Certification Overview

Apply for Initial Certification:

Educators at an ACSI School:

•  Login to begin your initial Certification Application.
   Please check with your administrator before creating a new account
•  Update your profile information and make sure to click YES to "Grant Access to Certification" if not already checked.
• If you need assistance with your login information, email careteam@acsi.org for assistance.

Educators NOT teaching at an ACSI school:

• Follow the  New User How to Apply  instructions
• Walk Through of the New Application (apply for the first time) video
  
  

In order to gain initial certification with ACSI, you will need to have the following items readily available:

1. Official copies of your college transcripts stating a minimum of a Bachelor's degree. (can be electronic transcripts or scans/copies of any paper official copies you have)
2. Any state certification you have is also good to include. (does not have to be current)
3. Credit card for $75 application fee payment.

Mailing address for paper transcript copies:
(NOT required- Electronic transcript copies are preferred)

ACSI Attn: Certification 
PO Box 62249 
Colorado Springs, CO 80962

Electronic transcripts can be sent to:  certification@acsi.org

Certification Requirements:

Each of our certifications have the following elements:

1. Biblical studies requirements
2. Educational studies requirements
3. A Christian Philosophy of Education requirement

If an applicant is lacking a sufficient amount of any of the above requirements for their requested certificate, we will issue a Temporary (2-year) certificate with renewal and upgrade requirements listed to allow the applicant to work toward those Standard/Professional level requirements.

Your certification level (Temporary, Standard, or Professional) will be based on the qualifications we find in your transcripts.

Please note:  Most people are awarded a Temporary Level to start with as they may not have met the Bible and Christian Philosophy of Education requirements in their college’s degree program.  Those (and any other needed Educational courses) will then be listed as renewal requirements for your next certificate.

ACSI currently offers 8 different certifications. Click on any of the following requirement charts to view what will be needed for that particular certificate.

• Bible Specialist
• Elementary Teacher
• Executive Director
• Head of School
• Principal
• Professional Staff
• Secondary Teacher
• Specialist Teacher

Renew/Upgrade Your ACSI Certificate:

If you already know your login information, you can begin your application process HERE.
   Returning User How To Apply pdf
   How to Apply  video
   Accessing & Responding to an Evaluator's Comments on your application

If you need assistance with your login information, email careteam@acsi.org for assistance.

In order to renew or upgrade your certification with ACSI, you will need to have the following items readily available:

1. Official copies of any college transcripts for renewal requirements stating semester hours of college credit were needed. (can be electronic transcripts or scans/copies of any paper official copies you have)
2. Any CEU certificates from outside providers that may have been needed for your renewal/upgrade.
3. Any letters or checklists listed as renewal/upgrade requirements on your past certificate(s).
4. Credit card for $75 application fee payment.

Mailing address for paper transcript copies:
(NOT required- Electronic transcript copies are preferred)

ACSI Attn: Certification 
PO Box 62249 
Colorado Springs, CO 80962

Electronic transcripts can be sent to:  certification@acsi.org

If you have held an ACSI Certificate in the past, even if it is expired, please follow the "How-To" document below to find your account and login successfully without creating a duplicate account.

Once logged in, you should find your existing or expired ACSI certificate right on the opening dashboard.  If you do not see your previous certificate, please contact certification@acsi.org for assistance.

ACSI Accreditation Standards allow for a teacher to be either ACSI Certified or State Certified.  Many educators choose to maintain both!

{This Certification Spreadsheet FAQ & the Certification Spreadsheet- Auxiliary Positions may also be helpful to understand the requirement}  

If you choose to operate with just your current State teaching license/credential, ACSI asks you to complete the following:

• Christian Philosophy of Education (CPoE) checklist within the first 3 years of employment at the school
• 6 Bible CEUs per school year (6 clock hours)

These requirements can be logged at your school and/or on your Virtual Professional Portfolio (VPP).   Click here to access your VPP!

(NOTE:  If you do not yet have an account, please contact your school administrator if you're at an ACSI Member School to have them add you to their school roster, which will create your account for you!)

ACSI currently offers 8 different certifications. Click on any of the following requirement charts to view what will be needed for that particular certificate.

• Bible Specialist
• Elementary Teacher
• Executive Director
• Head of School
• Principal
• Professional Staff
• Secondary Teacher
• Specialist Teacher

We also have some unique situations that may require/accept alternate certifications towards partial fulfillment of our requirements.

• We now accept NILD Certification toward partial fulfillment of the Specialist semester hour requirements for those seeking certification in a related area. Please see a more detailed description here: NILD Acceptance.
• We now accept the 900-hour Missionary Program from The Spanish Language Institute (San Jose, Costa Rica) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for those seeking a Specialist certification in Spanish. Please see a more detailed description here: Spanish Language Institute.
• We now accept NACCAP Certification toward partial fulfillment of the educational studies requirements for those seeking Professional Staff: School Counselor certification. Please see a more detailed description here: NACCAP Acceptance.
• We now accept NIAAA CAA Certification toward partial fulfillment of the educational studies requirements for those seeking Professional Staff: Athletic Director certification. Please see a more detailed description here: NIAAA Acceptance.

If your certificate states that you have Continuing Education Units (CEUs) renewal requirements to fulfill, please see the options available to you below.

There are 4 main ways to earn CEUs toward the renewal and/or upgrade of your ACSI Certificate.
(Please note, in order for a course/study to count for Bible CEUs, it must follow ACSI's Biblical Studies Requirements):

1. ACSI Professional Development Online

• Your school may or may not have access to this. Ask your administrator if you are unsure. If you would like to purchase your own individual membership the cost is approximately $119 a year if you are employed by an ACSI member school (the amount is greater for nonmembers). E-mail the Care Team at careteam@acsi.org to ask for more information from our Care Team specialists.
• To sign up for a subscription, click HERE.
• These courses/videos are automatically logged to your VPP and will seamlessly integrate directly into your Certification Application when it is time for you to renew/upgrade.

2. ACSI Accredited Schools

• If your school is an accredited member school with ACSI, that automatically qualifies it to be a CEU provider, which means they are able to provide opportunities for you to earn CEUs through the school.
  To count for Bible credit, the course/study must follow ACSI's Biblical Studies Requirements.
  
• For more information, speak with the individual at your school who is identified as your school's "CEU Coordinator," or, if unsure, have your administrator e-mail the ACSI CEU Coordinator at ceus@acsi.org.
• You can view more information about this option HERE.

3.  Outside Providers

• If your school does not provide CEU opportunities, we have many other providers you can go through. You can email our CEU Coordinator for the full list of our outside providers.
• If you earn Bible or Education CEUs through one of our approved outside providers, you will most likely receive a certificate of completion as approved by ACSI, which can be uploaded directly into your Certification Application and/or your VPP.   
• If the completed course is accepted by the state to be used towards state certification, ACSI considers this course to be a state approved CEU opportunity. ACSI will accept the certificate awarded by the state approved program. This is true whether the teacher/administrator is certified in that state or not.
• You can view more information and a list of common providers HERE.

4. Colleges/Universities

• A final option for earning CEUs (or college credit) is through a college/university that is accredited (by a recognized agency) or a college/university that is recognized by ACSI.
• The college/university must have a public statement of faith that closely aligns with ACSI's Statement of Faith in order to be considered for Bible CEU or semester hour credit.
• If you earn credit from the institution, you will need to submit an official transcript (or copy thereof) along with your application for certification.
• You can view more information regarding this option HERE.

Completing your Christian Philosophy of Education (CPoE) requirement will always be necessary to reach the Standard certificate level.

You have several options for completing this requirement:

• Current CPoE Checklist (Please note: Both halves of this checklist are required to be completed in order to fulfill the Christian Philosophy of Education requirement for ACSI certification.)
  ** The Christian Philosophy of Education video series (1 of 2 parts of the CPoE Checklist) is available at no cost on ACSI PD Online.  Please note that viewers must be logged into their ACSI account in order to      view, and no CEUs are awarded for non-subscribers.
  
  
• ACSI’s new Christian Philosophy of Education course is live!   
  

At this time, these courses require a subscription to ACSI PD.   All required resources are included in the on-line platform.  For example, no additional books are needed.  The traditional checklist is still an option for our schools until May 31, 2026.  

• CPoE Part 1: Foundations (NEW SEPT. 30, 2023) | 10 CEUs (8 Educational and 2 Bible)   
• CPoE Part 2: Worldview (NEW: OCT. 31, 2023) | 10 CEUs (5 Educational and 5 Bible)   
• CPoE Part 3: Biblical Integration (NEW NOV. 30, 2023) | 8 CEUs (all Educational)   
• In order to use the course to fulfill the ACSI Certification requirement to complete training in the Christian Philosophy of Education, teachers and administrators will follow this process:   
• Step 1: Learner secures an ACSI Online PD Subscription.   
• Step 2: Learner enrolls in and completes all 3 courses on ACSI Online PD.   
• Step 3: In Learning Builder (on VPP), learner sees CEUs under “Continuing Education.”    
• Step 4: Within Certification application under “Christian Philosophy of Education (CPoE)” learner selects Document CPoE and selects Completed ACSI's Christian Philosophy of Education Course Series (2023) and identifies their administrator.   
• Step 5: Learning Builder automatically emails administrator requesting confirmation of artifact review and, upon confirmation, the requirement is marked complete within the application.   

• CPoE Alternative Model An ACSI member school can design and apply for their own CPoE course to be used in completing this requirement.
  
  
• Approved college course from a HEAP Institution:  Completion of the course would also count toward semester hours of college credit in education. You would submit an official transcript from the institution reflecting credit for the course.  A full list of HEAP institutions can be found here: HEAP Institutions
  
  
• Other options for completing an approved CPoE course/module can be found here: Options for Completing the CPoE

You can choose any regionally accredited institution in which to earn semester hours of college credit.  Please contact certification@acsi.org if you'd like more recommendations for options to fulfill these needed semester hours of credit credit.

ACSI will require an official transcript when you are ready to renew your certification.  Letters of completion and/or Final Grade Reports will not suffice.  

You can include a copy of the official transcript with your renewal application or mark on the application that you are requesting it to be sent directly from the institution to ACSI.

Mailing address for paper transcript copies:
(NOT required- Electronic transcript copies are preferred)

ACSI Attn: Certification 
PO Box 62249 
Colorado Springs, CO 80962

Electronic transcripts can be sent to:  certification@acsi.org

It is recommended that you email the course title, description, and organization/college you plan on taking it from to certification@acsi.org to gain pre-approval before spending money to take the course.

Secondary Teachers Needing Content Area Reading:

We've made a recent change that for Secondary teachers, the content area reading course does not need to be taken for college credit, although taking it through a college is still an option.   
We now have an ACSI Content Area Reading checklist that can also be used to meet the content area reading requirement!

Equivalency Report Providers

Those who have earned a degree outside the United States may need to provide an equivalency report verifying that the degree(s) they earned are at least equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. A list of recommended equivalency report providers can be found here: Equivalency Report Providers.

More Information Coming Soon!

More information and specific instructions are coming to guide School Administrators to:

1. To set up Bulk Payment options to pay for your teacher's certifications, where the school can pay for teachers' certifications, please fill out this form: 
    School Payments Form
    How to set up, view, and pay for Teacher Certifications pdf
    Setting Up School Payments Tutorial video
    How Teacher Indicates School to Pay for Certification video

2. Reports:  Access our new custom report to take the place of the previous "Teachers By School Report"
    Certificant Search Report video
    School Admin Queue Views video

3. Manage and update your school roster:
    Manage School Roster pdf
    Permission Levels for Roster pdf
    How to Add a New Teacher to your Roster video

4. CEU Process for accredited schools: 
    Please see the CEU Provider Resources page for updated instructions on how to enter and upload CEUs for your teachers.

Early Education certification with ACSI is not a requirement for accreditation

Submit the following:

• Application - mark the area(s) of certification that you are applying for
• Application fee of $75 per area of certification requested
• Current First Aid/CPR card
• Official transcripts* from your college verifying your degree from an accredited** college/university. A minimum of an associate degree is required for an EE teacher and a minimum of a bachelor's degree is required for an EE Director.
  

Submit the following: 

* If you are using the online application you may open your official transcripts and scan and upload them to the application.

** Accreditation must be granted by a CHEA or US Department of Education recognized agency.

Certification Review

(This requires a separate login from the your.acsi.org login and will open in a new browser window. Contact certification@acsi.org for assistance.)

Individuals—use Certification Review to access, view, and print your ACSI EE certificate and review your EE certification renewal/upgrade requirements online.

Administrators—use Certification Review access, view, and print your own ACSI EE certificate/requirements as well as a report of certification status and renewal requirements for your school's EE teachers.

Principles and Practices of Christian Early Education

EE Yearly Professional Development and Biblical Studies Report and Biblical Studies Report (for use by accredited EE programs)

Early Education Teacher Requirement Chart

Early Education Director Requirement Chart