The level on which a person is affiliated with ACRP as professional body, are referred to as “designations”. The word designation in this context means “professional title”.

• CGMP and CMTP uses four levels of designation (for detail, see Levels of Designation With CGMP or CMTP below).
• CPSC uses the same four levels of designation but also uses some subdivisions of the designations (for detail, see Levels of Designation Under CPSC below).

Levels of designation with CGMP or CMTP

For persons who choose to be affiliated with ACRP via CGMP or CMTP there are four levels of professional registration and designation. A person who is registered on a lower level of recognition can work towards a higher level, through further training and through longer professional involvement.

The levels of registration and designation are:

• Level 1: Religious practitioner
• Level 2: Advanced Religious practitioner
• Level 3: Religious professional
• Level 4: Religious specialist

Provision is also made for:

• Associate Affiliates (persons who are informally or non-professionally involved in ministry, who want to be associated with the professional body). Apply as Associate Affiliate.
• Student Affiliates (full time or part time ministry students who are not in a formal ministry yet – pastors or other persons in ministry who are already involved in a formal ministry, who are also studying, do not register as student affiliates, but as designated affiliates on one of the levels referred to above). Apply for student affiliation.

Level 1 – Religious Practitioner

For many pastors this will be the entry point to registration. Registration and designation on this level confirms

• That a person has been registered with ACRP as a pastor or person in ministry;
• That he or she subscribes to the ACRP Code of Ethics and Code of Discipline;
• That he or she participates in Continued Professional Development (CPD) programme

A pastor or person in ministry may apply for this level of designation if he or she does not have a SAQA recognised ministry qualification, but has more than one year of ministry experience (two years if the person does not have a matric) but less than six years.

This level of registration is also used if an applicant has more years of experience, but it is still uncertain which of the other levels are applicable to the applicant. Once the application for this level has been submitted, the ACRP staff or intermediaries (agents) will evaluate the information on the application form and advise which other level of designation may be relevant.

Detailed information on the requirements for registration on this level is provided in the Rules of Affiliation document. To apply for this level, the applicant must complete the General ACRP (CGMP or CMTP) Application Form as well as the Basic RPL Application form. Read more about RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning for access to a professional designation).

Level 2 – Advanced Religious practitioner

This level of registration confirms that the points (i) to (iii) under Level 1 (Religious Practitioner) are also relevant to a person registered on this level. It furthermore testifies that the person has achieved a certain level of training and/or a longer period of ministry experience.

The following are required to be registered on this level: A SAQA recognised qualification on NQF Level 2, 3 or 4; or alternatively a minimum six years or more (up to 10 years) of proven ministry experience confirmed through a process of RPL.

Detailed information on the requirements for registration on this level is provided in the Rules of Affiliation document.

Applicants for this level, must complete the General ACRP (CGMP or CMTP) Application Form. Applicants who do not hold a relevant SAQA recognised qualification as referred to in the Rules of Affiliation document, also need to complete the Advanced RPL Application form.

Level 3 - Religious Professional

This level of registration again confirms that the points (i) to (iii) under Level 1 are relevant to a person registered on this level. In this case the applicant is required to have a SAQA recognised qualification on NQF Levels 5, 6, 7 or 8  in theology or ministry; or alternatively 10 years or more of proven ministry experience, confirmed through a process of RPL.

Detailed information on the requirements for registration on this level is also provided in the Rules of Affiliation document.

Applicants for this level must also complete the General ACRP (CGMP or CMTP) Application Form. Applicants who do not hold a relevant SAQA recognised qualification as referred to in the Rules of Affiliation document, also need to complete the Advanced RPL Application form.

Level 4 - Religious Specialist

This level of registration also confirms all the things that are valid to Level 1. It furthermore confirms that the person has achieved a SAQA recognised, NQF Level 9 or 10 ministry qualification (Master’s degree or Doctorate). Detailed information on the requirements for registration on this level is also provided in the Rules of Affiliation document.

Applicants for this level must also complete the General ACRP (CGMP or CMTP) Application Form. It is not possible to be awarded this designation unless the applicant is the holder of a Master’s degree or doctorate. The designation is directly awarded to applicants holding a SAQA recognised Master’s degree or Doctorate.

Notes: Applicants who hold a Master’s degree or Doctorate which is not SAQA recognised may apply to ACRP to evaluate their qualification through a process of RPL.
Applicants (pastors or other persons in ministry) who hold a SAQA recognised non-ministry Master’s degree or Doctorate which is “ministry relevant” (e.g. psychology, social work, education – there may also be others), may apply for the designation of religious specialist through a process of RPL by submitting the General ACRP (CGMP or CMTP) Application Form as well as the Advanced RPL Application Form.