The certification process consists of three steps: Apply, Prepare, Submit. All three steps are completed online using the tools provided on this website.

• Apply: Submit your application materials and fee to the ministry organization that represents your ministry role (see the box "Application Submissions" on this page for the appropriate mailing address).
  • Download and complete the Application Form ( 175KB) and submit to the ministry organization that represents your ministry role.
  • Download and sign the Code of Ethics for your ministry organization (see the box "Codes of Ethics" on this page) and submit with your application form.
  • Download the Colleague Recommendation Form ( 169 KB)—instructions for its use are found on the Application Form and in the Process and Procedures Document.
  • Download the Pastor Recommendation Form ( 170 KB)—instructions for its use are found on the Application Form and in the Process and Procedures Document.
• Prepare: After you receive notice that your application has been approved and you have been accepted as a candidate for certification, build your online ministry portfolio which documents how you meet the national certification standards. You will need to include the following items in your portfolio:
  • a cover letter formally requesting certification.
  • certification portfolio title sheet ( 91 KB).
  • the portfolio checklist ( 144 KB).
  • all materials submitted during the application process (You will already have done this if you’ve been admitted to candidacy.)
  • a completed self-assessment for your certification area.
  • testimony/observation assessments completed by a supervisor, a peer or colleague, and a subordinate. (Candidates for Director of Worship and Youth Ministry Leader including Pastoral Juvenil Hispana, must also include an assessment by the diocesan director.)
  • evidence of theological study, providing transcripts or other documentation for course work or approved equivalencies. See the certification portfolio requirements ( 91 KB) for theological study required of each ministry specialization.
  • evidence of specialized study, providing transcripts or other documentation for course work or approved equivalencies. See the certification portfolio requirements ( 91 KB) for specialized study required of each ministry specialization.
  • demonstration of competence in one’s specialized ministry. See the certification portfolio requirements ( 91 KB) for the demonstration required of each ministry specialization.
  • integration paper that applies personal, spiritual, theological, pastoral, and specialized competence to the practice of pastoral ministry. View and download the Guidelines for the Integration Paper ( 67 KB).

When you are accepted as a candidate for the certification process, you will receive information for logging onto a special, secure webpage which will act as a "library/repository" for the items in your portfolio. You will be able to use this library as often as necessary to compile your portfolio by uploading written documents (for example, MS Word or PDF files), presentations (e.g., PowerPoint files), and even audio and video files.

• Submit: When your portfolio is complete, submit your materials for review. If approved by your national ministry organization and the Alliance, you will receive notification that you are certified!

Initial Applications and Completed Portfolios are ordinarily accepted before the March 1 and October 1 deadlines each year. 

For Current Candidates

When building your portfolio library online, you may need to refer to the following documents for instructions on logging into the document library site and using the document library itself:

• Instructions for logging into your portfolio document library site ( 548 KB).
• Instructions for using your portfolio document library and uploading documents ( 574 KB).
• Forms for Portfolio Completion