Applicants must determine which one of the Councils are best related to the ministry they are involved in, i.e. the choice of a council must be determined by the main focus of their ministry work. Read more here.

For persons who choose to be affiliated with ACRP via one of the councils, there are four levels of professional registration and designation. Read more here.

Persons in ministry who do not have a relevant SAQA registered qualification, may also apply for a professional designation through a process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Read more here.

No, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards a designation is a professional body responsibility. RPL towards a qualification is a training provider responsibility. ACRP does not award or issue qualifications, only designations. Read more here.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards a professional designation is a process provided for in terms of the National Qualifications Framework Act, 67 of 2008. It creates a way in which a person who does not hold the relevant SAQA registered qualification, which is required by SAQA for a professional designation, but who has years of ministry experience, to apply for the relevant professional designation. An applicant’s years of ministry experience together with the relevant knowledge and skills are taken into account. Once an individual has applied for a designation, the applicant will be informed by the office if s/he qualifies to apply for a higher level of designation via RPL, and the RPL form will be supplied. Apply for a designation here.

The fee structure for all the ACRP Councils can be found here.

All qualifications in South Africa must be registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and are listed on their website  . Do a search for your qualification by either typing in the Qualification Title, Qualification ID or any other information you might have into the correct fields.

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is the oversight body of the National Qualifications framework (NQF). Verification of qualifications achieved at South African Providers are provided by them. Visit their website  for more information.

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) is the oversight body of the National Qualifications framework (NQF). Evaluation of foreign qualifications in terms of the NQF is provided by them. Visit their website   for more information.

The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and the Council on Higher Education (CHE) are two of the Quality Councils in South Africa. Read more here.

Currently ACRP registers only individuals who are professionally (formally) involved in Christian ministry with SAQA registered designations. If a training institution wants to register to become an accredited training provider, the institution has to apply for accreditation with one of the Quality Councils in South Africa. Read more here.

The Professional body awards an affiliated person with a professional title (designation) that is an indication by the Professional body that we trust this person to do the work of a Religious Practitioner on a standard implied by a specific designation. There is a difference between a designation awarded by a Professional body, and an ordination awarded by a church. ACRP does not declare a Religious Practitioner as a “Pastor, Bishop, Priest, etc.” It is the churches that declare a person as such through their process of ordination. It is therefore also for a church to decide whether they can allow a person who has received a specific designation from ACRP, as an ordained person (pastor, bishop etc) within their ministries. This is the principle on how a Professional body works. In practice this means that ACRP cannot declare a person as a pastor, bishop, chaplain etc. It is only a church that can do that.

To become a marriage officer in SA, a person has to be registered by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and meet certain requirements. Normally an individual would work through his/her church if that church has an agreement with DHA. There is also an exam that is written at Home Affairs. At the moment, ACRP as professional body are unable to provide any assistance in this regard.

No, ACRP is a professional body recognised by the SA Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and do not have a mandate to provide training. It is, however, our responsibility to ensure that our affiliates improve and develop their skills and capabilities, and this is done via Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Read more here for more information on training institutions that provide SAQA registered Ministry qualifications.

ACRP is recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) as a professional body.

ACRP as Professional Body is not limited to South Africa. Foreigners / people living outside of SA, may still belong to ACRP to the extent that it has meaning for them. Just remember that they belong to a South African registered association. There is no guarantee that the Authorities in any specific country outside of SA will recognise the ACRP registration.

Also keep in mind that the registration certificate is for a designation (professional title), not a qualification, so it does not count for credits or points and can therefore not be “transferred”.