Diocese of Covington - Religious Education at 402 E. 21st St., Covington, KY 41015 US - Certification Requirements for Religion Teachers

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Basic Certification

1. Catechetical Process (five hours)
2. Basic Beliefs (five hours)
3. Introduction to Scripture (five hours)
4. Introduction to Catholic Spirituality (ten hours)

1. Old & New Testaments (ten hours)
2. Christian Morality (ten hours)
3. Sacraments (ten hours)
4. Church History (ten hours)
5. Justice and Peace (ten hours)
6. Liturgy and Rites (ten hours)
7. Jesus (Christology) (ten hours)
8. Church: Vision, Mission, Ministry (ten hours)
9. Using Arts in Faith Formation (five hours)

Certificates for basic, general and advanced levels are issued at the end of each academic year.

NOTE: Once a teacher reaches the Advanced level of certification, they must complete 30 hours of maintenance every three years.

To be certified by the Diocese of Covington, a high school religion teacher must meet the following requirements:

1. A bachelor’s degree with a major in Catholic theology, religious education, or religious studies. This degree must include a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in theology, religious education, or religious studies. A well-balanced program of study must include courses in scripture, doctrine, church history, moral theology, and liturgical/sacramental theology. Courses in pastoral ministry, prayer, and spirituality will be recognized.
2. An accredited college course in adolescent/developmental psychology, and at least one accredited course in secondary teaching methods.
3. Successful completion of a minimum of one quarter of student teaching or an equivalent practicum in teaching. This practicum must include observation of classes, lesson planning, and supervised teaching.
4. Part-time high school religion teachers must meet these same requirements.
5. Certificates will be issued by the Department of Catechesis and Formation and mailed directly to the schools. A copy of each teacher’s certificate is to be kept in the teacher’s file in the principal’s office.
6. Principals are strongly encouraged to make compliance to these standards a factor in determining the selection of teachers.
7. Please, note that High School Teachers who were already teaching religion in the Diocese of Covington prior to the 2010-2011academic year and who do not meet the aforementioned requirements, must complete the Basic, General and Advanced levels of certification outlined on Page 1.
8. Parish catechists at the high school level must complete the Basic, General, and Advanced levels of certification outlined on Page 1.

1. Catechetical Process (five hours)
2. Introduction to Catholic Spirituality (ten hours)

1. Old & New Testaments (ten hours)
2. Christian Morality (ten hours)
3. Sacraments (ten hours)
4. Church History (ten hours)
5. Justice and Peace (ten hours)
6. Liturgy and Rites (ten hours)
7. Jesus (Christology) (ten hours)
8. Church: Vision, Mission, Ministry (ten hours)

To be a parish coordinator of religious education, the individual must have a bachelor’s degree in Catholic Theology or a bachelor’s degree in another discipline and a minimum of 30 semester hours (or 45 quarters) of undergraduate credits in Catholic Theology.

The required credits for both the DRE and CRE must include at least six of the following areas:

1. Revelation and Scripture
2. Christology
3. Sacramentology
4. Ecclesiology
5. Theology of Pastoral Ministry
6. Moral Theology
7. Spirituality
8. Ecumenism
9. Liturgy and Worship
10. Formation and Skills for D/CREs

Formation

Evidence of one activity in Personal and Spiritual Maturity competencies (Core Standard One, page 27*)
Evidence of one activity in Lay Ecclesial Ministry Identity competencies (Core Standard Two, page 28*)

Skills

1. Evidence of one accomplishment or activity in Pastoral Praxis competencies (Core Standard Four, page 32*)
2. Evidence of one accomplishment or activity in Professional Practice competencies (Core Standard Five, page 37*)

The Diocese of Covington requires Basic, General, and Advanced levels of certification for teachers of RCIA, CCD at all levels, and elementary school teachers and principals. Each level of certification must be completed within consecutive two-year periods.

NOTE: Certificates for basic, general and advanced levels are issued at the end of each academic year.

If religion teachers' basic or general certificates have expired and they have not yet completed the four additional learning modules necessary to apply for the next level of catechist certification, they must renew their present certificate at the same level.

For recertification at the same level, teachers must take two additional classes.