I’ve been reading tarot for myself and others for about 3 years now. I feel pretty confident in my abilities and my intuition has gotten stronger, but I still find myself checking guidebooks more than I’d like and I’ve been paying more attention to threads like learning to sell readings. I’ve been looking at various tarot certification programs and wondering if anyone here has done any of them? I keep seeing Biddy Tarot mentioned, but there are others like the Tarot Guild, TCBA, and some independent teachers offering their own certifications.
Part of me thinks structured learning could help fill in gaps and give me more confidence to read without constantly referring to external sources. Plus, being able to say “I’m a certified tarot reader” does sound kind of cool and might help my ability to sell readings.
But I’m on the fence about whether any of these are worth the investment. For those who’ve gotten certified - did it actually change how you read? Which program did you choose and why? Or did it mostly just confirm what you were already doing?
Would also love to hear about other courses or even podcasts you’ve found helpful. I’ve been exploring different ways to deepen my practice and I’m open to suggestions!
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Have you looked into tarot retreats or workshops?
They’re not certified programs, but you get hands-on practice and meet other people who are into tarot. Local meetups are good too. You can practice readings with real people and get feedback, which helps when you’re mostly learning online.
Getting a tarot certification is about as useful as a chocolate teapot when it comes to impressing seasoned readers, but honestly the structured learning path these programs offer has been the real for filling in those knowledge gaps and building reading confidence.
I’ve been down this certification rabbit hole too.
The debate about official tarot credentials has been going on forever, like, this evolved from 15th-century playing cards, and people still can’t agree on how to formalize it. I spent way too much time comparing programs.
The certification thing is basically trying to put a modern structure on something mystical and personal. Now I just do daily draws and listen to client feedback instead of chasing paperwork. I understand wanting that validation for going professional, though.
If you’re into pulling tarot cards for yourself rather than reading them professionally, these certification programs might not be for you. The structured learning could feel restrictive, especially when you’re trying to connect with the King of Cups or interpret the High Priestess’s wisdom. Sometimes it’s better to let your intuition guide you with the Knight of Swords without having to stick to someone else’s rules.
One thing no one’s mentioned yet, the networking side of these certification programs. You end up meeting other tarot readers and that can be pretty useful for bouncing ideas around and getting feedback.
Sometimes you might even work on stuff together. There are also free workshops and webinars from tarot people that could give you new ideas without having to sign up for a whole certification thing.
The Golden Dawn stuff from the 1800s is interesting, they had this whole certification system that people reacted to differently depending on their background, age and experience really matter with these programs. Newer readers often want certification to feel legitimate, kind of like those initiates who joined the Golden Dawn hoping for some official stamp of approval.
More experienced readers tend to use certification differently. Some just want to polish their skills or meet other serious practitioners. The old occultists did something similar, they used the Order’s system to dig deeper into their practice and find people who actually understood what they were talking about.
I looked into a few of these and they were way more expensive than I expected. Made me wonder if they’re really worth it for someone just wanting to get into reading more.
I spent a few years in Biddy’s certification program and honestly… it was disappointing.
The whole thing felt really disconnected from actual tarot practice. Kind of like comparing a mass-produced RWS deck to something an artist painted by hand - there’s just no soul to it. They talk a lot about ethics and going deep with readings, but most of the time, it seemed like they just wanted students to do free readings on their platform.
Not much support for developing your own style.
One big misconception is that having a certification above your tarot altar makes you a better reader. Certifications can help you understand card meanings and spreads, but they aren’t a substitute for the wisdom you gain from spending years in your reading space, shuffling your decks, and building your connection to the cards.
Whether your reading spot is filled with crystals and candles or just a cozy corner at home, mastering tarot comes from the insights you develop in your own space as much as from formal learning.
Before investing in a program, try creating your own mini-certification. Choose a spread to focus on, like the Celtic Cross, and use it daily for different questions. Take notes on what you notice, what confuses you, and where you feel stuck.
Self-assessment can help you identify the areas where a formal program might be helpful versus what you’ll learn by practicing. Your deck can reveal its secrets through repetition.
Reminds me of that Spider-Man meme where they’re all pointing at each other. Everyone’s getting Tower card energy it seems.
The pricing really does affect how people approach learning tarot. Like with Upskillist at $39.99/month, you’re basically paying as you go, which keeps you coming back and learning bit by bit. It’s different from something like Tarot Readers Academy where you pay once and own it forever.
People who do subscriptions tend to keep practicing and going deeper with the cards over time. The ones who buy lifetime access usually learn what they need, and then they’re done. The Tarot School has both $20 drop-in classes and a full $1,200 degree program, which makes sense. Sometimes you just want to learn one specific thing, sometimes you’re ready to go all in.
Where I live, tarot is really tied to community stuff and local traditions. Online certification programs just don’t fit with that vibe.
It’s like trying to learn from a YouTube video when everyone else learned from their grandma or at the local shop. Around here, people learn through workshops and from other readers in person.
Nobody really cares about certificates.