FAQ

How can I get started?

Step 1: Teacher Approval

ETA Diploma Holders – All Graduate and Standard Teacher Diploma holders from member schools of the Association have lifetime approval to teach all ETA courses for certificate credit. Likewise, member school faculty (in academic courses relative to church ministry) are lifetime approved for all courses.

Associate Teacher Diploma holders from member schools of the Association are permanently approved instructors of all Foundational Church Ministries courses. For approval to teach additional certificate levels, these persons need to apply by following the procedure below.

All Others Not Holding an ETA Diploma – Other gifted teachers who did not have the opportunity to attend a member school of the Association may be approved on a three year renewable basis to grant awards if individually approved as follows:

  1. Complete the Teacher Approval Application
  2. Provide a letter of recommendation from the pastor or other full-time church staff if you are not involved in full-time ministry.
  3. Attach the application fee.
  4. Mail to the ETA office marked "Attention: Educational Ministries.”

Step 2: Teach an ETA Class

Decide which of our courses you want to teach and start teaching! What are the requirements to receive ETA credit?

Step 3: Request Recognition

Following the completion of each course, approved instructors are invited to request Award Credits for students who have fulfilled the course requirements. These credits, signifying one course completion, are processed free of charge by ETA. As of July 1, 2007, a printed Award for presentation to each student (giving visible evidence of their accomplishment) will be available for $2.00 per printed credit card. An ETA credit is a standardized unit equivalent to 10 instructional hours of adult education. Fill out the Award Credit Card Request Form (download here).

How can I offer Awards and Certificates at my Church or School?

Its easy to get started.  Just follow the link to find out more about how to set up a training program in your local church.

What kinds of church certificate programs are available?

For many local ministries, the most important step to an effective lay leadership training program is locating and implementing an inspiring, motivational system of instruction. The Church Ministries Certificate Program is uniquely designed to organize ETA curriculum materials into specific areas of study. In addition, the student’s progress is rewarded each step of the way. The ETA Classroom Series provides the core curriculum. Other ETA study options are permitted as electives:

  • Award Credit Cards
  • Foundational Church Ministries Certificate
  • Standard Church Ministries Certificate
  • Advance Church Ministries Certificate
  • Leadership in Church Ministries Certificate

Do you offer church designed electives?

ETA is happy to encourage curriculum development and use in your local ministry by awarding one ETA award credit for your efforts in original course creation. The church-designed course satisfies an elective requirement for the ETA Certificate Program. The first requirement for teaching a church-designed course is that the instructor is an ETA approved teacher.  In order to use a church-designed course for credit in the ETA Church Ministries Certificate program, the following must be met:

  1. A syllabus or lesson plan (including bibliography and hand-outs) containing the unique history, mission, emphasis, or doctrine of your proposed study must be approved by the ETA Director of Educational Ministries (see below for address). Only original course designs are evaluated. No course or book already in general publication will be considered.
  2. The course must provide for at least 10 instructional hours.
  3. The course must be taught by a competent ETA approved instructor.
  4. The course must be compatible in student demand with other ETA courses.

Only one church-designed course may be claimed by the student within the set of four certificate levels, and only as an elective credit (a church-designed course may not replace an ETA required course). When all of the above have been submitted to ETA, we will be able to make a ruling on your request.

Where can I get the Award and Certificate Request Forms?

Requests for Awards and Certificates can be downloaded from our website. You can print them and make as many copies as you need. You can download them here:

Request for Award Credit Cards

Foundational Church Ministries Certificate

Standard Church Ministries Certificate

Advanced Church Ministries Certificate

Leadership Church Ministries Certificate

How do you receive course credit?

To receive credit, each of the following requirements must be met.

  • All courses must be taught by an ETA approved teacher within their term limit.
  • Each student must purchase and read a copy of the course textbook.
  • The course must meet for a minimum of 10 hours of classroom time. This can be divided in any number of ways, by teaching preference (three sessions of 3 hours and 20 min. each; four 2.5 hour sessions; eight sessions of 1 hour and 15 min., etc.).
  • Each student must attend at least 8 of the 10 scheduled course hours, with makeup option for any missed sessions.
  • For each student that has missed up to 2 hours of instructional time, the ETA approved teacher must assign additional work to make up for the lost attendance.
  • The ETA approved teacher is required to evaluate every student’s comprehension by offering a final essay, exam, or project. This is to be designed at the teacher’s discretion.
  • The teacher is required to submit only official ETA forms when requesting credit for courses taught.
  • All Request For Award Credit forms must be mailed immediately upon completion of the course.

It is highly recommended that teachers keep track of individual student records. When Awards are processed, a student record will be mailed to the ministry.

What is an elective?

Elective courses may be chosen from any ETA course that is not identified as a required course for any level. Additionally, a church-designed course can satisfy one elective credit when pre-approved by ETA. This course can be the unique history, mission, emphasis, or doctrine of your local church.

Can I transfer my credits to another church or school?

All awards are handled through our central office so your ETA credits will transfer to other organizations that utilize the ETA Certificate Program.  If you are seeking to further your studies at a higher education institution, you will need to contact them directly to check on their policy for transferring credit.

How much does it cost?

The ETA Certificate Program is the most cost effective way to provide a quality training program for your teachers and leaders. The cost for student textbooks currently is $16.99 per course and each achievement level certificate is $12.00.

Do I have to be a member?

You do not have to be a member with Evangelical Training Association to use our materials, but we do have a number of program and membership opportunities available to you whether you are a church, bible institute, college or seminary.

What are the additional benefits of your church membership program?

In addition to the initial value of ETA membership, your church’s benefits grow as your relationship with ETA grows:

 

Are you Accredited?
ETA is not accredited, nor are we an accrediting body. We work closely with other accredited schools and accrediting agencies, but our focus is on equipping lay leaders and teachers for the local church.

I want to start a Bible Institute. How do I get started?
We have an excellent resource available called Developing a Dynamic Bible Institute which will take you through all of the steps of starting a Bible Institute.  Follow the link to find out more about starting a local Bible Institute.

For further information contact us at customerservice@etaworld.org or call at (800) 369-8291 or write us at ETA - 1551 Regency Court - Calumet City, IL 60409 and we will be happy to assist you.