Program Overview

Certificate in Spiritual Direction

The Certificate in Spiritual Direction at North Park Theological Seminary is a two-year, cohort-based program designed to equip individuals to offer spiritual guidance grounded in the Protestant tradition. We train in the practices of holy listening, spiritual discernment, and prayer.

Program Overview

• The program is completed in just over two years (25 months).
• It requires three summer weeklong intensives on campus in Chicago, as well as year-round training online with an instructor and cohort.
• Unique to this program is the requirement for applicants to have experienced at least one year of personal spiritual direction prior to beginning the program.

Courses and Requirements

• The certificate program consists of 15 credit hours.
• Courses include:
  • SPFM 7501: Foundations of Listening & Discerning
  • SPFM 7502: Listening & Discerning Practicum I
  • SPFM 7503: Spiritual Directing: Listening to the Movement of God With Another
  • SPFM 7504: Spiritual Directing Practicum II
  • SPFM 7505: The Ministry of Spiritual Direction: Listening to God in the Church and World

Learning Outcomes

After completing the Certificate in Spiritual Direction, students will be able to:

• Identify the history and cultural distinctives of spiritual direction in the Christian tradition.
• Recognize the movement of God in one's own life (discernment) with a growing capacity to listen deeply for the same in others.
• Embrace the call and commitment to the ministry of spiritual direction prepared to engage the church and the world with its gifts.

Eligibility and Admission

• The program is designed for mature Christian lay leaders and ministers who would benefit from training and supervised experience in the ministry of spiritual direction.
• Applicants should have, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one year of experience receiving spiritual direction.
• Many applicants may be trained ministers, but each cohort will have a variety of lay and clergy and a variety of professional backgrounds.

Time Commitment

• Over the course of just over two years (25 months), students will invest approximately 110 hours of work in addition to three week-long summer intensive courses.
• This will include interacting online with other members of your cohort, reading, and practice in spiritual direction.

Active Cohort Dates

• Cohort Summer Intensives are in-person on the campus of North Park Theological Seminary.
• Specific dates for each cohort are provided in a table format, outlining the summer intensive weeks for each year of the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is eligible to apply?: Mature Christian lay leaders and ministers who would benefit from training and supervised experience in the ministry of spiritual direction.
• How do I find a spiritual director to meet the one-year of spiritual direction requirement?: The Center for Spiritual Direction is in partnership with the Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors, which can provide assistance.
• How do I know if I am called to the ministry of spiritual direction?: Discernment is key in our training. The application process and the first year of certificate training are considered part of the discernment period.
• What is the time commitment?: Approximately 110 hours of work in addition to three week-long summer intensive courses over 25 months.