What Is Certification?
Certification is professional recognition given upon completion of a series of workshops, seminars, personal study, and practical experience. This study program has been designed to help a person become knowledgeable about the word of God, the needs of children, and the most effective methods for teaching them. Those who continue on with the certification process can help to train others.

To begin with, you need a certification course record. These brochures can be ordered in bulk from AdventSource; check with your local conference for small orders, or view/print below: 

	Course descriptions	Course record
Basic		(Spanish)
Advanced
Trainer (instructor)	(requirements currently being finalized)

Participants keep their own records. They write the date beside each component as it is completed, and get the presenter to initial it. When all courses for that level are completed, the participant turns the finished record in to the conference Children’s Ministries Director and receives a certificate of completion. 

There is no charge for participating in this program.  All you need to do to get started is to print out the requirements for the Basic Certification (or whichever level applies), and contact your conference Children's Ministries director to let them know you're working on certification.  Then choose your plan of attack:

• Convention attendance.  Each year, the North American Division sponsors one or more training conventions.  Certification courses are a regular feature. To receive credit for courses attended at a convention, ask the presenter to initial and date the course name on your course record.
• Self study. Materials, such as videos and books, with study guides and open book examinations will be made available for personal study (updated guidelines under development). To receive credit for courses completed through self-study, contact your local conference children's ministries director, who can verify completion.
• Group seminars. Large churches may organize their own seminars, based on the course outlines. To receive credit for courses attended at a church seminar, ask the presenter to initial and date the course name on your course record.
• Conference/Union workshops. Conferences or Unions bring experienced, approved speakers to teach their workshop seminars.  To receive credit for courses attended at a conference or union workshop, ask the presenter to initial and date the course name on your course record.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
North American Division Children’s Ministries has partnered with Griggs University, the higher education division of Home Study International, to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for Basic Children’s Ministry Certification seminars taught at NAD training conventions. Each completed track is worth 1.5 CEUs; in order to apply for CEUs, you must:

• Register as a convention participant or presenter.
• Complete all of the courses in one track. You may keep your course record and complete the tracks at future convention(s). A $15 charge will be applied by Griggs University for each CEU application.
• Print your name on the class roster for each breakout seminar you attend. (Please plan on staying for the duration of each seminar.)
• Send a completed application, with $15 check, to Griggs University. To obtain the application form, call 301-680-6425.

Looking for a presentation or handout to use for a workshop, seminar, or other training program? ACMA (Adventist Children's Ministries Association) members can view or download materials for certification seminars online.