While religious belief in the U.S. is declining, the demand for spiritual care is increasing. From the New York metropolitan transit system to universities, labor unions, and government bodies – chaplains maintain a constant presence. Chaplaincy expands the spiritual and mental health intersection in secular and public institutions.
Our nation’s youth need chaplaincy.
Pre-K through 12th-grade students face various issues in a time of division, confusion, and despair. YET, students show great interest in something else: meaning, purpose, and destiny. The need is clear. It is called the Science of Hope. There is more to personhood than biology. Humans are spiritual beings who need spiritual care.
Chaplains provide the spiritual counsel students seek.
— WHAT DOES A CHAPLAIN DO?
Duties of a Chaplain
Chaplains are ordained representatives of religious tradition and accountable above all to the Almighty. In schools, Chaplains serve under the authority of the school principal, superintendent, and school board of Trustees. In addition, chaplains cooperate with and support school functions.
AS A CHAPLAIN, YOU WOULD BE A PAID MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL STAFF. YOUR DUTIES WOULD INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
Prayer for the school, staff, students, parents, and guardians
Counsel and spiritual care for the school staff, the students, and their families
Meet with school trustees, superintendents, principals, and parent groups about biblical moral and spiritual issues as they concern school policies
Assist teachers with research on theological and biblical questions
Support after-school Bible clubs and other student lead faith activities
Manage and coordinate in-school volunteers representing ministries and clergy
— National Standards to Qualify
Chaplain Training Program
| In coordination with various universities, seminaries, and chaplain organizations, national standards for school chaplain certification have been established. |
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFIED SCHOOL CHAPLAINS LISTED ON THE NSCA NATIONAL REGISTER.
An ordained minister, licensed counselor, or credentialed chaplain*
Verification of one-year experience serving school-age children
Clean police, FBI, and INTERPOL background checks for pedophilia, violent crimes, and or crimes relating to minors
Forensic social media evaluation supporting biblical moral character
References from local church and employer
*The NSCA will provide training, ordination, certification, and credentials for graduates of the NSCA program.
There are three general levels of compliance to qualify as a school chaplain.
Fully trained and experienced ordained ministers or credentialed chaplains, What’s needed:
/ / / / / /
Submission of Chaplain Assessment needed to qualify as Level One school chaplain
Background Clearance on police, FBI, Interpol, and social media
Certification from NSCA as a School Chaplain
School chaplain application
Listing on the National School Chaplain Association Register
/ / / / / /
$35 Chaplain Assessment
$349 One Time application fee for school chaplain certification
$99 Annual dues to keep background checks current, access to training updates and courses, entry to chaplain support app and national job posting. Most importantly relationship with other school chaplains though wiki powered open chat lines and counsel by members of the senior chaplain board.
$483 Total for first year only
/ / / / / /
Chaplain Assessment *Please note: this is not a job application. This assessment will determine the level of training required to become a certified school chaplain.
A complete chaplain assessment requires a Senior Minister to fill in the Pastoral Recommendation.
Certified teachers, ordained or credentialed ministers, certifications, with student experience. In partnership with NSCA, Oklahoma Christian University will offer the eight-week Level Two course online. The asynchronous course will average 6 hours a week. This course is one college credit hour and three CEU credits. The cost for the 48-hour course is $349.
/ / / / / /
Submission of Chaplain Assessment needed to qualify as Level Two school chaplain
Completion of 48-hour training
Background Clearance on police, FBI, Interpol, and social media
School chaplain application
Certification from NSCA as a School Chaplain
Listing on the National School Chaplain Association Register
One Time application fee $250. Plus Annual Dues: $250.00 = Total $500.00 first year only. (Annual dues to maintain a listing on the national register with annual background checks.)
/ / / / / /
Level two 48-hour training course schedule for 2023
January 9th – March 3rd
March 6th – April 28th
May 8th – June 30th
The Fall 2023 schedule is not yet available. OC calendar
Chaplain training is offered by New College which is the online school of Oklahoma Christian University
/ / / / / /
$35 Chaplain Assessment
$349 48-hour training course
$349 One Time application fee for school chaplain certification
$99 Annual dues to keep background checks current, access to training updates and courses, entry to chaplain support app and national job posting. Most importantly relationship with other school chaplains though wiki powered open chat lines and counsel by members of the senior chaplain board.
$832 Total for first year only
/ / / / / /
Chaplain Assessment *Please note: this is not a job application. This assessment will determine the level of training required to become a certified school chaplain.
A complete chaplain assessment requires a Senior Minister to fill in the Pastoral Recommendation.
People with no ordination, chaplain credentials, or student experience with a minimum of a high school or high school equivalency. A full year, 30-hour college credit course is required to be certified as a school chaplain. The 30-hour college credit course may serve as the first year of either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. The course credit may also qualify candidates to complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Note: Some states might require a chaplain to commit to continuing their education by adding a second year of study to achieve an associate degree. Additional years of study are available from Oklahoma Christian University.
/ / / / / /
Submission of Chaplain Assessment needed to qualify as Level Two school chaplain
Completion of 48-hour training
Background Clearance on police, FBI, Interpol, and social media
School chaplain application
Certification from NSCA as a School Chaplain
Listing on the National School Chaplain Association Register
/ / / / / /
One school year 30-hour college credit course schedule begins on the following dates in 2023
January 9th March 6th May 8th
The Fall 2023 schedule is not yet available. OC calendar
Chaplain training is offered by New College which is the online school of Oklahoma Christian University
/ / / / / /
$35 Chaplain Assessment
$10,500 One school year 30-hour college credit course
$349 One Time application fee for school chaplain certification
$99 Annual dues to keep background checks current, access to training updates and courses, entry to chaplain support app and national job posting. Most importantly relationship with other school chaplains though wiki powered open chat lines and counsel by members of the senior chaplain board.
$10,932 Total for first year only
/ / / / / /
Chaplain Assessment *Please note: this is not a job application. This assessment will determine the level of training required to become a certified school chaplain.
A complete chaplain assessment requires a Senior Minister to fill in the Pastoral Recommendation.
Fully trained and experienced ordained ministers or credentialed chaplains, What’s needed:
/ / / / / /
Submission of Chaplain Assessment needed to qualify as Level One school chaplain
Background Clearance on police, FBI, Interpol, and social media
Certification from NSCA as a School Chaplain
School chaplain application
Listing on the National School Chaplain Association Register
/ / / / / /
$35 Chaplain Assessment
$349 One Time application fee for school chaplain certification
$99 Annual dues to keep background checks current, access to training updates and courses, entry to chaplain support app and national job posting. Most importantly relationship with other school chaplains though wiki powered open chat lines and counsel by members of the senior chaplain board.
Certified teachers, ordained or credentialed ministers, certifications, with student experience. In partnership with NSCA, Oklahoma Christian University will offer the eight-week Level Two course online. The asynchronous course will average 6 hours a week. This course is one college credit hour and three CEU credits. The cost for the 48-hour course is $349.
/ / / / / /
Submission of Chaplain Assessment needed to qualify as Level Two school chaplain
Completion of 48-hour training
Background Clearance on police, FBI, Interpol, and social media
School chaplain application
Certification from NSCA as a School Chaplain
Listing on the National School Chaplain Association Register
One Time application fee $250. Plus Annual Dues: $250.00 = Total $500.00 first year only. (Annual dues to maintain a listing on the national register with annual background checks.)
/ / / / / /
Level two 48-hour training course schedule for 2023
January 9th – March 3rd
March 6th – April 28th
May 8th – June 30th
The Fall 2023 schedule is not yet available. OC calendar
Chaplain training is offered by New College which is the online school of Oklahoma Christian University
/ / / / / /
$35 Chaplain Assessment
$349 48-hour training course
$349 One Time application fee for school chaplain certification
$99 Annual dues to keep background checks current, access to training updates and courses, entry to chaplain support app and national job posting. Most importantly relationship with other school chaplains though wiki powered open chat lines and counsel by members of the senior chaplain board.
People with no ordination, chaplain credentials, or student experience with a minimum of a high school or high school equivalency. A full year, 30-hour college credit course is required to be certified as a school chaplain. The 30-hour college credit course may serve as the first year of either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. The course credit may also qualify candidates to complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Note: Some states might require a chaplain to commit to continuing their education by adding a second year of study to achieve an associate degree. Additional years of study are available from Oklahoma Christian University.
/ / / / / /
Submission of Chaplain Assessment needed to qualify as Level Two school chaplain
Completion of 48-hour training
Background Clearance on police, FBI, Interpol, and social media
School chaplain application
Certification from NSCA as a School Chaplain
Listing on the National School Chaplain Association Register
/ / / / / /
One school year 30-hour college credit course schedule begins on the following dates in 2023
January 9th March 6th May 8th
The Fall 2023 schedule is not yet available. OC calendar
Chaplain training is offered by New College which is the online school of Oklahoma Christian University
/ / / / / /
$35 Chaplain Assessment
$10,500 One school year 30-hour college credit course
$349 One Time application fee for school chaplain certification
$99 Annual dues to keep background checks current, access to training updates and courses, entry to chaplain support app and national job posting. Most importantly relationship with other school chaplains though wiki powered open chat lines and counsel by members of the senior chaplain board.
Note: All chaplains are required to have Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and Active Shooter certifications. These certifications are available from third party organizations.
Note: It is necessary to be credentialed with NSCA to qualify for the NSCA National Registry®
| NSCA trained Chaplains receive a certificate, badge, and ID card. Your Chaplain membership in NSCA enrolls you in a national fellowship of like-minded ministers and servants, which includes exclusive education opportunities, programs, and seminars to continue learning and growing in your ability to impact your community. |
— Significant, Yet Different Roles
Chaplains Vs. Pastors
Chaplains and pastors play a significant role in the lives of diverse groups of people. They are both theologically educated and certified ministers. However, their job descriptions vary in a few ways. An easy way to remember the difference is that while all chaplains are pastors, not all pastors are chaplains.
What Does a School Chaplain Do?
A school chaplain is a certified clergy member who provides spiritual care for PreK through 12th-grade students, teachers, and their families. Since chaplains are ordained ministers, they can officiate ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. In addition, they can lead baptism services and provide final rites for patients who are passing away. Chaplains can also take on the role of a spiritual leader for individuals who do not belong to a specific religious community.
What Does a Pastor Do?
The main difference between a chaplain and a pastor is the particular group they serve. A pastor is an ordained clergy member who works in one religious organization, such as a church or parish. Pastors serve their congregation by planning and overseeing weekly church services. They typically lead worship services and preach sermons. In addition, pastors provide spiritual guidance for specific communities of believers according to the beliefs of that group or denomination.
A pastor can have different titles depending on their religious traditions. For example, many Protestant Christians refer to their religious leaders as pastors or reverends, while Catholics refer to theirs as priests. Believers in non-Christian faiths or other religions have different names for their spiritual leaders as well. Data Sources:What Is the Difference Between a Chaplain & a Pastor? and Chaplain Vs. Pastor
— A LONG HISTORY IN THE U.S.
Chaplains in Society
Chaplains are not a modern innovation; they have a long history in the United States since before our county was even founded. Chaplains provided valuable and respected services. For example, since 1789, the Senate and the House of Representatives have had chaplains who offer public prayers at the beginning of each day of congressional business and provide pastoral care for members of Congress, their families, and other staff.
Chaplains must be available in the military, federal prisons, and the Veterans Administration, and they work in most healthcare organizations, including hospice settings. More recently, large and small businesses have employed chaplains to provide spiritual care for their employees. Chaplains are present at most of the country’s largest ports and airports and with many professional and college sports teams. In recent years, chaplains have worked with many social-service organizations; for instance, chaplains are deployed with every Red Cross Disaster Action Team and have followed in the wake of mass shootings and natural disasters.
— Chaplaincy as a Career
Salary & Job Outlook
The salaries for full-time ministry positions can vary, based on the organization, job location, and position in the organization. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes the annual median salary for clergy members as $50,400. While the lowest 10% earn an average salary of $26,810, the highest 10% can earn an average of $86,970. The job outlook for clergy members is projected to grow by 6% between 2019 and 2029, which is slightly faster than the average rate for all careers. Data Source
— Personal and Ministry Assistance
Chaplain Support Through NSCA
YOU ARE NOT ALONE. SCHOOL CHAPLAINS HAVE REALTIME SUPPORT. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
/ / / PERSONAL SUPPORT
Chaplains need spiritual care as well
Chaplain Call Center available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in your time to discuss any topic.
Wiki powered web and apps allow chaplain to chaplain communications
/ / / MINISTRY
Real-time support
Web-based and Phone app – Biblically inspired content listed by topic to support student and teacher counseling which includes an extensive list of referral agencies by community. Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Note: Three veteran chaplains will form the governing body called the Senior Chaplain Board which will operate under the supervision of Mission Generation’s Board of Directors. The Senior Chaplain Board will administrate school chaplains in coordination with education officials. NSCA will facilitate relations between chaplains and education but is not an employer or employment agency. Local school districts will employ school chaplains. NSCA is not an employment agency but does assist in some aspects of chaplain placement.
