EXAMINATION REGULATIONS AND CONDITIONS FOR ISSUING CERTIFICA

 People who have attended courses provided by S.A.M. — Shamanic Academy Mongolia may take an examination to have their knowledge and understanding assessed. The examination is assessed jointly by three teachers: Uuten Altai-Batu and two S.A.M. assistant teachers.

The purpose of the examination is to assess participants’ knowledge and understanding of traditional shamanism, their ethical attitude, and their readiness to preserve and pass on this knowledge responsibly. Participants seeking teaching authorisation will also have their teaching ability assessed, and the subjects and lessons they may teach will be determined separately.

1. Eligibility, application and essay

Anyone who has fully completed an online or in-person S.A.M. course in the foundational knowledge of traditional shamanism of Altai origin may apply to take the examination. Course participation will be verified against S.A.M.’s records.

Applications must be sent to admin@sam-saman-shaman.com. The application must include the participant’s full name, the course attended, the course dates, their preferred examination language, contact details, and whether they are seeking teaching authorisation. Participants seeking teaching authorisation must specify the subjects and lessons they wish to teach.

The application must be accompanied by an essay of at least 600 words entitled “A Step Towards Traditional Shamanism”. Participants must explain, in their own words, what led them towards traditional shamanism, their learning goals, the understanding they gained from the course, changes in their own attitude, and how they intend to use their knowledge in the future.

The essay will influence the final examination result.

2. Preparation materials and registration

After the application, essay and course information have been reviewed, participants will receive 100 preparation questions, the assessment criteria, practical information about the examination, and these regulations by email.

The examination date, time, time zone, interview language and availability of interpretation will be confirmed in writing in advance. Registration is confirmed once the participant has reviewed the regulations and paid the fee. The online interview link and relevant instructions will then be sent.

Once registration has been confirmed, the assessment criteria applicable to that participant will not be changed.

3. Examination fee

The total examination fee is €777. It includes:

• Teachers’ fees for conducting the examination and assessing the essay and answers.
• The interpreter’s fee for the two-hour interview.
• Assessment of the participant’s ability to explain and teach a subject during the examination, where teaching authorisation is requested.
• Review of practical assessments confirmed during previous training.
• The certificate and postal delivery, if the participant passes.
• One written resit under these regulations.

Fees for additional courses are separate from the examination fee. No additional charges relating to examination registration will be imposed without prior notice to the participant.

4. Examination format, duration and subject coverage

The initial examination takes place online as a live interview. Uuten Altai-Batu leads the interview, with two assistant teachers and an interpreter participating. The total duration is two hours, including interpretation.

Participants must check their camera, microphone and internet connection beforehand and join from a quiet setting without assistance from others.

Twenty main questions will be selected from the 100 preparation questions. Each participant will be asked four questions from each of the following five areas:

• Tradition, fundamental concepts and the structure of the worlds.
• The relationship between human beings, nature, ancestors and Ongod.
• Fundamental concepts relating to fire, offerings, oaths and invocations.
• Shamanic psychology, ethics and attitude.
• Duties, responsibilities, safety principles, and the limits of one’s knowledge and abilities.

The selected questions will be of comparable difficulty for all participants. In addition to the main questions, teachers may ask questions to clarify the essay or the meaning of an answer.

Participants seeking teaching authorisation must demonstrate their teaching ability by explaining a subject selected from those listed in their application as though they were teaching it to others. This assessment is included within the two-hour examination.

5. Assessment and conditions for passing

The three teachers will follow the prepared questions, model answers and a standard assessment form.

Participants may explain the essential meaning of a model answer accurately in their own words. An answer is considered correct when it explains the core concept fully and without a significant error in meaning. If the core concept remains incomplete or incorrect after clarification, the answer will not be counted as correct. No partial marks will be awarded.

The three teachers will discuss the answers jointly. If they consider that the participant has answered more than 75% of the main questions correctly, the participant will be considered to have met the knowledge pass threshold. This means answering at least 16 of the 20 questions correctly. Additional clarification questions will not be counted as separate main questions.

The essay will be assessed as either “Meets requirements” or “Further development required”. The assessment will consider whether the participant:

• Accurately expresses the fundamental concepts learned during the course.
• Understands ethics, duties, responsibilities, and the limits of their own knowledge and abilities.
• Expresses an intention and attitude consistent with using their knowledge responsibly.

The essay will not be assessed on literary style, foreign-language proficiency, or the amount of personal information disclosed. Where there are discrepancies in the content, the participant will have an opportunity to explain them during the interview.

A participant who meets the knowledge pass threshold and whose essay meets the requirements will pass the examination. If the essay does not meet the requirements, the concepts or criteria requiring further development will be explained in writing.

Any disagreement will be reconsidered against the model answers and the criteria provided in advance, and resolved by the agreement of at least two teachers. The reasons for the decision will be recorded. The interpreter does not participate in assessment decisions.

The assessment of teaching ability will have a separate outcome from the examination for certification. A participant who passes the examination but whose teaching ability is not yet sufficient may receive a certificate, while teaching authorisation will be withheld until that ability has been confirmed.

6. Independent work

The essay and written resit answers must be the participant’s own work. Having someone else write them, copying another person’s work, or using artificial intelligence to generate content or answers is not permitted. Assistance with translation and spelling corrections is allowed, provided it does not change the participant’s own content.

During the live interview, participants may not obtain answers from others, read prepared answers, or use artificial intelligence.

Participants may request clarification if they do not understand a question or its interpretation. Such a request will not lower their assessment.

Where a possible breach is identified, the participant will be informed of the grounds and given an opportunity to explain. Work will not be invalidated on suspicion alone.

Work proven not to have been completed independently will be invalidated, and the reasons will be provided in writing. A participant found to have committed such a breach during the initial examination may use their entitlement to one written resit. If a further breach is established during the resit, the assessment under that registration will conclude with a fail result.

7. Examination results and requests for review

The initial examination result will be sent by email within seven days of the interview. It will include the number of correct answers, the essay assessment, the pass or fail result, a brief explanation from the teachers, and a separate decision on teaching authorisation.

Participants may request clarification or a review within 14 days of receiving their result. The request must identify the answer, assessment or procedure they wish to have reviewed.

The teachers will review the assessment form, notes, essay and, where available, a recording made with consent. A reasoned response will be provided within 14 days of receiving the request.

There is no charge for a review, and requesting one does not use the participant’s entitlement to a written resit.

8. Certification and teaching authorisation

S.A.M. will issue a certificate recognising a successful participant as an authentic bearer of ancient shamanic heritage of Altai origin. This certification confirms that the participant understands the knowledge, fundamental principles and ethics of the tradition taught by S.A.M. and has met the criteria for preserving and passing it on responsibly.

Participants seeking teaching authorisation will be assessed on their ability to explain the content accurately, clearly and in a logical sequence, answer learners’ questions, and recognise the limits of their own knowledge. Teaching authorisation will be granted for the subjects and levels in which their competence has been confirmed.

Authorisation to teach practical lessons will be based on evidence from previous training showing that the participant has demonstrated, under the supervision of a S.A.M. teacher, the ability to perform the practice correctly and teach it safely to others. This evidence will be checked before the examination. Authorisation to teach a practice without such confirmation will not be included on the certificate.

The certificate will state the holder’s full name, certificate number, date of issue and assessment outcome. Where teaching authorisation is granted, the subjects, lessons and levels will be specified. Where teaching authorisation has not yet been granted, the certificate will not contain a statement certifying that authorisation.

The certificate will be posted within 14 days after the participant has confirmed the name, certificate details and delivery address. If a review affecting the certificate’s content is in progress, this period will begin after the final decision. Postal delivery times depend on the destination country and postal service.

9. Independent teaching, membership and cooperation

A person who has received teaching authorisation may teach independently within the subjects and levels specified on their certificate.

A separate agreement will govern the conditions for teaching on behalf of S.A.M., using its name, curriculum and materials, becoming a member, and participating in organisational work.

This cooperation begins when an agreement is signed, with full acceptance of S.A.M.’s objectives and the rights, duties and responsibilities of both parties. The agreement will specify the areas of cooperation, the scope of teaching authorisation, conditions for using materials, rights to participate in management and organisational work, and conditions for amending or ending the cooperation.

S.A.M. will provide the person who signs the agreement with a curriculum corresponding to the subjects and lessons they are authorised to teach.

10. Confidentiality and retention of records

With the individual’s consent, S.A.M. will publish the names of successful participants, the year their certificate was issued, and the scope of their teaching authorisation on its website. Consent to publication does not affect the assessment or entitlement to a certificate. Participants may withdraw their consent to publication.

Essays, detailed answers, contact information and postal addresses will not be made public without consent. Authorised people responsible for assessment and administration will have access to examination materials to the extent necessary for their work.

If the interview is to be recorded, the purpose, authorised viewers and retention period will be explained in advance, and separate consent will be obtained. If consent is not given, the teachers will keep detailed notes of the questions, answers and assessment. Refusing recording does not affect the assessment.

Recordings will be kept for six months after the initial examination result is issued. If a resit or review started within this period has not been completed, the recording will be deleted within 30 days after the relevant process has concluded. This condition will be explained when consent to recording is requested.

Essays, written answers and assessment notes will be kept for 12 months after the most recent assessment and review have concluded, and will then be deleted. The name, number, date, scope of authorisation and status information needed to verify a certificate’s validity will be retained in the certificate register.

11. Technical problems, lateness and rescheduling

If technical or interpretation problems prevent the examination from proceeding normally, the interview will be paused and the remaining time made up at no additional charge. Such interruptions will not be counted as incorrect answers or as a rescheduling request by the participant.

Participants may reschedule their examination once at no additional charge by notifying S.A.M. before the agreed starting time.

If a participant is more than 15 minutes late, does not attend, or voluntarily stops the examination partway through, the attempt will be recorded as “Assessment incomplete”. This alone will not be treated as a failure of the knowledge assessment.

A participant who has not used their one rescheduling opportunity may submit a request within seven days and arrange a date to complete the examination. If they use this opportunity but fail to attend again, or do not submit a request within the stated period, the registration will be closed as an incomplete assessment, with the reason provided in writing.

If rescheduling is necessary for reasons attributable to S.A.M., a new date will be agreed with the participant. If the new date is unsuitable, the fee will be refunded in full.

12. Cancellation and refunds

Participants who cancel before the agreed starting time of the initial examination will receive a 100% refund of the fee paid. Cancellation requests must be sent to admin@sam-saman-shaman.com.

If S.A.M. cancels the examination, a 100% refund will also be provided. Refunds will be made to the original payment method within 14 days of receiving the cancellation request or notifying the participant of cancellation by S.A.M. No administrative fee will be deducted.

If the examination remains incomplete for reasons attributable to the participant after the agreed starting time has passed, the opportunity to complete it under Section 11 will apply. This situation, and failure after completing the examination, are not covered by the voluntary 100% refund policy above.

These regulations do not restrict any rights to withdraw from a contract, obtain a refund or make a complaint that are protected by applicable law.

13. Written resit

A participant who does not pass the initial examination may take one written resit. This is included in the €777 fee.

The request must be submitted within six months of the initial examination result. If the result is changed following a review, this period will begin on the date of the final decision.

Participants who have not met the knowledge pass threshold will receive 20 questions selected from the prepared question bank, covering the same five areas as the initial examination. Answers must be submitted within 14 days of receiving the questions.

If only the essay requirements have not been met, the previous knowledge assessment will remain valid, and the participant must revise and resubmit the essay. If both the knowledge assessment and essay were insufficient, both will be reassessed.

The three teachers will follow the model answers and the initial examination criteria, and will send the result within seven days of receiving the submission.

The written resit reassesses theoretical knowledge, understanding and shortcomings in the essay. It does not automatically establish previously unconfirmed teaching ability or grant authorisation to teach practical lessons.

If the participant also fails the resit or does not submit their work within the agreed time, that registration will be closed. They may submit a new application after strengthening their knowledge. The conditions in force at that time will apply to the new registration.

14. Validity of the certificate and teaching authorisation

The certificate has no expiry date. Teaching authorisation remains valid within the scope stated on the certificate, subject to compliance with the ethical requirements, duties and responsibilities set out in these regulations.

A certificate may be invalidated if evidence is established that undermines the basis on which it was issued, such as false information or work completed by another person.

Suspension or withdrawal of teaching authorisation will be considered where a breach is established, such as teaching beyond the authorised scope while presenting it as approved by S.A.M., seriously violating fundamental safety principles, or deliberately distorting the teaching content.

Before a decision is made, the person concerned will be notified of the grounds in writing and given seven days to provide an explanation. The three teachers will consider the explanation and evidence and issue a reasoned decision within the following 14 days. A review may be requested under Section 7.

The end of membership or a cooperation agreement does not automatically invalidate a previously issued certificate. The right to use S.A.M.’s name, curriculum and materials will be determined by the terms of the relevant agreement.

15. Entry into force and amendments

These regulations take effect on the date they are approved and officially published by S.A.M. The version, publication date and contact information for the responsible administrator will be displayed on the website.

The version in force when a participant’s registration is confirmed will apply to the initial examination and the one resit under that registration. Subsequent changes will not be applied retrospectively in a way that disadvantages the participant.

Contact: admin@sam-saman-shaman.com

Appendix. Structure of the teachers’ standard assessment form

Participant’s name:
Course and level:
Examination date and language:
Names of the three assessing teachers:

Assessment componentInformation to recordTwenty main questionsQuestion number, correct/incorrect assessment, brief explanationKnowledge pass thresholdTotal correct answers: …/20; met/not metEssayMeets requirements/further development required; explanationFinal examination resultPass/failAbility to explain and teachSubject assessed and conclusion on teaching abilityEvidence of practical competenceDate of previous assessment, teacher and confirmed practiceTeaching authorisationAuthorised subjects and levels, or not yet grantedJoint decisionThe three teachers’ views, recommendations and signatures

Additional clarification questions, points of disagreement and the reasons for decisions must be recorded in notes attached to the assessment form.