Reiki training is structured in three main levels: Level 1 (Shoden), Level 2 (Okuden) and Level 3, the Reiki Master level (Shinpiden). Each level includes an attunement ceremony, new techniques, and a deeper understanding of how Reiki works. Level 1 teaches self-healing and hands-on practice with family and friends, Level 2 introduces the Reiki symbols and distance healing, and the Master level prepares you to attune and teach others. This guide explains exactly what happens at each level, how long training takes, and how to choose the right class for your goals.
Traditional Usui Reiki is taught in three degrees or levels, and most modern schools follow this same structure:
The Japanese terms Shoden, Okuden and Shinpiden are used in many lineages to describe these stages. In some Western schools, the Master level is split into a Reiki Master step for advanced practice and a Reiki Master Teacher step for teaching and attuning others. There is no single global authority for Reiki, so names and details can differ slightly between teachers, but the three-level path is the common framework almost everywhere.
Level 1 is where every Reiki journey begins. It is sometimes called First Degree Reiki, and its focus is personal: learning to connect with Reiki energy and using it on yourself and the people closest to you.
In a typical Level 1 class you will learn:
Level 1 is a hands-on level. Students practise on each other in class and are encouraged to treat themselves daily and to practice on family afterward. Many teachers describe the first weeks as a cleansing period, in which physical and emotional sensations can surface as the body adjusts. You need no previous experience, belief system, or healing ability; the attunement is what opens the channel.
Level 2, sometimes called Second Degree Reiki, is the practitioner level. It is where Reiki moves from a personal practice into a professional one, and it is the level most working Reiki practitioners hold.
The heart of Level 2 is the three traditional Reiki symbols, which are revealed and taught at this level:
In addition to the symbols, Level 2 training typically covers:
Traditionally the symbols were kept secret until a student reached Level 2, and many teachers still present them as sacred tools that gain power through attunement and practice rather than through simply seeing the drawings. Most teachers recommend taking Level 2 only after you have practiced Level 1 for a while, so that the foundation of self-healing is solid before you begin working on others professionally.
The Master level is the third and final degree of traditional Reiki. It has two distinct aspects: deepening your own practice, and learning to pass Reiki on to others.
At the Master level you will learn:
In lineages that split the third degree, the Reiki Master step focuses on the master symbol and advanced practice, while the Master Teacher step adds attunement and teaching skills. Some schools require practice between the two steps, others combine them. Many practitioners practise for years at Level 2 before they feel called to teach.
The attunement, sometimes called an initiation, is the defining event of each Reiki level. During an attunement, the Reiki master uses the symbols and their own training to open and align the student’s energy channels, connecting them to the Reiki source. Students receive it in a short ceremony, often sitting or lying down while the master works with the head, heart and hands.
People experience attunements differently: some feel warmth, tingling, or a rush of energy; others feel deeply relaxed or notice little at all. No particular sensation is required, and the effects are said to continue unfolding in the weeks afterward. The number of attunements varies by lineage: some give one per level, others give several, such as the four-attunement pattern used in some Western Usui lineages. Afterward, the student is considered a channel for Reiki for life.
Attunements are the reason training must happen with a qualified teacher. You cannot learn Reiki from a book alone, because the energetic opening is passed person to person. For a closer look at this process, see our guide to the Reiki attunement.
There is no fixed timeline, because each teacher structures their courses differently, but a typical path looks like this:
In traditional Japanese practice, students sometimes spent years with a teacher before advancing. Modern Western courses are far more compressed, and some schools offer all three levels within a few weeks. The right pace depends on your goals: for yourself and your family, Level 1 may be all you need, while a professional practitioner normally completes at least Level 2.
Costs vary widely between teachers, countries and lineages, so there is no single price. Level 1, Level 2 and Master courses are usually progressively more expensive. What you pay for includes the teacher’s time, the attunements, materials, and often a certificate. Before enrolling, ask what the fee covers, whether practice sessions are included, and whether the teacher offers support after class. Compare a few teachers rather than choosing on price alone, because the quality of the attunement and teaching matters more than the cost.
Choosing the right first teacher shapes your whole Reiki journey. Use this checklist when comparing classes:
If you are just exploring Reiki and not ready for training, a session with an experienced practitioner is a good first step. You can read about what a session involves, or learn the basics in our introduction to Reiki healing.
It depends entirely on what you want from Reiki:
There is no obligation to complete all three levels. Many people happily stay at Level 1 or Level 2 for years, and some of the best practitioners never teach. Reiki is a personal path, and the level you hold matters less than how consistently you practise.
Reiki is not the only tradition with graded training. Pranic healing has its own structured levels with different techniques and no attunement in the Reiki sense, and other energy healing schools also use levels. When choosing between systems, the level structure matters less than the method itself: Reiki works through hands and symbols, while other traditions use tools such as scanning, sweeping, and colour work. Try a session of each before committing to a full course.
Whatever level you are considering, the first step is the same: find a teacher you trust, take Level 1, and practise daily, because Reiki is learned through the body, not through reading. If you would like guidance on whether Reiki training is right for you, contact us at Ppure Energy Gurukul, explore our spiritual products to support your practice, or book a 1:1 reading with Sshreevidhyaa for clarity on your healing path.
Yes. Level 1 trains you to give hands-on Reiki to family and friends, and many people find this the most rewarding part of the first degree. Professional practice is usually associated with Level 2, but nothing stops you from treating loved ones after Level 1.
Yes. Distance healing uses the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen symbol, which is taught at Level 2. Level 1 does not include the symbols, so first degree Reiki is always hands-on.
There is no fixed rule. Many teachers suggest practising Level 1 for at least a few months before Level 2, and some recommend a year or more before the Master level. Listen to your teacher and your own practice.
In many lineages the two are the same: a Reiki Master can attune and teach others. Some Western schools split the third degree, so that a Reiki Master holds the master symbol for advanced practice, while the Master Teacher step adds attunement and teaching skills.
Yes, online courses exist, and distance attunements can be given by a qualified master. Quality varies between providers, so check the teacher’s lineage and ask about the attunement before paying. In-person training offers more practice time, but online options can be a valid start.
No legal certification is required in most countries, since Reiki is a complementary practice and not medicine. A certificate documents your training and helps with credibility and membership of Reiki associations, but it is not a licence.
These are the traditional Japanese names for the three degrees. Shoden means first teaching (Level 1), Okuden means inner teaching (Level 2), and Shinpiden means mystery teaching (the Master level).
The number varies by lineage. Some traditions give one per level, while others give several, such as the four at Level 1 used in some Western Usui lineages. Ask your teacher what their tradition does.
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