Certification FAQs

CDM’s Certification Program is theological and practical training for non-ordained staff or volunteers who are currently serving in children’s ministry within the local church. Whether your church is 50 or 5000 people, this certification program will impact your church by developing and enhancing your Children’s Ministry.

The 12-month program is progressive. It is a combination of webinars, readings, and projects that will provide training for every area of Children’s Ministry. 

Below are some questions that have come to our attention. Click the questions to reveal our answers. These are by no means all the questions there will likely be, so check back often to see the newest.

YES! Children’s Ministry Certification is an in-depth, systematic training that will not only equip you for your role at your church but will give you the education and credentials you need to minister to children for years.  Certification is geared towards Children’s Ministry leaders and will go into more detail than anyone conferences or retreat allows. The projects and readings will equip you to put into practice the monthly webinar topic by applying what you are learning in your own church and ministry to children.

All eligible Children’s Directors, Children’s Ministry staff, or Children’s Ministry volunteers who are currently working or volunteering in the local church.

  • Have worked or volunteered in a specific role within Children’s Ministry for at least 6 months
  • Complete application process and accepted by CDM Staff
  • Approval by applicant’s current church Pastor, boss, and Session

This will be a little different person to person, but average time commitment we are expecting is 10 hours a month. The monthly course load is available at the start of each month and is available on demand throughout the month. So, those 10 hours can be done all at once or in 30-minute increments—however, you work best.

Yes and No.  CDM’s Children’s Ministry Certification covers 12 topics over 12 months.  Each month you are expected to stay on that month’s topic. As far as when you watch each month’s webinar or complete each month’s readings and projects, this can be done at your own pace–as long as it is completed by the monthly due date (see scope and sequence for all project due dates).  All webinars and assignments will be uploaded in advance, so you can always get ahead, but we ask that you not get behind because we want you to get the breadth and depth of each month’s content. So, you can do the monthly work at your own pace, but you can’t move from month to month at your own pace. You must stay on topic each month.

$1800 for the year + $25 application fee

A non-refundable $25 application fee is due with your application. (Once your application is received you will then be sent a link to pay the registration fee) The $1800 is due when certification begins in January.  The $1800 includes the 12 months of certification, all resources, and the registration cost to the Children’s Ministry Leadership Conference.

At this time there are no scholarships.  If scholarships become available we will add the information to our website.

All interested participants must fill out and submit an application and must have a pastor fill out and submit a pastoral recommendation form. All forms can be found on this certification website under “application process.” Forms can be submitted online.

Both forms must be submitted to be considered for the certification program.

All applications are due by October 1. We do encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible the 2021 class did fill up quickly.

Certification begins in January and ends in December

CDM’s Children’s Ministry Certification is one year. CDM’s Children’s Ministry Leadership Team has worked hard to assemble the key information you need to know to effectively minister to children. The comprehensive program builds a foundation of knowledge that is both practical and theological. You won’t want to miss a single month, and we feel like each month is essential for your ministry.  There is not an option to only participate in certain months.

CDM’s Children’s Ministry Certification means that you have received both the practical and theological training you need to effectively minister to children. Once you complete the 12-month program, you will receive a certificate from CDM, the discipleship ministry of the PCA. CDM’s Certification qualifies you for the role you are in and shows that you have been trained under the umbrella of the PCA Children’s Ministry.  Certification is a vital part of your education because it equips you to minister to children over the long haul.

Yes! Certification can be done from anywhere in the world. Each participant will have a log in to a website to watch webinars, upload projects, email with faculty, and connect with other participants. We do ask that all certification participants attend the CDM Children’s Ministry Leadership Training Retreat while they are going through certification. Registration, lodging, and meals are included in the cost of the certification. Travel to and from the conference is not included. Look for the dates of the yearly LEAD Retreat on our website under Events.

The certification graduation will take place at LEAD in the Spring following your certification year.  The registration cost for this retreat is not covered in your tuition.  

Further Questions?

Contact the CDM Office

Certification Contact Form

 

Verification

Certification FAQs

CDM’s Certification Program is theological and practical training for non-ordained staff or volunteers who are currently serving in children’s ministry within the local church.  Whether your church is 50 or 5000 people, this certification program will impact your church by developing and enhancing your Children’s Ministry.

The 12-month program is progressive.  It is a combination of webinars, readings, and projects that will provide training for every area of Children’s Ministry. 

Below are some questions that have come to our attention. Click the questions to reveal our answer. These are by no means all the question there will likely be, so check back often to see the newest.

YES! Children’s Ministry Certification is an in-depth, systematic training that will not only equip you for your role at your church but will give you the education and credentials you need to minister to children for years. Certification is geared towards Children’s Ministry leaders and will go into more detail than anyone conferences or retreat allows. The projects and readings will equip you to put into practice the monthly webinar topic by applying what you are learning in your own church and ministry to children.

All eligible Children’s Directors, Children’s Ministry staff, or Children’s Ministry volunteers who are currently working or volunteering in the local church.

  • Have worked or volunteered in a specific role within Children’s Ministry for at least 6 months
  • Complete application process and accepted by CDM Staff
  • Approval by applicant’s current church Pastor, boss, and Session

This will be a little different person to person, but average time commitment we are expecting is 10 hours a month. The monthly course load is available at the start of each month and is available on demand throughout the month. So, those 10 hours can be done all at once or in 30-minute increments—however, you work best.

Yes and No. CDM’s Children’s Ministry Certification covers 12 topics over 12 months. Each month you are expected to stay on that month’s topic. As far as when you watch each month’s webinar or complete each month’s readings and projects, this can be done at your own pace–as long as it is completed by the monthly due date (see scope and sequence for all project due dates). All webinars and assignments will be uploaded in advance, so you can always get ahead, but we ask that you not get behind because we want you to get the breadth and depth of each month’s content. So, you can do the monthly work at your own pace, but you can’t move from month to month at your own pace. You must stay on topic each month.

$1800 for the year

At this time there are no scholarships. If scholarships become available we will add the information to our website.

All interested participants must fill out and turn in an application, pastoral recommendation form, and mentor agreement form. All forms can be found on the certification website under “application process.” Forms can be emailed to cdm.certification@pca.net or mailed to the CDM office.

All applications are due by October 1 of the year prior to the beginning of Certification.

Certification begins in January and ends in December

CDM’s Children’s Ministry Certification is one year. CDM’s Children’s Ministry Leadership Team has worked hard to assemble the key information you need to know to effectively minister to children. The comprehensive program builds a foundation of knowledge that is both practical and theological. You won’t want to miss a single month, and we feel like each month is essential for your ministry.  There is not an option to only participate in certain months.

CDM’s Children’s Ministry Certification means that you have received both the practical and theological training you need to effectively minister to children. Once you complete the 12-month program, you will receive a certificate from CDM, the discipleship ministry of the PCA. CDM’s Certification qualifies you for the role you are in and shows that you have been trained under the umbrella of the PCA Children’s Ministry.  Certification is a vital part of your education because it equips you to minister to children over the long haul.

Further Questions?

Contact the CDM Office

[contact-form-7 id=”68″ title=”Contact form 1″]

Faculty

Application Process

The Discipleship Ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America