“SPIRITUAL COACHES” MUST BE MINISTERS…

To operate legally and offer your services professionally as a “Spiritual Coach”, you must be an ordained minister that is offering PASTORAL COUNSELING. Anyone who is incorporating spirituality or spiritual principles in his/her counseling (and coaching) work, IF they wish to do so with legal protection, is operating in the field of “Religion” and must have legal ministerial status. As a person with ministerial status you will be seen as an esteemed professional with the same standing of other religious practitioners – pastor, priest, rabbi and etc. -- in your community, country and around the world.

However, you should be aware that having this status means fulfilling certain state and local requirements in order to practice your profession properly. This is common to many other professions, and should be welcomed as an indication of your professional standing. For example, your state, province, city or county may have certain registration or licensing requirements for those who practice pastoral counseling. Specifically, you may have the requirement that those who counsel must obtain a business license.

Having ministerial status to operate legally is apart from your educational degrees and/or other education. Once you have been granted ministerial status, you must maintain that status and meet ongoing requirements on a yearly basis. This is a normal and customary practice for all highly valued professions, and ensures the quality of your services to the public.

Additionally, you must show some relationship between yourself as an independent minister and a church body -- which gives you the legal right to practice. WE CAN ASSIST YOU WITH THIS REQUIREMENT, please feel free to contact us for information. Also, you will want to be aware that your educational degrees don't allow you to practice as a pastoral counselor; that is a function of your ORDINATION as a minister. Additionally, you must show a continuing relationship between yourself and a “religious” organization or church to be in compliance with our field.

*NOTE: It should be understood that this evidence of an ongoing affiliation with a religious (spiritual) organization protects you from the possibility of being confused with a mail-order ministry, where a person merely sends in money to the issuing office, and then has no further contact with that issuing organization. This lack of a continuing relationship between the minister and the issuing organization could bring the minister's status into question with various governmental bodies.

Once your paperwork has been assessed, your Ordination Preparation Program has been completed and your application to IASC has been accepted, you may request that we provide you with suggestions that will assist you with ordination. When your ordination is complete, you may LEGALLY begin your spiritual coaching practice, providing the local and state requirements are met. It is your responsibility to determine those requirements in your specific area. Of course, we strongly encourage continuing education and advanced learning in the field, but your ordination entitles you to commence your pastoral counseling (spiritual coaching) practice. Once you are ordained please know that there will be many options available for further study and research in our community.

“Thank you so much for your interest in our community.”

Sweeet blessings to you,

Global Council of Spiritual Teachers™
International Association for Spiritual Coaching™