Certification Overview
Our approach is to let our chaplains choose what education path is important to them and relevant to the field of service they have chosen. Importantly, this decision does not lock a chaplain into a narrow arena of service. It simply lets us deliver educational content that is time-efficient and task-relevant.
Also, we are constantly adding to our “free” online library of optional materials to help our chaplains dig deeper into specific topics. This includes additional training videos, audio lectures, PDF documents, and books to help broaden the scope of a chaplain’s education. This online library is available free of charge, to any of our chaplains who are current with their credentials.
We are intentionally nondenominational in our approach and education. However, our resources may reflect a faith tradition when nondenominational materials are not available.
Getting Started
Regardless of professional background, everyone starts at “Level-1: Basic Christian Chaplain.” This first step not only provides an overview of chaplaincy skills but also information on how to operate within our online education environment.
Before you move forward, please read our Chaplain’s Statement of Faith and Pledge, as it contains information on Christian beliefs and our expectations.
For those who are only seeking certification as an “Ordained Chaplain,” this first-class level will typically satisfy agency requirements. But hopefully, you will want more.
Ours is a self-paced education program. As such, you can take up to one year to complete any training level or specialty certification.
Once issued, maintaining your chaplaincy credentials requires the completion of at least one continuing education class every two years.
The content of our Level-1 curriculum is adapted to align with your prior experience. If you have been a full-time professional for at least seven years in one of our “Professional Ratings” categories (see below chart), the completion time for Level-1 is approximately 15 hours. If you don’t have this experience, this first level will entail 25-30 hours of online education.
Subsequent levels and courses each involve 15-30 hours of training. The duration of these other courses is determined by the topic, not prior education or experience.
"Ranks" & Certification Levels
We offer four levels with six optional professional ratings. The four levels are sequential steps, but progressing through these levels is not required to attain a professional rating. Nor is it a prerequisite for any of our 18 specialty certifications.
All of these can be accessed after completion of our “Level-1: Basic Christian Chaplain” course.
For example, upon successful completion of Level-1 you have four options. You can stop your training and receive basic ordination credentials. Or, you can become ordained and then continue with your training, progressing to Level-2. (This is the first “Guardian Chaplain” credential.) Or, from any level, you can pursue a professional certification (blue box in the chart), such as the credential to be a Police Chaplain or a Fire Department Chaplain. Lastly, any of these can be followed by an optional specialty certification (green box).
Once Level-1 plus one specialty certification is completed, a chaplain is automatically moved to the next rank (Level-2 “Guardian Chaplain”) and authorized to obtain those unique credentials. (Level-1 is basic ordination as a “Christian Chaplain,” whereas “Guardian Chaplain” is an advanced credential.)
Click Here if you’re ready to get started.
Levels-1, -2, -3, and -4 are similar to military ranks. The completion of the last level, Level-4, equates to the military rank of Captain, whereas professional ratings are areas of role-specific competency (police, fire, etc.), similar to a soldier’s Military Occupational Specialty.
‘Specialty Certifications’ are topic-specific. These are encouraged as chaplains need to continuously expand their knowledge as they need wide-ranging ministry expertise.