Placement and Career Services

The Dr. Ida Rolf Institute^® (DIRI) provides placement and career services for students, alumni, and members of the Institute. These services are focused on supporting graduates in successfully launching their businesses or joining a larger organization that offers employment to Certified Rolfers^®. All graduates of the Rolf Institute^®, with rare exceptions, as alumni, become members of the DIRI upon graduation, and as alumni receive ongoing support through continuing education, some national and regional meetings, and monthly newsletters. Members also have access to a quarterly research journal, an online video library, a job and business opportunity listing, and an online library of practice building and service/trademark resources.    

Graduates have access to an extensive library of member-only resources that support them in creating and operating their private practices as Certified Rolfers. These resources include legal, accounting, client and operational forms, marketing, service and trademark use, and other relevant resources for building a practice.

In addition to the website, information on available continuing education and services is provided through the DIRI Education Catalog and Student Handbook and in monthly newsletters. Students and members receive face-to-face information during orientations, phone calls, and membership meetings.

Student and Alumni Resources

Review and coaching related to individualized Professional Educational Plan

Students are asked to develop a Professional Educational Plan (PEP) as part of their educational program. The PEP is continually developed during the three phases of the Rolfing Structural Integration program and afterward as graduates. The PEP process guides students and graduates through detailed reflection and step-by-step goal setting from their start as students to their first anniversary as graduates/alumni. It is necessary to develop their business practices or to partner with a professional organization where they can prosper as Certified Rolfers. The PEP plan includes practice-building steps and focuses on developing career-related knowledge and skills, networks, and supports.

The Professional Educational Plan (PEP) requires students to set SMART goals – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely – necessary for starting their careers. As part of the plan, the student is asked to set these SMART goals for each step of their growth in becoming professional Rolfers capable of creating, developing, and operating their businesses or serving on a larger team of complementary health professionals. Faculty advisors and support staff review the PEP plan with students during their tenure as students. Once the student graduates, they are supported by the Director of Membership in continuing to work through their PEP plans until their one-year post-graduation date. 

One year after graduation, alumni are surveyed on their success in meeting their PEP goals. The DIRI Placement and Career Services Office uses this information to improve the overall support of students in developing their PEP goals.