Usui Reiki is taught in three levels. Level 1 (Shoden) is for treating yourself and the people close to you. Level 2 (Okuden) is for treating other people, including at a distance. Master (Shinpiden) is for teaching and attuning others. Everyone starts with Level 1, and it is enough if Reiki is for you and your family. You need Level 2 to work with clients, and Master only if you want to teach or go deeper into the practice.
Below is what each level teaches, how long it takes, what it costs and how long to wait between levels, with our own Reiki training in Nepal as the worked example.
How many levels of Reiki are there?
Usui Reiki has three levels. Each goes by several names:
- Level 1: also First Degree, or Shoden in Japanese
- Level 2: also Second Degree, or Okuden
- Master: also Third Degree, Level 3, or Shinpiden
Some schools use more levels. Some add an advanced level between Level 2 and Master, some split Master into a practitioner level and a teacher level (often called 3A and 3B), and some teach other styles of Reiki with seven levels or more. The three levels above are the core that Usui Reiki schools share.
Reiki levels at a glance
- Level 1: 2 days, 10 hours, USD 250. Your first attunement, hand positions for treating yourself, the five Reiki principles. For anyone; no experience needed.
- Level 2: 2 days, 10 hours, USD 300. The second attunement, three symbols, distance Reiki, working with clients. At least 3 months after Level 1.
- Master: 4 days, 20 hours, USD 400. The master attunement, the master symbol, how to attune and teach. At least 9 months after Level 2.
These are our hours and fees in Kathmandu. Other schools differ, so compare courses by hours as well as days: a day can mean two hours or a full timetable.
What does Reiki Level 1 teach, and who is it for?
Level 1 is where Reiki training starts. You receive your first attunement, learn the hand positions for treating yourself, and learn the history of Reiki and its five principles. By the end you can treat yourself every day, and give Reiki to family, friends and animals with your hands on the body.
It is for anyone. No experience is needed, and no special sensitivity. After Level 1 come 21 days of self-practice at home, two to three hours a day. What happens in a Reiki attunement covers the first attunement and those 21 days.
Our Reiki Level 1 training is 2 days at the centre in Tarkeshwor, Kathmandu, 5 hours a day.
What changes at Reiki Level 2?
Level 2 is the level for working with other people. You receive the second attunement and three symbols, and learn to treat others properly: how to structure a session from start to finish, how to look after someone afterwards, and how to work with clients ethically. You also learn distance Reiki, sent to someone who is not in the room.
Take Level 2 if you want to treat people beyond your own household, or if you already work with clients, for example as a yoga teacher or massage therapist, and want to offer Reiki too. Many students also take it purely for personal growth.
Our Reiki Level 2 training is 2 days, taught at least three months after Level 1.
What is Reiki Master, or Level 3, and do you need it?
Master Level is the teaching level. You receive the master attunement and the master symbol, and learn how to give attunements and how to teach Level 1 and Level 2 to students of your own. When you complete it you are qualified to initiate and teach Reiki, subject to the rules where you live.
You do not need Master to practise Reiki or to treat clients: Level 2 is enough for that. Some students take Master to teach. Others take it for the depth of practice, without planning to teach.
Our Reiki Master training is 4 days, at least nine months after Level 2, and we talk with you about your practice before agreeing a date.
How long should you wait between Reiki levels?
Schools differ more on this than on anything else. Some teach Level 1 and Level 2 in one weekend, and some teach every level in a single course. Others ask for months of practice between levels.
We ask for at least three months of daily Level 1 practice before Level 2, and at least nine months between Level 2 and Master, with the practice kept up in between. Each attunement needs time to settle before the next is given. There is no upper limit, and many students come back after a year or two.
Can you take two Reiki levels on one trip?
With us, no. Level 1 and Level 2 are never taught on the same trip. If your time in Nepal is short, take Level 1 now and come back for Level 2. If you are comparing schools that offer both in a few days, ask how much practice time they leave between the two attunements.
Which Reiki level should you start with?
Start with Level 1, whatever your plans. Every later level builds on it, and Level 2 and Master assume you have practised daily since.
If you took Level 1 or Level 2 with another teacher, tell us when you enquire, and we can talk about the next step.
What does each level cost, and what does the full path cost?
Our fees are USD 250 for Level 1, USD 300 for Level 2 and USD 400 for Master. Each includes the attunement, the course manual, supervised practice, the certificate, a vegetarian lunch on every training day, guidance by email afterwards, and airport pickup and drop to your hotel. A 20% deposit confirms your place, and the balance is due on arrival.
From Level 1 to Master takes at least 12 months, three trips, 8 training days and 40 hours of training, for USD 950 in course fees. Flights and accommodation are extra. If you need a hotel, we can arrange one in Thamel, about 30 minutes from the centre.
Frequently asked questions
What can you do with Level 2 Reiki?
Treat other people, including at a distance, and work with clients. Some countries require registration or insurance before you practise on clients, so check your local rules.
Is Level 3 the same as Master?
In most Usui schools, yes: Level 3, Third Degree and Shinpiden are all names for the Master level. Some schools split it into a Master practitioner level and a Master teacher level, so ask what a course called Level 3 includes.
Who teaches the levels here?
Maa Nisha Kabir teaches every level herself, in English, Hindi or Nepali. She trained in Reiki in 2017 and has taught it here since 2021, to 70+ students.
