Office of the General Assembly

Educator Certification is a process for training and recognition of those called specifically to a ministry of Christian Education and Formation in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Book of Order describes Certified Christian educators as “persons certified and called to service in the ministry of education in congregations or councils. They shall have skills and training in biblical interpretation, Reformed theology, worship and sacraments, human development, faith development, religious educational theory and practice, and the polity, programs, and mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).” (G-2.1103a)

Ordinarily, those seeking to become Certified Christian Educators (CCE) must have at least a bachelor’s degree. Those who have not graduated from college who do not have a degree or work experience may pursue the Christian Education Associate (CEA) designation endorsement prior to beginning the process toward the CCE level. Those who serve as volunteers or part time employees who have a college degree but not in the area of Christian education may also find the CEA training helpful. Specific requirements are available at https://oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/christianeducators/certification-educators/.

Pursuing certification models and reflects your commitment to excellence and lifelong learning. The certification process provides a network of resources, encouragement and credentials. If seeking new employment, certification can be an important credential as it grounds you in the theology of the Reformed tradition and help you better understand the physical, emotional and spiritual development of learners in all age groups.

Many seminaries require few, if any, courses in Christian education/or formation. Yet, many pastors are called to serve churches where they find they have responsibilities for Christian education/formation, either as an associate pastor or pastor, whether by design or default. For pastors who have a focus or degree in Christian education, the certification process enables them to intentionally integrate different areas of knowledge and study to enhance their ministries. For pastors who don’t have much background in Christian education, or few courses in Religious education theory and practice, the certification process enables them to gain knowledge and skills to enhance their ministries. Certification carries an accountability and acknowledgment in educational ministry and Christian formation that may be lacking with only a Master of Divinity degree. Many seminary courses, particularly from those related to the PCUSA, will count toward meeting the course requirements for certification.

In many respects this depends on the part of the country in which you are seeking employment, and the congregation’s emphasis upon the need to provide well prepared leadership in Christian education/formation. Many congregations indicate a preference for Certified Christian Educators when seeking to fill a position.

Contact Martha Miller, Manager for Educator Certification, at martha.miller@pcusa.org.

The first step in beginning the Educator Certification process is to fill out an online application by going to www.pcusa.org/christianeducators and scrolling down to “Application for Educator Certification.” Download and read the “Educator Certification Process Overview” document as you prepare. Click on the link to the appropriate application and follow the steps there.

Educator Certification Advisors are appointed by the presbytery and serve as the main liaison between the educator and the mid council. Following the completion of profile information in the application process, educators will be provided with a drop-down menu of Educator Certification Advisors in the educator’s presbytery. If there are not options listed, send a comment to the manager of the Educator Certification process in the space provided. The manager will be in touch via email and the presbytery will be asked to appoint an Advisor.

While there are not any expenses for the Educator Certification process itself, there is a fee for most courses that count toward Educator Certification requirements. This is based on the expenses of the course provider to provide an instructor, facility, etc. The fee is different based on the provider. There are no fees for the CCE exam or for the CEA process.

This depends, in large part, on how many certification courses need to be completed and how quickly the required coursework is completed. Some are able to complete several courses in one year, while others proceed at a slower pace. Once the coursework and experience requirements are met, the exam has a limit of six months for completion. There is also the required equivalent of one-year employment or volunteerism experience in educational ministry.

The Christian Education Associate (CEA) process has a great deal of flexibility and does not require an excess of time or money. If your presbytery has a staff person with a focus on Christian education/formation, he/she can help you with training resources. In addition, you will find groups on social media through which you can engage in conversations with others serving in areas of Christian formation. Facebook groups that might be helpful include, “Church Educators” and “APCE (Association of Presbyterian Church Educators)”. Begin to read books you see recommended on the online groups for those in Christian Education. Ask others in your congregation who help in educational ministry to read and discuss what you are reading to help expand the learning.

The Enrolled Educational Assistant (EEA) designation has been renamed the Christian Education Associate (CEA).

The Christian Education Associate designation was originally designed as a means of helping individuals without a college degree gain necessary grounding and training to assist them in their ministry, and was also the first step in the Educator Certification process. The training associated with the CEA is open to all who may be seeking either the general academic foundation needed to complete certification courses or those who would like training to support their volunteer or professional work in educational ministry.

Click here For information about the steps and requirements of the CEA process.

The CACE is a level of Educator Certification which is no longer offered. It is still included in the PC(USA) Book of Order since there are educators who have achieved it. It is not equivalent to the CEA level, however. Those who have completed the CACE level and wish to become a Certified Christian Educator (CCE) must successfully complete the Worship and Sacraments course and have completed the Human Growth and Faith Development course in the last 15 years or retake that course. Once coursework is complete, the CCE exam must be successfully completed and the ministry verification requirement met.

The PC(USA) Book of Order specifies that Certified Christian Educators have skill and training in Biblical Interpretation; Reformed Theology; Human Growth and Faith Development; Religious Education Theory and Practice; Worship and Sacraments; Presbyterian Polity, Program and Mission. Typically Presbyterian Polity and Presbyterian Program and Mission are taught as one course. Current standards are that each of these courses should be the equivalent of post graduate coursework for 3 credits or 30 contact hours.

An uploaded copy of your official academic transcript is required as a part of the application. As the application is reviewed, coursework and transcripts will be matched, and appropriate credit given in the educator’s record. If there is a question about the content of a particular course, the educator will be asked to provide a syllabus of the course for the Educator Certification Committee to review.

Information about approved and upcoming certification courses can be found at http://oga.pcusa.org/section/mid-council-ministries/christianeducators/certification-course-descriptions-and-objectives/.

You will need to be able to identify at least one religious education theorist and critically engage that theorist’s perspectives with your own educational event, identifying how the theory informs the design, implementation, and evaluation of that event. You will also need to be able to write and lead a lesson plan for an educational event that could be easily picked up and used by a third party.

You will need to be able to identify and use an exegetical method to explore a particular passage, and demonstrate the ability to a variety of resources to complement the exegesis and to relate the findings to inform an educational event.

You will need to be able to write a statement outlining your theological approach to Christian education and identify theological elements of educational activities, using one Reformed theologian or confessional document.

You will need to be able to identify the faith and developmental needs of the participants in your educational event and discuss the ways a specific educational event is informed by the perspectives of a particular developmental theorist. (Note: this is the only certification course that “expires.”)

By the end of the certification process, in order to successfully complete the examination, the educator will need to be able to integrate and apply learnings in this knowledge area to situations that arise in congregations.

You will need to be able to integrate and apply learnings and knowledge in these areas to situations that arise in congregations. This would include a familiarity with resources that are available on the pcusa.org website related to the program and mission of the PC(USA).

You will need to be able to apply what was learned from this knowledge and skill area to situations that often arise in a congregational context. This includes the ability to use and reference the PCUSA Book of Order.

Courses are the equivalent of upper level college or graduate courses. You can expect to read several books and/or articles for each course and write formal papers, reflections, book reviews and/or lesson plans.

Certified Christian Educator Exam Process

The Certified Educator Certification Exam is a six-month, open book, exam with two parts. The first part requires the educator to develop an original educational design, six hours in length; and to lead it, reflect on it, and evaluate it, based on, and supported by, all the knowledge and skills areas of coursework. The second part consists of scenarios of practical ministry which the educator must address through the lenses of Presbyterian polity, program and mission, and worship and sacraments.

The Educator Certification Advisor and Reference Group provide help and guidance during the exam period.

The Reference Group consists of a staff colleague other than the educator’s spouse; another Christian educator, preferably one who is certified, who knows the educator’s work; a representative appointed by the Session or agency/council to whom the educator is responsible; a representative from the appropriate committee of the presbytery (if applicable); and the Educator Certification Advisor who serves as moderator. The Reference Group provides support and encouragement during the certification process and reviews the educator’s CCE exam prior to the educator submitting it to the ECC and attests to its readiness.

While some of the members of the Reference Group are there because they have been asked by the Session or as a staff colleague, other members are at the discretion of the educator in consultation with the presbytery Certification Advisor. An educator will want to look for people who will be supportive and also look at the educator’s work with a challenging eye. In addition to encouraging the educator, the primary role of the Reference Group is to assist the educator in ensuring that all of the parts of the exam have been answered satisfactorily and completely, using proper grammar. Reference Group members who have varied gifts that span across the seven skill areas, are willing to be honest and to look critically at the work of the educator, are helpful.

The most common exam mistake is neglecting to follow ALL of the instructions for the exam.