Repatterning. The organization places particular emphasis on Licensed training being completed in person, arguing that face-to-face practice and real-time feedback are important for communication and change work; online or virtual learning is defined as “teaching” rather than formal “training.” This means its certification model leans more toward in-person workshops and a network of licensed trainers, rather than standardized recorded courses.

Trainers and Organizational Background

The organization is associated with Richard Bandler and John La Valle, and the website states that students who complete authorized courses can receive certificates signed by Richard Bandler. Kathleen La Valle is introduced as a Licensed Master Trainer with more than 30 years of training experience, covering areas such as customer service, intuitive processing, sales and influence, and education. The organization’s background and licensing system are its main selling points, but the content does not provide a specific trainer list, course schedules by region, or detailed syllabi.

Pricing and Services

Pricing information is limited. The page mentions an NLP Eternal Unlimited Subscription, which allows users to watch official audio and video resources on PC, Mac, mobile devices, tablets, and Chromecast/Airplay-compatible TVs. Content includes restored archives, classic programs, new live seminar material, and trance programs, but no subscription fee is listed. Offline certification courses also do not display pricing, refund policies, course hours, or class frequency; users need to contact trainers directly for confirmation.

Pros, Cons, and Who It’s For

The strengths are its long history, clear certification pathways, emphasis on licensed trainers and quality control, plus official audio/video materials and a free monthly newsletter. The drawbacks are average transparency, especially around pricing, languages, regional course availability, and payment methods. Its insistence on in-person certification also increases time and travel costs. It is better suited to people who want to study NLP systematically, pursue an official certificate, work in training/consulting/sales/customer service, or improve communication and influence skills. If you only want a low-cost introduction to NLP, its streaming resources or free Newsletter may be more appropriate.

Access from China

The content does not clarify access from mainland China, Chinese-language courses, RMB payments, or local training arrangements, so china_access can only be rated as unknown. Chinese users considering enrollment should first confirm website accessibility, payment methods, course language, certificate delivery, offline locations, and whether cross-border attendance is required. If Chinese-language teaching and local after-sales support are more important, domestic psychology, communication training, or corporate training courses may be worth comparing as alternatives.