IMMA's certification trainings are primarily designed for professionals. So as a rule both META-Health Practitioners (level 2) and META-Health Master Practitioners (level 3) are professionals.

Some years ago there was the idea to establish another higher level 4 - at first called Master Practitioner Specialist (MPS).

!!What's a "specialist"?
Let's have a look on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialist_degree|Wikipedia]:

^In the United States, the Specialist's degree is hierarchically above the master's degree and below the Doctorate. It was invented by colleges and schools of education as an alternative to obtaining a doctorate, and focused on subjects pertinent to K-12 education - such as leadership and counseling, and educational psychology.^

And what are the requirements?

^The American Specialist degree typically requires 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours beyond the master's degree (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours beyond the Baccalaureate) and can be completed in one to three academic years of continuous full-time or part-time enrolment.^

1 semester hour is generally equal to 16 hours in the classroom [http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/24760-semester-hours.html|source here]. So 30 semester hours is equal to 480 hours in the classroom. 

On the convention in october, this big difference in the MPS/MPE syllabus compared to medical studies required to obtain the title of a specialist was brought to awareness by the medical doctors. Moreover, the point of discussion was that META represents the broad overview and perspective, contrary to what specialism in conventional medicine is about, so that this term was found to feel inadequate for what our experienced professionals are doing.

__The actual META-Health certification trainings are altogether on a non academic level__ (see the [tiki-download_file.php?fileId=2006| pdf file] as linked above for details). During the India Conference more detailed discussions have been inititated regarding a new academic branch of META-Health education for doctors. In my opinion the specialist degree should be dedicated to this possible development.

!!What's an "expert"?

Let's have one more look on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert|Wikipedia]:

^Informally, an expert is someone widely recognized as a reliable source of technique or skill whose faculty for judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely is accorded authority and status by peers or the public in a specific well-distinguished domain. An expert, more generally, is a person with extensive knowledge or ability based on research, experience, or occupation and in a particular area of study.^

^Experts have a prolonged or intense experience through practice and education in a particular field. In specific fields, the definition of expert is well established by consensus and therefore it is not always necessary for individuals to have a professional or academic qualification for them to be accepted as an expert.^

Please compare with the requirements for the former META-MPS (see the [tiki-download_file.php?fileId=2006| pdf file] as linked above on page 4 and 5). Where is the inconsistence to call a person who's certified in accordance to these standards a META-Health Master Practitioner Expert?