FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Welcome to the FAQs section for the Spiritual Counseling Certification. This area is provided to you as a source of information that may be more clarified, related to questions you may have in regards to our certification program. Information regarding recertification, as well as information about our online continuing education courses, is also provided. We highly recommend that you first thoroughly review all of the information on our website, under the main page for Spiritual Counseling Certification. Access main page. If after reviewing all of the provided information and this FAQs section, any other questions may be addressed by completing our request for information form online here. Thank you for your interest in our Spiritual Counseling Certification Program.
SPIRITUAL COUNSELING BLOG: Please visit our Spiritual Counseling interactive web blog. Our blog contains articles, news, events and information related the Spiritual Counseling field.
What is Certification?
Answer: Certification is a voluntary process provided by via an organization that through its qualified advisory boards develops comprehensive and quality standards for the practice of a type of specialty. The developed standards address high quality requirements for the practice of a certain specialty. The defined standards outline educational and/or practice requirements, any required prerequisites, and the need to adhere to a defined code of ethics for the practice specialty. Certification is different than any type of licensing. Certification is one means by which professionals may be publicly recognized as achieving a high level of education, knowledge base and practice skills for a certain healthcare related specialty. Certification also assists employer organizations and clients in their assessment of appropriate qualifications for candidates seeking positions in organizations and/or involved in private practices. It is commonly held that certification through an organization is fast becoming a “gold standard” for specialty practices. Certification testifies and provides a verification of defined educational requirements, adherence to a solid code of ethics, and in many instances prerequisites of practice experience for the practice in a variety of fields.
What Are the Criteria/standards I Will Need to Meet to Achieve Certification?
Answer: The educational criteria and standards are well and clearly defined within our website. Please access our main page to preview these requirements. Access here.
May I Apply for and Be Conferred Certification if I Have Been Practicing as a Spiritual Counselor With Out the Need to Meet the Educational Requirements?
Answer: No. The Board that oversees the development and approval of defined criteria and standards for certification will not consider only practice experience as meeting requirements in full. This decision was made as those who are already in consulting practices have varied and different experiences related to spiritual counseling and instruction and there is no insured uniformity that all who have practiced as a spiritual counselor have the same knowledge base and skills attainment. The evaluation of one’s past practice experience as a spiritual counselor is highly variable and subjective. As such, the Board has developed objective criteria/standards for the conferral of certification. For these reasons, practice experience without the attainment of education will not be considered as fulfilling criteria and standards for our certification.
Over the Years, I Have Completed Many Seminars and Continuing Education Courses Related to Spiritual Counseling, Theory, practice and Interventions. Will These Apply Toward the Education Requirements for Certification?
Answer: Please send in any transcript for review to determine if they can be utilized and an AIHCP course waived. You can contact us here.
What is the Major Practice Focus of a Spiritual Counselor?
Answer: a Certified Spiritual Counselor is one who is very well versed in knowledge of spirituality, spiritual needs, practices, including instruction and teaching. This person has a good solid knowledge base and experiences in assisting individuals to identify issues related to “spiritual distress” and spiritual growth and development. Spiritual counseling is a core dimension of integrative, holistic care delivery. Certified spiritual counselors study and have a good working knowledge of the most useful, safe and effective modern spiritual development techniques and practices. They work with individuals to teach and coach them in a wide variety of spiritual assessments and practices, that are unique to each individual. They assist people who want to grow spiritually within their own personal belief systems. They are highly knowledgeable of the theory, purposes and practices of varied spiritual practices, techniques and provide education and coaching for those wishing to develop their spirituality. Spiritual counselors often have a specific practice in which they specialize and some offer many different types of spiritual coaching and teaching. Some areas in which spiritual counselors specialize include; spiritual healing, energy healing, prayer, spiritual meditation, intuitive counseling, religious science, science of mind techniques, healing with light energy, color, aura reading and assessments and much more. Spiritual counselors generally work with individuals on a one-to-one basis, but can work with groups depending on the coaching and teaching provided. Many spiritual counselors also lecture and publish. Spiritual counselors also work in health care organizations and church related organizations.
People’s interest in spirituality has been consistently increasing over the years and more are seeking spiritual guidance, teaching, and coaching from highly knowledgeable and dedicated spiritual counselors.
What is the Process for Achieving This Certification?
Answer: There is a two-phase process. In order to provide clear and sufficient information on the process we have developed a separate page that defines the process. You may access this information on the certification process at this link: click here.
How Can I Submit an Application?
Answer: Making application is easy. We provide an online application form and a printable application form as well. Those wishing to make application can find these forms at this link. Please note that incomplete applications will not be reviewed. All applications that are submitted must include all required documents and verification as specified for review and consideration of certification conferral. Before making any application, you must meet the defined pre-requisites for a given program and have successfully completed the full continuing education curriculum, or a curriculum from a program that AIHCP, Inc. has officially approved.
After Certification is There a Recertification Process?
Answer: Yes. The American Institute of Health Care Professionals provides a full program for recertification. Detailed information on the criteria to be recertified, after the four-year initial certification period, is provided on our website. Access here.
I Am Currently Certified by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals. I Know I Am Required to Achieve Additional Education in Order to Qualify for Recertification in the Future. Do You Offer Any Continuing Education Courses That I May Take to Meet My Recertification Requirements?
Answer: Yes, we offer recertification CE courses. You can view them all by category at the following link. Access here.
Do You Have Any Testimonials From Professionals Who Have Become Certified Through Your Programs?
Answer: Yes. We have a testimonials page on our website that you may view at the following link. Access Here.