Certification for Spiritual Directors

This certification is open to persons who have completed spiritual direction training either at an ATS accredited institution or a spiritual direction training program (usually an 18-24 month program). If you qualify, you can apply now. If you do not meet these requirements you can apply for our 2 year Spiritual Formation Certificate program, which would allow you to move into the Certification for Spiritual Directors program upon completion.

Students will: 

• Demonstrate reflection on spiritual conversations and the integration of the client’s understanding and experiences of God 
• Implement (and evaluate the effectiveness of) skills for establishing and maintaining spiritual-direction relationships 
• Identify & evaluate their own formational journey as a spiritual director, & conforming to the image of Christ for the sake of others 
• Expand their experience base as practicing spiritual directors

This certificate is open to students who have completed a spiritual direction training either at an ATS accredited institution or a spiritual direction training program (usually an 18-24 month program). If you do not meet these requirements you can apply for our 2 year Spiritual Formation Certificate, which would allow you to move into the Certification for Spiritual Directors program, following completion.

Applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program:  

• Certification for Spiritual Directors Application
• Official transcript from each college/university attended
• Letter of recommendation from spiritual director or spiritual direction program instructor.

Residence, as described in this section of the catalog, does not refer to the time a student spends on campus. It refers to the portion of a degree program that students are required to earn with Portland Seminary, as compared to transfer credits and credit applied as advanced standing. With regard to the SD certification program, students are required to complete all of the program requirements (2 semester hours) directly with Portland Seminary. The program is fully online.  A leave of absence is valid for up to one year after which the student must reapply to the program. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the certificate. 

In this program students will:

• Successfully complete SFAD 576 Spiritual Direction Certification I, SFAD 577 Spiritual Direction Certification II, and SFAD 578 Certification Praxis 
• Successful completion of the certification year will include: 
  • Completion of 30 hours of spiritual direction with at least three persons over one year
  • Completion of 10 hours of supervision and a written recommendation from your spiritual-direction supervisor after all supervision and direction hours are complete
  • Completion of a final interview with a Portland Seminary spiritual-formation professor 
• SFAD 576 and 577 are taken consecutively in the fall and spring semesters. SFAD 578 Certification Praxis may be taken before or after the SFAD 576 and 577 sequence. 

Note: Students are expected to be in regular spiritual direction themselves. During the three semesters, they will also contract with a trained supervisor for their 10 hours of supervision. The seminary has a list of qualified and recommended supervisors.

Note: There is a course fee for SFAD 576, 577, and 578 to cover the cost of contracting with program selected spiritual directors and supervisors. 

In order to receive the Certification for Spiritual Directors, students must: 

• Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 3 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above 
• Be recommended by the faculty for Certification for Spiritual Directors upon completion of all three credits