Online Catechist Certification and Adult Faith Formation

We do so many things online today.
It makes sense that Catechist Certification should be available online too!

1. Basic Catechist Certification (Foundation Certificate for Teachers) Subscription Cost: $30.00
Complete the following courses:

• Foundational Principles and Practices for Catechists
• Foundations Course 1: Getting to Know Vatican II
• Foundations Course 2: An Introduction to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
• Foundations Course 3: Catechesis - Passing on the Faith: An Overview of the General Directory for Catechesis

2. Intermediate Catechist Certification (Level 1 Certificate for Teachers) Subscription Cost: $30.00  Complete the following courses:

• Foundations Course 4: Building A Culture of Life - The Church's Social Teachings
• Foundations Course 5: Living Vatican II Today

3. Advanced Catechist Certification (Levels 2 and 3 for Teachers): School of Christian Formation (SCF) Classroom or Online

One must first earn the Basic and Intermediate Catechist Certification and then enroll in the School of Christian Formation (a diocesan sponsored adult faith formation program) to earn the Advanced Catechist Certification.  The School of Christian Formation consists of 12 courses.  The courses are offered at various locations throughout the diocese.  Typically, a student completes four courses per year over a three year period.   Those who have already earned their Basic and Intermediate Certification through the Searchlight Virtual School automatically receive credit for the Vatican II and Social Doctrine courses upon enrollment in the School of Christian Formation, but must complete the remaining ten courses to obtain the Advanced Catechist Certification.

The School of Christian Formation has an online division provided by the Searchlight Virtual School, so Advanced Catechist Certification can also be earned via the internet.  Online courses require completion of online tutorials and submission of an electronic assessment of the course text.  For an overview of the School of Christian Formation's online courses (goals and objectives, tutorials, and required texts), click here. Cost: $30.00 per course, plus the purchase of the text.

The School of Christian Formation issues the Agent of Evangelization Certificate to all who complete the three-year, twelve-course cycle.  So Catechists who complete this advanced level will receive two certificates, one issued through the Office of the School of Christian formation (Agent of Evaneglization) and one issued through the Office of Catechetical Leadership and Youth Ministry Formation (Advanced Catechist Certification).

1. To earn Catechist Certification you must first enroll in the Searchlight Virtual School. 
2. Once the enrollment process is complete, you may purchase the appropriate subscription plan.  When we receive notification of your subscription, you will receive all the course materials needed for a given level of certification as attachments to an e-mail.  As you complete each course, you should submit the completed course materials to the Searchlight Virtual School.
3. You will receive a certificate of completion from the Diocese of Palm Beach for each course when all the requirements for that course have been met. 
4. When the four courses required for the Basic Catechist Certification have been completed, you will recieve the Basic Catechist Certification Certificate. 
5. Likewise, when the additional two courses required for the Intermediate Certification have been satisfied, you will receive the Intermediate Catechist Certification Certificate.
6. Additionally, when the requirements outlined above for the Advanced Catechist Certification are met, you will receive the Advanced Catechist Certification Certificate.
7. All certificates for the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Catechist Certification are issued by the Diocese of Plam Beach.* 
8. For enrollment information and/or to download the enrollment application, click here.

*Note: If you are participating in the Searchlight Virtual School by the recommendation of a diocese other than the Diocese of Palm Beach and your diocese is an official diocesan affiliate, your certificates of completion and certification may be issued through your own diocese.

Adults who enroll in the Searchlight Virtual School and complete the Basic and Intermediate courses will receive a Certificate of Completion for each completed course, plus a final certificate ("Getting Up To Today" Certificate of Completion) when all the courses have been completed.  These certificates are issued through the Office of Catechetical Leadership and Youth Ministry Formation, Diocese of Palm Beach.

If a person decides at a later time to become a Catechist, he or she will be able to present the certificate of completion as proof of having met the requirements for the courses and will only have to complete the Foundational Principles and Practices for Catechists course to obtain Catechist Certification.

For enrollment information and/or to download the enrollment application, click here.