Accredited Online Spiritual Direction Training & Certification

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 accelerated 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:

Understand historical and contemporary contexts of spiritual direction
Discern the movement of God in the spiritual conversations with directees
Assess their own formational journey as a spiritual director
Develop the skills necessary to establish and maintain spiritual-direction relationships
Develop vocational and professional approach for how they will implement spiritual direction within their specific ministry context

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:

Survey the foundations of spiritual direction, assimilating the history, theology and psychology behind attentive soul companionship.
Examine the interior aspects of directors and directees through thematic studies and personal reflection.
Put contemplative and listening skills into action by establishing director and directee relationships with three to four directees. You will meet in one-hour sessions with directees for a total of 20 hours.
Receive individual supervision with an assigned supervisor for five one-hour sessions. Individual supervision provides professional accountability and oversight of your practice as a spiritual director.
Practice giving and receiving feedback on your practice as a spiritual director by engaging in five hours of peer supervision with fellow cohort members.
Receive a minimum of seven hours of personal spiritual direction with a certified spiritual director of your choice, which is integral for your own formation.
Develop the structures necessary to integrate spiritual direction into your chosen profession after graduation.

Manageable Format

Students attending BridgeWeek in person The 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:

SDIR 500 The Art of Spiritual Direction: Foundations 3 credit hours +

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.

SDIR 510 The Art of Spiritual Direction: Developing Practices 3 credit hours +

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

SDIR 520 The Art of Spiritual Direction: Exploring Interiority 3 credit hours +

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

SDIR 530 The Art of Spiritual Direction: Vocation, Profession, and Context 3 credit hours +

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:

A spiritual formation education program at either an ATS-accredited institution or an 18- to 24-month spiritual formation program
Portland Seminary's Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation degree or Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation

They must also submit the following:

Official transcript from each college/university attended
Resumé
Personal mission statement and statement of faith
Letter of recommendation from their spiritual director or spiritual formation program instructor