1. ACSI’s Certification Process for K – 12 Teachers and Administrators
Association of Christian Schools International
Certification Department

2. The purpose of ACSI Certification is to strengthen Christian schools
by credentialing educators who meet established educational and biblical requirements
which promotes continued professional learning and increased effectiveness.

3. Types of Certification
Elementary Teacher
Secondary Teacher
All Levels K-12 (Art, Bible, Computer, ELL, Foreign Language, Library/Media, Music, Physical Education, Reading, School Counselor, Special Education, Athletic Director)
Administrator (Elementary, Secondary, All-Levels Principal, Head of School, Assistant Administrator, Executive Director)
Assistant Administrators include: Curriculum Coordinator, Academic Dean, Director of Instruction, Director of Professional Development, etc.

4. Levels of Certification
Temporary: A two-year certificate for individuals who do not meet all education, biblical, and/or philosophy requirements for an ACSI Standard certificate. Standard: A five-year certificate for those who have completed the education, biblical, and philosophy requirements.
Professional: A five-year certificate for those who have a graduate degree from a regionally accredited college/university and have completed the necessary education, biblical, and philosophy requirements.
Lifetime: A Lifetime certificate will be issued after 10 years at the Professional level, submission of renewal requirements, and verification of 10 years working in a Christian school setting.

5. How do I know if my college is
Requirement Charts for each type of certification can be found at:
How do I know if my college is
regionally accredited?
For a list of accredited colleges/universities visit

6. To Apply for an Initial Certification (You have not been certified by ACSI before)
Submit the following:
Application
Application Fee - $75 US funds for each type of certification requested
Transcripts verifying at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college and a copy of a permanent state certification (optional) in requested area.
Degrees earned outside the US require an equivalency report verifying the degree earned is equivalent to at least a bachelor’s degree in the states. A list of organizations that provide this service can be found on the ACSI website or can be obtained by contacting the Certification Department.
If you are paying by credit card you must complete the Online Certification Application.
If you are paying by check or money order please download and complete the Printable Certification Application. Mail your completed application along with payment and documents to:
ACSI Attn: Certification Department PO Box Colorado Springs, CO 80962

7. Renewal Requirements for Biblical Studies
& Christian Philosophy of Education

8. Purpose of Renewal Requirements
The purpose of renewal requirements is to assure that educators continue to complete educational and spiritual growth activities.
Our desire is to create life-long learners.
Luke 6:40 – “The student is not above the teacher,
but everyone who is fully trained will be
like their teacher.”

9. Biblical Studies
ACSI emphasizes the necessity for Christian school teachers and administrators to have a solid grasp of God’s Word in order that they may be equipped to integrate it into their lives and teaching.
To meet the requirements for biblical studies, a course must be clearly focused on the content of the Scriptures.
To receive CEU credit for in-services, workshops, conferences, and/or Bible studies, etc., content must be pre-approved through the online CEU approval process and credit issued by an ACSI-approved CEU provider. Please note: Beginning January 2018, all CEUs issued by ACSI-approved EE and K-12 Provider Schools must be uploaded to your VPP. ACSI will no longer accept paper CEUs issued by ACSI schools from this date forward.
Biblical studies can also be completed through ACSI ConNEXUS Premium. ConNEXUS Premium is ACSI's online learning platform. With an annual subscription to this learning tool you can earn ACSI approved CEUs 24/7. For more information on how you can get connected to ConNEXUS Premium please

10. Christian Philosophy of Education (CPoE)
There are 3 options for completing this requirement:
ACSI CPoE Checklist
An approved college course
CPoE Alternative Model approved for an individual school

11. ACSI 2016 CPoE Checklist (the former checklist will be accepted until June 1, 2018)
Part 1 – Christian Philosophy – to be accomplished in year one
View:
Philosophy of Christian Education series by Dr. Derek Keenan (available on ConNEXUS Premium or through Purposeful Design at
Read :
One book off required reading list
Write:
A paper, four to six pages in length of your personal philosophy of education as informed by a Biblical worldview. The paper should address at least six educational philosophy components and how they are manifested in a classroom setting.
Part 2 – Biblical Integration – to be accomplished in year two
View one of the following:
Making the Connections: How to Put Biblical Worldview Integration into Practice (Sessions 1-9) by Don Johnson and Dr. Christian Overman (available on ConNEXUS Premium –
Your Christian School: A Culture of Grace? by Paul David Tripp
Kingdom Education for the 21st Century: Sessions 1-13 by Dr. Glen Schultz (available on ConNEXUS Premium –
Two biblically integrated lesson plans (in the discipline of your choice) and have an administrator observe you teaching them.

12. Approved College Course
Attending a Christian college does not guarantee that the ACSI Christian Philosophy of Education requirement has been completed.
To find out if a course is approved or to have a course syllabus evaluated please

13. CPoE Alternative Model
The alternative model for the CPoE requirement is a more flexible approach for schools to utilize for their faculty and administration. This unique approach may be especially appropriate for an online school, international school, or any school who wishes to use the expertise of a staff member or guest lecturer to present material in lieu of the video presentations.
In order to have an alternative CPoE approved, a school must:
Design a plan that provides a similar amount of material and covers both the Christian philosophy and biblical integration components. The plan needs to detail the way in which individuals will respond to each component.
Create a checklist with all components.
Submit the plan, checklist, and fee
ACSI Academic Services will review the plan and checklist for approval. The school checklist will be filed with the ACSI Certification department and remain valid for 5 years.

14. How will I know what requirements I need to complete to renew or upgrade my certificate?
Attached to the bottom half of your certificate you will find your renewal and upgrade requirements listed.
Renewal requirements are specific to each individual based on what they have already completed. It is important to look at your certificate for you specific renewal requirements.
Applicants must meet the minimum requirements listed toward their specific deficiencies in order to renew their certification.

15. To Apply for Renewal of a Certification
Submit the following:
Application
If you are applying for a different area of certification please contact the Certification Department before submitting your application to avoid having your materials returned.
Application Fee - $75 US funds for each type of certification requested
Verification of renewal requirements as listed on the bottom half of your certificate
Bible CEUs must be completed through an approved college, ACSI approved CEU provider or ConNEXUS Premium.
If renewing a Temporary certificate and educational studies are required, these hours must be completed for college credit through a regionally accredited college/university. CEUs will not apply.
Renewal requirements must have been completed since the issue date of the certificate you are renewing. If you have questions please contact the Certification Department.
If you have CEUs on your VPP in ConNEXUS you do not have to print them out. Please mark on page 3 of the application that you have CEUs on your VPP.
If you are renewing you do not have to resubmit transcripts that were submitted with your initial application.
If you are paying by credit card you must complete the Online Certification Application.
If you are paying by check or money order please download the and complete the Printable Certification Application. Mail your completed application along with payment and documents to:
ACSI Attn: Certification Department PO Box Colorado Springs, CO 80962

16. Additional Fees
$10 reprocessing fee: required for materials which are submitted and returned due to insufficient documentation.
$10 re-evaluation fee: for upgrading a Temporary or Standard certificate within 6 months of the issue date on the certificate.
$25 Expiration Fee: If your file has been expired for more than 3 years you may continue to renew by including this fee along with an application and verification of all your renewal requirements.
$25 Rush Fee: If you need to have your certification expedited you can pay this fee and your materials will be evaluated within 10 business days of arrival in the ACSI certification department.

17. Questions?
Many of your questions can be answered within the Certification pages on the ACSI website:
Certification
Certification Process
Certification Fees
Certification Documents
Certification, Application, and CPoE FAQs
Continuing Education Units
If you still have questions please contact the Certification Department at or send your question via to

18. Education is a life-long process. We encourage our students
to be life-long learners,
we want to set that same example
as their teachers and leaders.