Merit Program for Instructors
CPD Accredited Professional Development
The Mahj Life Merit Program for Instructors has earned independent international accreditation from the CPD Standards Office (London, UK), recognizing the quality, rigor, and competency-based design of our instructor development programs.
Certification vs. Accreditation
Certification and accreditation are often confused, but they recognize two different achievements.
| Certification | Accreditation |
|---|---|
| Recognizes the achievement of an individual. | Recognizes the quality of an educational program. |
| Participants who successfully complete the required assignments and examinations earn Mahj Life microcredentials demonstrating competency in specific areas of instructor development. | The Merit Program for Instructors (MPI) has earned independent international accreditation from the CPD Standards Office (London, UK), providing external validation that the program meets recognized standards for continuing professional development. |
Together, certification and accreditation provide confidence in both the learner’s achievement and the quality of the educational program.
Why the Merit Program Exists
The Merit Program for Instructors (MPI) was created to provide American mah jongg instructors with a structured pathway for professional development and recognized microcredentials. While the National Mah Jongg League publishes the official annual card and rules of play, instructor education has historically been developed by independent organizations.
MPI combines competency-based learning, authentic assessment, and internationally accredited educational programs to help instructors strengthen their knowledge, demonstrate their competency, and celebrate their achievements. Participants earn certification from Mahj Life while learning through educational programs independently accredited by the CPD Standards Office (London, UK).
Path to Microcredentials
Each learning program combines self-paced study, practical assignments, and open-book examinations designed to promote meaningful learning and demonstrated competency.
Microcredentials are awarded only to participants who successfully meet the published passing standards for all required assessments, as outlined in the assessment rubrics.
Whether your goal is to deepen your understanding of NMJL rules, refine your teaching practices, expand your coaching skills, or document your professional development, MPI provides a structured pathway for continuous learning and recognized achievement.
Benefits of Earning a Microcredential
- Verified knowledge
- Heightened confidence
- Enhanced marketability
- Improved credibility
- Increased earning potential
- Certification Eligibility and Maintenance
The Merit Program for Instructors is an exclusive benefit of the Mahj Life Instructor Guild. Current Guild members may earn Mahj Life microcredentials by successfully completing the required assessments in eligible learning programs.
Microcredentials remain valid as long as the instructor maintains an active Guild membership. Ongoing membership provides continued access to educational resources, program updates, and professional development opportunities that support current knowledge, continued growth, and the ongoing integrity of the certification.
The MPI Learning Commitment
The Merit Program for Instructors is committed to competency-based professional development that respects the realities of adult learners.
Every learning program is self-paced. Participants progress according to their readiness, professional commitments, and learning goals. There are no prescribed completion deadlines, allowing participants to build confidence through intentional practice and application.
Mahj Life is committed to supporting participants throughout that journey by providing educational resources, coaching opportunities, and authentic assessment experiences designed to help every participant succeed.
Assessment and Awards
Each MPI learning program evaluates competency through practical assignments and open-book examinations that emphasize understanding, critical thinking, and real-world application rather than memorization.
For example, in the American Mah Jongg (AMJ) Quest Rules Trek, participants study independently and may attend an optional virtual Q&A session. The examination presents real-game scenarios based on National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) rules, requiring participants to apply their knowledge by selecting the most appropriate response.
Participants who achieve a passing score of 80% or higher and successfully complete all required assessments earn a Mahj Life microcredential and a digital Certificate of Competency, recognizing their demonstrated proficiency.
These assets can be used if instructors need proof of their skills and knowledge. For example, some community centers require instructors to provide proof of their skills and knowledge before giving lessons. Community center management can verify the microcredential by checking the instructor’s profile on the Mahj Life Instructor Guild directory.
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Microcredential Renewal
The microcredential will be maintained by the instructor who is a member of the Mahj Life Instructor Guild and provides proof of purchase of the current edition of Mah Jongg Made Easy, the official guidebook published by the National Mah Jongg League.
Course Fees
Guild members are eligible to enroll in the Merit Program for Instructors at no additional cost. Courses are purchased separately for $197 each.
Current microcredential courses include:
AMJ Quest Rules Trek
Build confidence in applying National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) rules through real-game scenarios, practical assignments, and an open-book examination. Demonstrate your knowledge by earning a microcredential that recognizes your competency in rules interpretation and application.
AMJ Quest Strategy Trek
Strengthen your strategic thinking by exploring hand development, offensive and defensive play, situational awareness, and critical decision-making. Through practical assignments and assessment, you’ll learn to make more confident and effective decisions at the table.
AMJ Quest Sportsmanship Trek
Develop a deeper understanding of integrity, ethics, etiquette, and leadership in American mah jongg. This learning program helps instructors foster respectful play and build stronger, more welcoming mah jongg communities.
ELE-Equipped Coach
Learn to administer and interpret the Experience Level Evaluation (ELE) and integrate coaching strategies to support player growth. This program prepares instructors to use the ELE as a practical coaching tool to guide meaningful development conversations.
Here’s what you get:
- Monthly Q&A sessions; no limit
- Multiple-choice readiness quiz
- Multiple-choice official exam
- Microcredentials (digital, if qualified)
Prerequisites:
- A participant must be a current member of the Mahj Life Instructor Guild
- A participant must sign the Mahj Life Merit Program for Instructors Microcredential Confidentiality and Usage Agreement
- A participant must have proof of purchase of the current version of Mah Jongg Made Easy, the official guidebook published by the National Mah Jongg League
Frequently Asked Questions
A microcredential is a recognized form of competency-based digital certification. Individuals enroll in classes, workshops, or programs to learn and prove their skills, knowledge, and experience. Participation is voluntary, and program content aligns with community needs.
For example, the Mahj Life AMJ Quest Rules Trek requires candidates to attend a workshop and take an exam on the NMJL rules to ensure they have a comprehensive knowledge of the game. If their score is 80% or better, they earn micro-credentials.
The fee for each course in the Mahj Life Merit Program for Instructors is $197.
Microcredentials do not require renewal and remain valid as long as you maintain an active Mahj Life Instructor Guild membership, which provides ongoing access to program updates, educational resources, and continuing professional development. This helps ensure that certified instructors stay current as rules, resources, and best practices evolve.
Earning a microcredential is a way to demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to professional development. It recognizes that you’ve successfully completed competency-based assignments and assessments, giving you a credential you can proudly share with students, venues, and the broader mah jongg community. Some instructors also find that it helps meet venue requirements for documented training or professional development.
A microcredential is a class, workshop, or program that individuals can enroll in to demonstrate their knowledge through assessments. A microbadge is a visual representation of skills, knowledge, or abilities. Microbadges can stand alone or be stacked into microcredential pathways, adding significant value to a microcredential.
A quest is a high-level microbadge with a group of treks (e.g., journeys). The treks have been named directly after a specific skill. If a candidate completes the treks and earns all the microbadges for a given quest, they are awarded a microbadge which signifies mastery.
The Mahj Life Merit Program will launch with the AMJ Quest Rules Trek microbadge. As the program develops, additional quests will be added.
Current members of the Mahj Life Instructor Guild may enroll in any Merit Program for Instructors (MPI) learning program. Each program is self-paced and includes study materials, practical assignments, and an open-book examination. Once you’ve successfully completed all required assessments and met the published passing standards, you’ll earn a digital microcrbadge and a Certificate of Competency in several formats.
The guild’s purpose is to provide peer support, tools, resources, and ongoing training to its members so that they can offer high-quality services to the mah jongg community. Members who participate in meetings and use content in the digital library have increased potential for improvement and innovation. They also learn about game trends and rule changes from guild leaders who have expert experience and knowledge and are mah jongg community leaders who keep abreast of the game. These opportunities optimize continued qualification for members who have earned microcredentials.
Details about the program and enrollment are on the Instructor Guild Membership page.
The National Mah Jongg League publishes the official annual card and rules of play. It does not provide instructor training, certification, or endorsements of third-party educational programs.
Mahj Life independently develops and administers its educational programs and instructor certifications. The Merit Program for Instructors has earned independent accreditation from the CPD Standards Office, recognizing the quality of the educational programs rather than endorsing a particular rules authority.
Details about the program and enrollment are on the Instructor Guild Membership page.