Mary Baker Eddy placed the spiritual education component of Christian Science under the auspices of a Board of Education, established in 1898, within the Massachusetts Metaphysical College. Her system of education includes:
Primary class: An intensive course in healing, including oral and written work under a Christian Science teacher's direction. Primary instruction, which is made up of 12 sessions, is followed by at least three years of on-the-job training before one can advertise professionally in the Journal. *
*Associating meeting: A yearly one-day meeting of the teacher's students. These sessions serve a purpose similar to post-graduate seminars for other professionals. It's an on-going practicum or postgraduate seminar on healing. Along the path of self-development as a healer, the teacher serves as students' advocate, coach, or spiritual mentor, overseeing their period of field practice.
