By determination of the USCCB Administrative Committee in its vote of March 14, 2023, the work of the subcommittee will come to a conclusion on June 30, 2023. At this time, new requests to consult on or approve standards are paused due to the proximate conclusion of the subcommittee's work.
In 2019, Dr. David Lichter, then-Executive Director of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, indicated the importance of working collaboratively with the USCCB and other professional Catholic ministry organizations to develop a common set of...
Thank you for considering your arch/diocesan or organizational ministry formation or certification standards for possible approval by the USCCB Subcommittee on Certification for Ecclesial Ministry & Service. We look forward to discussing the possibility with you.
Before reviewing the materials or beginning the process, we invite bishops, arch/diocesan program directors, or leaders from ministry organizations to contact our office to discuss your program and the process.
An arch/diocese or national organization seeking the approval of standards and procedures by the USCCB Subcommittee on Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service should review the Quick Guide to Gain Subcommittee Approval.
The USCCB Subcommittee only approves certification standards and procedures for arch/diocesan offices, national organizations of specialized ministers listed in The Official Catholic Directory which are federally recognized 501(c)3 organizations, and organizations or joint-sponsored programs of state or regional Catholic Conferences. If your program does not fall into one of these categories, you are still welcome to contact us to discuss how the Subcommittee can resource your needs. Wherever possible, programs which are not national ministry member organizations should seek to have a strong relationship with any such organization which exists related to their area of ministry competence, as it is a helpful step in the formulation of standards.
View Programs Using Approved Standards
The following resources are available for assistance in completing the application steps:
Certification Handbook - A handbook describing the benefits of certification, purpose of the subcommittee, how to gain approval, standards for specialized ecclesial ministers, fee schedule and contact information.
Checklist for Arch/Dioceses Submitting Standards and Procedures for Approval
Checklist for Organizations Submitting Standards and Procedures for Approval
We are happy to speak with you further. Contact us with your questions.