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Ability-based emotional intelligence · Live online
MSCEIT® 2 Certification
Certify to administer and debrief the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test™ Second Edition (MSCEIT® 2) from Multi-Health Systems (MHS). People solve emotional problems and are scored on their answers, so you see emotional intelligence as a skill, not a self-description.
Assessment facts: MHS, mhs.com/msceit-2, read 6 NOV 2026.
What the MSCEIT® 2 measures
An ability model of emotional intelligence, developed by John D. Mayer, PhD, Peter Salovey, PhD, and David R. Caruso, PhD.
Perceiving Emotions
Recognizing and accurately interpreting emotions in other people and in the surrounding environment.
Connecting Emotions
Connecting emotional experience with physical sensation, and using emotion to aid thinking and decisions.
Understanding Emotions
Understanding what causes emotions, how they change over time, and what they imply.
Managing Emotions
Staying open to one's own and others' emotions, and managing them reflectively to support effective choices.
Domains and authors: MHS, mhs.com/msceit-2, read 6 NOV 2026. Paraphrased.
Video from MHS
What the MSCEIT® 2 is like for the test taker
See what your clients will experience before you ever give it.
Video: Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS), on YouTube.
The research behind it. People solve emotional problems and are scored on their answers, not on how they rate themselves.
- Norms: 3,000 adults, 2,700 in the U.S. and 300 in Canada, with equal numbers of women and men and 20% from each of five age ranges, 18 to 60 and older.
- Reliability: alpha of .88 for the overall test, and a marginal reliability of .89. The authors note it compares favorably to other intelligence tests.
- Structure: a model with the four domains fit the test better than the alternatives, and a version with overall emotional intelligence fit equally well.
- Stable over time: MHS reports strong test-retest reliability over a few weeks and a few months.
- Fairness: MHS reports that it meets or exceeds the fairness requirements of the AERA, APA and NCME Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. In development, an expert panel reviewed items for bias relating to culture, gender and race or ethnicity, and items that performed differently across women and men or across four racial and ethnic groups went to a fairness committee and were removed where warranted.
- Leadership: it predicts leadership effectiveness beyond the influence of a transformational leadership style. In an MHS study of 176 leaders, MHS calls the effect modest.
Research: Mayer, J. D., Caruso, D. R., Salovey, P., Lin, I. Y., Hansma, B. J., Solomon, J., Sitarenios, G., & Romero Escobar, M. (2025). Measuring emotional intelligence with the MSCEIT 2: theory, rationale, and initial findings. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1539785. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1539785 (open access, CC BY). Leadership study: Iris Lin, MHS, "Leading with Emotional Intelligence in Times of Uncertainty" (2025). Model, stability, fairness and leadership: MHS MSCEIT® 2 brochure (2025), pp. 4 and 6, © 2025 Multi-Health Systems Inc., model shown unaltered. Both models also appear in MHS's public video, "EQ-i 2.0® & MSCEIT® 2 Compared". Read 6 NOV 2026.
Why add the MSCEIT® 2
The natural next step for EQ-i 2.0® practitioners.
Self-report and ability, together
The EQ-i 2.0® shows how people see their own emotional and social functioning. The MSCEIT® 2 asks them to solve emotional problems and scores the answers. Side by side, you can talk with a client about the gap between what they believe and how they perform.
Built for workplace development
MHS describes uses across leadership development, talent development, succession planning, and coaching and training. MHS also reports the item content was audited to remove culturally specific or potentially biased material.
Uses and item audit: MHS, mhs.com/msceit-2, read 6 NOV 2026.
What certification includes
Self-paced first, then one live day.
- Self-paced modules and knowledge checks, about 3 hours. The background of the MSCEIT® 2 and emotional intelligence, the model, and how the scores work.
- One live online day, 8 AM–5 PM ET. An instructor-led session with James to practice what you learned and ask questions.
- Debrief practice. Interpreting the four domain scores, choosing between ability-based and strengths-based feedback, building rapport, and ethics, worked through a case study.
- Action planning. Turning results into a plan with the test-taker, and closing the feedback session well.
- You're certified. Use the MSCEIT® 2 with clients, and show it with a verifiable Credly digital badge from MHS.
MHS certification criteria: 3 hours of eLearning, 8 hours of instructor-led training, and 70% or higher on the final exam (MHS Credly badge, read 6 NOV 2026). Program structure and learning outcomes: MHS's standard MSCEIT® 2 certification overview, as published on MHS calendar listings, read 6 NOV 2026. Paraphrased.
Continuing education credit
Certify and recertify in the same day.
Credits: MHS Credly badge, MSCEIT® 2, read 6 NOV 2026. MHS's full credit statements are in the footer.
Multi-Health Systems, Inc. has been pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer educational programs that can be used towards initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials. This program qualifies for a maximum of 11 points.
2027 dates
Live online, one day, 8 AM–5 PM Eastern. $1,777.
2027
Dates from the live leaderei.com store, verified 6 NOV 2026.
Choose dates and enroll Start with the EQ-i 2.0®
Who leads it
Your trainer
James L. Castleberry
James L. Castleberry is an MHS Master Trainer in EQ-i 2.0®/EQ 360®, MSCEIT® 2, Pearman™, and Certified Executive and Emotional Intelligence Coach. Naval Intelligence Commander (Ret.), sought for warmth, practical tools, psychological safety and ongoing mentoring. 55+ organizations served worldwide.
MHS Master Trainer, MSCEIT® 2, certificate issued 27 OCT 2026.
Questions before you enroll
How is the MSCEIT® 2 different from the EQ-i 2.0®?
The EQ-i 2.0® is a self-report. The MSCEIT® 2 is ability-based: people solve emotional problems and are scored on the answers. Many practitioners use both, to compare what someone believes about their emotional intelligence with how they perform.
Do I need to be certified to use it?
Yes. MHS states you must be qualified or certified to administer the MSCEIT® 2.
Do I need EQ-i 2.0® certification first?
No. There is no prerequisite. The MSCEIT® 2 and EQ-i 2.0® certifications are separate, and you can take either first.
How long does the test take?
About 30 minutes online, according to MHS. It can be given in full or by selected domains.
Which languages is it in?
MHS offers the MSCEIT® 2 in English (North America) and Spanish (Europe). LeaderEI® delivers certification in English.
What does $1,777 include?
The MHS certification program, as MHS describes it:
- Self-paced online modules and knowledge checks, then an 8-hour instructor-led session, live online with James
- Personalized feedback
- A free online account and access to the manuals
- Use with clients immediately upon certification
- A verifiable Credly digital badge
- 11 ICF CCE hours, 11 SHRM PDCs, up to 11 ATD points and 11 APA CE credits
Source: MHS, mhs.com/msceit-2 ("Get Certified"), and MHS's standard MSCEIT® 2 certification overview on the MHS calendar, read 6 NOV 2026.
First cohort: January 20, 2027
Live online, 8 AM–5 PM ET. $1,777.