🌟 Become an Accredited American Mah Jongg Instructor! 🌟

The School of American Mah Jongg offers two pathways to accreditation. Both lead to the same accreditation and therefore require candidates to demonstrate the same high standards of rules knowledge, terminology, teaching ability, and game mechanics.

Both pathways require a passing exam AND a successful teaching practicum.

The difference is simple:

✅ Full Program – $597

Designed for new, aspiring, or developing instructors — and for experienced instructors who want to ensure their teaching aligns with current NMJL standards.

The Full Program teaches you the material and instructional standards you will ultimately be expected to demonstrate. It includes:

11 comprehensive training modules
Teaching methodology and proper instructional sequence
NMJL rules, terminology, and game mechanics
Quizzes and final exam
Required teaching practicum
Printable teaching resources
1-hour coaching session within 12 months of accreditation
Lifetime access to our Instructor Network

Exclusive Lesson Kit provided upon successful completion of accreditation

✅ Exam-Only Track – $199

Designed ONLY for experienced American Mah Jongg instructors who are already teaching according to current NMJL standards and are prepared to demonstrate those standards without additional training.

The Exam-Only Track is not a shortened version of the Full Program and does not teach you how to meet the accreditation standards. It is an assessment pathway for instructors who believe they already possess the knowledge and teaching skills covered in the Full Program.

Before choosing Exam-Only, you should already be able to:

Use correct NMJL/American Mah Jongg terminology consistently.
Teach beginners in a clear, logical instructional sequence.
Accurately teach and demonstrate fundamental game mechanics.
Explain the Charleston, exposures, Joker exchanges, picking and racking, calling and discarding, and other basic procedures correctly.
Teach current NMJL rules accurately, including situational rules.
Demonstrate proper table setup and beginning-of-game procedures.
Clearly explain rules and procedures to true beginners.
Conduct a complete beginner lesson that meets the School's practicum requirements.

If any of these areas are unfamiliar to you, or if you are unsure whether your current teaching methods align with these standards, the Full Program is the appropriate pathway.

🎥 The Practicum Is Required for BOTH Pathways

Every accreditation candidate — Full Program and Exam-Only — must successfully complete a practicum. There are no exam-only exemptions from the practicum.

The practicum is an essential part of accreditation because passing a written exam demonstrates rules knowledge; it does not demonstrate the ability to teach American Mah Jongg correctly and effectively.

For the practicum, you will be required to submit a video of yourself teaching a beginner lesson to 3–4 true beginners. Your lesson must demonstrate required teaching components, terminology, game mechanics, instructional sequence, and gameplay according to the practicum guidelines provided by the School.

Your practicum will be evaluated for both accuracy and instructional ability. Candidates who do not meet the required standards may be asked to make corrections, meet for additional review, or resubmit all or part of the practicum.

Please do not enroll in the Exam-Only Track unless you are prepared to demonstrate these skills without receiving the instructional training provided in the Full Program.

🀄 Which Path Is Right for Me?

Feature	Full Program	Exam-Only Track
Price	$597	$199
Best For	New, aspiring, developing instructors, or experienced instructors wanting formal training in our standards	Experienced instructors already teaching to current NMJL standards
Training Provided	✔️ Yes	❌ No
Teaching Sequence & Methodology	✔️ Taught in the course	❌ Expected knowledge
NMJL Terminology & Game Mechanics	✔️ Taught/reinforced	❌ Expected knowledge
Printable Teaching Resources	✔️ Included	❌ Not included
Practice Activities	✔️ Included	❌ Not included
Final Exam	✔️ Required	✔️ Required
Practicum	✔️ Required	✔️ Required
Accreditation Certificate	✔️ Upon successful completion of all requirements	✔️ Upon successful completion of all requirements
Digital Badge	✔️ Upon successful completion and according to usage guidelines	✔️ Upon successful completion and according to usage guidelines
Instructor Directory Listing	✔️ Upon accreditation	✔️ Upon accreditation
Exclusive Lesson Kit	✔️ Provided upon successful completion of accreditation	❌ Not included
1-Hour Coaching Session	✔️ Included	❌ Not included

🀄 Before Choosing Exam-Only

Please ask yourself:

Could I successfully teach and demonstrate a complete beginner lesson today, using current NMJL rules, terminology, procedures, and an appropriate instructional sequence, without additional instruction from the School?

If the answer is yes, Exam-Only may be the right pathway.

If the answer is no, maybe, or I'm not sure, we strongly recommend the Full Program.

Choosing Exam-Only because you have taught for many years does not necessarily mean your current terminology, procedures, or teaching sequence align with the standards evaluated for accreditation.

📝 Exam-Only Exam Requirements

Multiple-choice examination
Minimum passing score: 90%
One retake is included at no additional fee
Successful completion of the exam does not complete accreditation
The required practicum and all other accreditation requirements must also be successfully completed

🎓 Accreditation

Accreditation is awarded only after all requirements for the selected pathway have been successfully completed, including the required practicum.

Renewal requirements and program guidelines are subject to change from time to time. All Accredited Instructors are responsible for adhering to the most current version of the requirements, regardless of the version in place at the time of their initial accreditation.