Training

The Diocese of Columbus offers four Youth Ministry Certificates

• Introductory Certificate in Youth Ministry--Completion of YML Course 1 and one additional YML Course (either 2, 3, or 4) and Introductory Catechist Certification
• Basic Certificate in Youth Ministry--Completion of YML Courses 1-4, Basic Catechist Certification, and 12 monthly mentor meetings
• Advanced Certificate in Youth Ministry--Completion of YML Courses 1-4 and 4.1.1-4.1.8, Advanced Catechist Certification, 12 monthly mentor meetings, and three Core Competencies Courses.
• Certificate in Pastoral Juvenil Hispana--Completion of PJH Courses 4.2.1-4.2.11.

National Certification as a Youth Ministry Leader

The Diocesan Certificates in Youth Ministry and the certification courses offered by the Diocese are based on the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers serving as Youth Ministry Leaders, incl. Pastoral Juvenil Hispana, created by the Alliance for the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers and approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation. By completing the requirements for the Diocesan Advanced Certificate in Youth Ministry through the courses offered by the Diocese, or other approved courses, one will have all the core and specialized competencies required to apply for National Certification. The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry would be happy to assist anyone working toward National Certification, and has laid out a Diocesan Certification Process to help people in these efforts.

• Click here for the Diocesan Certification Process Handbook
• Click here for National Certification Standards
• Click here for National Certification Process and Procedures

Diocesan Youth Ministry Certificates also require Catechist Certification. For a listing of those courses/requirements click here.

Each of the courses listed below are offered as a two-week online course and do not need to be taken in any particular order.

• YML Course 1.0: Introduction to Catholic Youth Ministry
• YML Course 2.0: Adolescent Development and Youth Culture
• YML Course 3.0: Application and Methodology
• YML Course 4.0: Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation

• YML Course 4.1.1&4.1.3: Catechesis and Evangelization
• YML Course 4.1.2&4.1.6: Prayer and Community
• YML Course 4.1.4&4.1.5: Catholic Social Teaching and Pastoral Care
• YML Course 4.1.7&4.1.8: Advocacy and Youth Leadership

• PJH Course 4.2.1-4.2.5: Unity in Communion
• PJH Course 4.2.6-4.2.11: Culture and Tradition

• Core Competencies Course 1.0: Human
• Core Competencies Course 2.0: Spiritual
• Core Competencies Course 4.0: Pastoral