ALLIANCE
for the Certification
of Lay Ecclesial Ministers
Who Should Be Certified?
National certification is available to lay ecclesial ministers serving in the following roles:
- Director of Worship
- Parish Life Coordinator
- Pastoral Associate
- Director of Music Ministries
- Parish Catechetical Leader
- Youth Ministry Leader, including Pastoral Juvenil Hispana
- Diocesan Youth Ministry Leader, including Pastoral Juvenil Hispana
You are eligible to apply for national certification if you are currently serving in one of the above roles and can meet the following prerequisites:
- Education in a field related to your specialized ministry (for example, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent)
- A minimum of three years of full-time (min. 30 hrs./week) or six years of part-time (min. 15 hrs./week) pastoral ministry experience in your ministry specialization
- Able to provide evidence of full communion with the Catholic Church
Who Is Granting Certification?
Certification for lay ecclesial ministers is granted by the Alliance for the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers (“the Alliance”). The Alliance is a partnership of five national ministry organizations:
- Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC)
- National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM)
- National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM)
- National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL)
- National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM)
Each of these partner organizations manages certification for the ministers and ministry roles in their field, reviewing candidates’ qualifications for certification in that field. In this way, you are assured that the most detailed review of your qualifications will be done by others who are very familiar with your ministry specialization. If approved for certification by a partner organization, your application will be forwarded to review bodies for the Alliance who will conduct a final review and approval process.
© 2012. National Association for Lay Ministry on behalf of the Alliance for the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers