How Do I Earn a Minister's License?

<p>The path to gaining credentials as a minister of a religious denomination varies greatly depending upon your religious affiliation as well as your <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Minister_Frequently_Asked_Career_Questions.html">career goals</a> relating to the ministry. </p> <p>A rabbi is a religious leader in the Jewish faith, an imam in the Muslim faith, swami in Hinduism, and bhikkhu in Buddhism. In some branches of Christianity, such as the Roman Catholic denomination, leaders are priests. </p> <p>Each of these religions and their organizations establishes criteria for how to become qualified for these leadership roles </p> <p>In this article, we discuss the traditional pathways to becoming a minister in various American Protestant denominations since they usually refer to their religious leaders as 'minister.' We also mention an alternate type of designation related to the relatively new career of becoming 'ordained' to become a wedding officiant. </p> <h2 id="section---BecomeAnOrdainedMinisterThroughAReligiousDenomination">Become an Ordained Minister Through a Religious Denomination</h2> <p>Within Protestantism, you will find many denominations. According to the Pew Research Center, the distribution of denomination (by percentage of the United States population) in 2014 was: </p> <ul><li>Baptist: 15.4% </li><li>Nondenominational Protestant: 6.2% </li><li>Methodist: 4.6% </li><li>Pentecostal: 4.6% </li><li>Unspecified Protestant: 3.8% </li><li>Lutheran: 3.5% </li><li>Presbyterian: 2.2% </li><li>Restorationist: 1.9% </li><li>Episcopalian/Anglican: 1.3% </li><li>Holiness: 0.8% </li><li>Congregationalist: 0.6% </li><li>Adventist: 0.6% </li></ul><p>Even within a denomination, you will find different denominational organizations, such as the distinct organizations: the American Baptist Church, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. </p> <h2 id="section---Step1LearnAboutYourDenominationSRequirements">Step 1: Learn About Your Denomination's Requirements</h2> <p>If you intend to become an ordained minister (also called pastor or preacher) of one of these denominations, you'll need to find out the <a href="https://learn.org/articles/requirements_for_an_ordained_minister_license.html">requirements</a> of each denomination's organizations. </p> <p>You will also find differing rules of governance about who (and with what qualifications) may become a minister or pastor and at what level of authority that decision is made. </p> <p>For example, unlike most denominations, since each local Baptist church is autonomous, ministers may become ordained only for a specific church or more broadly to serve their local association or affiliated national organization. </p> <p>In contrast, ordained ministers of some other denominations serve any church to which they are assigned by the national or regional church authority. </p> <p>No federal, state, or local government determines any licensing or certification requirements for church leaders. Instead, you must meet the educational and experiential requirements of your particular religious body. </p> <p>These may involve a concept of 'being called,' which is a type of spiritual invocation or decision a person makes or feels compelled by that leads them into a career in the ministry. </p> <p>Many ministers state that the Holy Spirit or divine being calls them into the ministry. </p> <h2 id="section---Step2GetYourEducationToBecomeAProtestantMinister">Step 2: Get Your Education to Become a Protestant Minister</h2> <p>There are some denominations that require ordained ministers to hold degrees, while others have different requirements. </p> <h3 id="section---ChurchesThatRequireATheologicalDegree">Churches That Require a Theological Degree</h3> <p>A prospective minister in many denominations may need to earn an <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Bachelor_Degree_FAQs.html">undergraduate degree</a> (often in religion or religious studies) and then attend a divinity school or theological seminary. </p> <p>Seminaries and divinity schools are specialized <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Religious_Studies_Masters_Degrees.html">graduate schools</a> that may or may not be affiliated with a particular denomination. However, they are generally accredited by national or regional education accreditation bodies just like other university programs. </p> <p>In divinity school or theological seminary, you may enter one of several programs: </p> <ul><li>Master of Divinity (MDiv) programs </li><li>Master of Arts (MA) programs </li><li>Master of Theology (ThM) programs </li></ul><p>Most ministers-in-training earn an MDiv degree that provides training in theology and related fields such as ethics, biblical scripture, philosophy, and history. </p> <p>Ministerial students also take courses in public speaking, sermon writing, and pastoral care to prepare them for their future career duties. </p> <p>They may also learn about specific denominational traditional ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, christenings, etc., which they will one day perform. </p> <h3 id="section---ChurchesThatDoNotRequireAFormalEducationForMinistry">Churches That Do Not Require a Formal Education for Ministry</h3> <p>Some smaller denominational organizations do not require their ministers to earn graduate degrees, some require attendance at a Bible college, and some do not require a college education at all. </p> <p>In these denominations, the power of a potential minister's spiritual testimony may qualify them. </p> <p>These qualifications generally involve the testimony of salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, thorough knowledge of and agreement with the particular church's doctrine and principles, and living an exemplary lifestyle. </p> <p>For example, the Assemblies of God denomination recognizes three progressive levels of ministry to those called to serve: </p> <ul><li>certified minister: individuals dedicated to Christian ministry but who must remain under a senior pastor's supervision </li><li>licensed minister: individuals who provide pastoral care and perform worship ceremonies; who display clear evidence of a divine call, possess practical ministry experience, and are committed to serving 'the proclamation of the gospel' </li><li>ordained minister: individuals at the highest level of ministry who may perform all ministerial responsibilities including conducting baptisms, wedding ceremonies, and funeral ceremonies </li></ul><h3 id="section---Step3BecomeOrdained">Step 3: Become Ordained</h3> <p>The meaning of ordination (the act of becoming ordained) varies between church bodies, but in general, it is the official sanctioning or consecration of a person by their religious authority enabling them to hold a ministerial position. </p> <p>Ordination is almost always a holy rite or ceremony that bestows the power and privilege of the ministry upon a qualified person and distinguishes them from regular church members (laypersons, or the laity). </p> <p>For example, ordination may involve being 'prayed over, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and authorized by the church for their life and work,' according to the United Methodist Church. </p> <h2 id="section---BecomingOrdainedOnlineToOfficiateMarriageCeremonies">Becoming 'Ordained' Online to Officiate Marriage Ceremonies</h2> <p>Each state has its own requirements about who is qualified to officiate wedding ceremonies. </p> <p>While traditionally ordained ministers of churches and other religious leaders have historically been officiants, in recent years this role has opened to allow secular 'ministers' as officiants. </p> <p>If you want to become a licensed officiant mainly to perform weddings or funeral services, many organizations with online storefronts issue online certification to become a nontraditional 'independent ordained minister.' </p> <p>Be sure to understand your state's legal requirements before you decide to become a licensed wedding officiant through an online application. Some states still only recognize ordained ministers from established religious denominations. </p> <p>Online 'ordination' or certification services typically have no specific religious affiliation (or one that has been created for the site) and have simple registration requirements asking you to fill out the necessary paperwork and pay a fee. </p> <p>Then you'll receive your online-sanctioned ordination certificate and officiant's identification card that will be legally recognized in many states. </p> <h2 id="section---EarnYourMinisterSLicenseToday">Earn Your Minister's License Today</h2> <p>If your goal is to become a traditional minister or pastor in a recognized Protestant denomination, follow the steps that we've outlined today.</p>