What does it mean to be endorsed?

Many work places that employ Chaplains require that their Chaplains be Ecclesiastically Endorsed by their faith or representative faith group. Endorsement means that an authority within the communion, denomination, or ministry group has been designated to affirm the Chaplain is qualified to perform ministry work.

Certification and Endorsement...

Given the vast areas in which Chaplains can be deployed and employed, there is no such thing as a single "chaplain certification." Chaplains require specialized training for the specific area of chaplaincy in which they minister. As such, there are numerous agencies that provide specific certification training for chaplains. For example, the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC) has several Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) courses they teach and have augmented for Chaplains working in Law Enforcement. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a type of certification training that many hospitals require of applicants. Endorsing agents represent that the applicant is both in "good standing" with the ecclesiastical or licensing body and that the individual is qualified (through education and certification) to work as a chaplain.

Endorsement is not always required...

Many chaplain positions, both volunteer and vocational, may not require an Ecclesiastical Endorsement. In such cases, the chaplain does not specifically represent their faith group in their chaplain work. Some chaplains function under license and obtain approval/endorsement from agencies outside their ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Examples of this include member Chaplains of the ACPE and ICPC - where simply a license or a letter is needed.

The Deanery for the Chaplaincy ...

Chaplains wishing to be endorsed by the Deanery for the Chaplaincy must meet educational, training, and/or experience requirements of CANA, the Church of Nigeria, and the ACNA. As a minimum, a License to Minister is required. For specific questions, contact the Deanery for the Chaplaincy.