The Religious Education Credentialing Program has three levels. Entry points are either the Skilled or Advanced levels. Successive levels involve the demonstration of more competencies, as well as deeper understandings and broader application of competency areas. Some religious educators decide later to seek a second credential level, some do not. It is a personal and professional choice.

All levels require experience as a paid professional who facilitates faith development by being in charge of all or part of a religious education/exploration program for a UU congregation or other UU organization, or experience employed in a role that offers professional consultation to such a program.

Skilled Level

A person who is recognized as a Credentialed Religious Educator – Skilled Level has basic knowledge and skills in a core of competency areas. To achieve Skilled Level status, a candidate must have at least two years of paid experience in a quarter-time (or greater) position by the time they complete the program.

Advanced Level

A person who is recognized as a Credentialed Religious Educator—Advanced Level has demonstrated solid knowledge, skill, and application in a wide range of competency areas.

At this level, a candidate needs to show knowledge and application as they apply to faith formation Programs for children and youth (preschool through high school). Demonstrating experience in adult religious education is optional. To achieve Credentialed Religious Educator–Advanced Level status, a candidate must have at least two years of paid experience at half-time or four years at quarter-time.

Leadership Level

A person who is recognized as a Credentialed Religious Educator–Leadership Level has demonstrated command in an extensive range of competency areas.

For the Leadership Level, the “baseline” is considered to be lifespan religious education. Thus, the candidate should show knowledge and application of the competencies as they apply to faith formation programs for people of all ages, including children, youth, young adult, and adult.

To achieve Leadership Level status, a candidate must have at least five years of paid experience at half-time or 10 years at quarter-time and have Advanced Level status. For this reason, the Leadership Level is sometimes referred to as an “add-on Leadership”.

Concurrent Advanced/Leadership Level

In 2018, the Religious Education Credentialing Committee (RECC) added a second path to Leadership level, the “Concurrent Advanced/Leadership” level. The requirements are almost the same and there is no reduction in workload. Those pursuing the new “Concurrent” path will have an interview with the RECC in two parts: first, the full interview for Advanced level, after which the RECC will deliberate, and, if the candidate is awarded that credential, after a short break, the candidate will have the interview for Leadership level. The first year the RECC saw “Concurrent” candidates was 2020.