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Online Certification for Spiritual Directors

At A Glance

9 Months
12 Semester credit hours
$499 Cost per semester credit hour*

Accreditation

ATS (Association of Theological Schools), NWCCU

Format

Hybrid (online courses with a BridgeWeek intensive in Portland in September; half-day online intensives in November, February and April)

Tuition Cost For Entire Program

$5,988* (plus $1,750 for BridgeWeek intensive)

Courses Per Semester

2 (eight weeks each)

Weekly Workload

16 hours

Application Deadlines

Rolling application deadline; apply now

* All stated financial information is subject to change. Does not include costs associated with personal spiritual direction or supervision.

Create a Space for Spiritual Transformation

If you feel called to guide others on their spiritual journeys, our spiritual direction certification program will empower you as a generous listener, a contemplative presence and a compassionate soul companion.

Through a series of robust learning experiences, you’ll cultivate your God-given talents and gain insights about your own spiritual walk. By the time you graduate, you’ll be fully equipped to facilitate sacred spaces for all who long to be seen, heard and loved.

What will I experience?

Rooted in historical, theological and psychological exploration, this cohort-based program illuminates the significance of hosting spiritual conversations. You’ll weave personal experience with course teachings as you look through diverse metaphorical lenses and contemplative practices.

The practical implementation of core principles fosters director-directee relationships through evocative and contemplative methods. The journey deepens with a focus on the interiority of both directors and directees, allowing you to develop competencies through thematic studies and personal reflection.

You’ll continue honing your spiritual direction skills through peer and supervisor guidance and contemplative feedback. Personal and communal reflection will allow you to synthesize contextual and vocational considerations, preparing you for final certification.

After four eight-week courses, you’ll craft a summative reflective project that will be evaluated by experienced instructors and supervisors. Approval by course leaders paves the way for you to emerge as a certified spiritual director.

Pursue This Certification If ...

  • You want to practice spiritual direction vocationally
  • You want to increase the professional value of your calling in spiritual direction

Outcomes

Students will be equipped to: 

Prerequisites & Details

This certification is open to students who have completed spiritual formation education either at an ATS-accredited institution or a spiritual formation training program. If you qualify, you can apply now!

If you do not meet these requirements, you can apply for our Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation degree, which would allow you to continue into the Spiritual Direction Certification following completion.

Within this certification, you will:

Manageable Format

Students attending BridgeWeek in personThe Certification for Spiritual Directors program comprises two eight-week courses per semester and takes nine months to complete.

Our hybrid format blends online learning with one intensive in-person experience, allowing you to connect deeply with diverse professors and cohort peers.

What does a hybrid format look like?

  • You'll join your cohort and instructor weekly on Monday for a Zoom conversation and engage in online forum discussions throughout the week.
  • You'll attend a five-day BridgeWeek intensive in person in September (fourth week of the first fall).

Certification for Spiritual Directors Requirements

Spiritual Direction Courses (12 credit hours) †

Complete the following:
Generous listening is a core practice for intentionally guiding persons in their spiritual growth and is at the center of training for spiritual directors. This course explores the historical, theological, and psychological premises of deep listening for soul companionship and introduces students to foundational practices. Students will reflect on the meaning and definitions of hosting spiritual conversations, integrating their personal experience and course teachings. Due to the accelerated nature of this cohort-based, four-course certification series, students are required to enter with a substantial spiritual formation foundation. This is determined in the admissions process. Students are required to meet with a certified spiritual director at their own expense. Additional course fees may be required.
This course invites students to implement foundational principles in a practical way by establishing director and directee relationships for training purposes. Further exploration of spiritual direction core principles are examined and implemented using evocative and contemplative methods. Group spiritual direction and peer supervision are also introduced and practiced in class. Students are required to meet with a certified spiritual director and supervisor at their own expense. Prerequisite: SDIR 500
Students will continue to develop spiritual direction competencies within the director and directee relationship. Issues related to the directors’ and directees’ interiority are given significant attention through thematic studies and personal reflection. Group spiritual direction skills will build upon peer listening and contemplative feedback. Students are required to meet with a certified spiritual director and supervisor at their own expense. Prerequisite: SDIR 510
The praxis course involves continuing spiritual direction with established directees. Focus will also be given to developing vocational and professional structures. Personal and communal reflection will synthesize contextual considerations for ongoing application. Final certification for spiritual direction occurs at the end of four semesters with a summative assessment process facilitated by the course instructor and upon recommendation of the student’s supervisor. Students are required to meet with a certified spiritual director and supervisor at their own expense. Prerequisite: SDIR 520
† Students who (1) completed SFAD 571 Becoming a Spiritual Director I and SFAD 572 Becoming a Spiritual Director II at Portland Seminary and (2) have either discontinued enrollment or graduated, may return to complete the 3-credit Spiritual Direction Certification (SFAD 576 Spiritual Direction Certification I, SFAD 577 Spiritual Direction Certification II, and SFAD 578 Spiritual Direction Praxis) during the teach out period which concludes after the 2026-27 academic year.

Admission Requirements

Students must have completed one of the following spiritual formation training pathways to be admitted to the Certification for Spiritual Directors program:

They must also submit the following:

Questions?

Haley Holman

Haley Holman

Admissions Counselor, Portland Seminary

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