What is Community
Service Chaplaincy?
Community Service Chaplaincy (CSC) officially began in 1994 and has
continued through the present as The International Association of Community
Service Chaplains. Although Chaplains have been doing this ministry for many
years, it has become a vital and exciting ministry of community outreach,
disaster
response,
benevolence
and
Care.
The priority of Community Service Chaplaincy is the anticipated response and
need for pastoral care, spiritual and emotional assistance, as well as guidance in
times of personal or community crisis.
The Community Service Chaplain is committed to provide spiritual and
emotional guidance, thus giving an atmosphere of peace, trust and
confidentiality.
What is Community
Service Chaplaincy?
Community Service Chaplains are trained in the areas of counseling,
pastoral care and other ministry related areas, as well as responding to
natural and man-made disasters around the world. We are in the service of
our churches, communities and the kingdom of God.
Community Service Chaplaincy extends around the world into a number of
continents and countries including Europe, Canada, USA, South America,
South Africa, United Kingdom, Philippine Islands and many other
countries.
Community Service Chaplaincy is multi cultural and multi lingual, thus
reaching into many ethnics and people groups.
Presently The International Association of Community Service Chaplains
has trained over 10,000 chaplains and have certified more than 6000 world
wide.
Becoming a
Community Service Chaplain
Becoming a certified Community Service Chaplain involves participation,
and completion of at least one (1) three day intensive chaplaincy course.
This course will teach the basics of Community Service Chaplaincy and
will give the candidate a basis of community service ministry and
outreach.
Upon completion of this intensive course, the application for certification
can be submitted to the offices of the The International Association of
Community Service Chaplains, Inc. A background check will be filed.
A monthly online report must be filed with TIACSC. Recertification is
done annually and is an easy process. The Chaplain need only complete
10 classroom hours of continuing education and renew there background
check in order to maintain certification
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Do I have to be a clergy person to become a Community
Service Chaplain.
Answer : No,. Certification as a Community Service Chaplain is a
credential of training and proficiency in a skilled discipline.
Question: Is the Chaplaincy Credential the same as a ministers license?
Answer:
No, the certification credential for Community Service
Chaplaincy is NOT an ecclesiastical credential, but rather a
professional credential of proficiency in a skilled discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How often do I need to renew my certification?
Answer :
Question:
Answer:
As of June 1, 2013, renewal is required once a year.
Do I need to have a background check if I am a minister?
Yes, while it is annoying to do this every year, the continued
legal issues which plague our nation require that we now do
annual backgrounds.
Question:
I took a chaplaincy seminar many years ago, can I apply for
certification based on that training?
Answer:
It actually depends, if the training was within the last three
calendar years, YES, otherwise NO.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How much does it cost to take a CSC Seminar?
Answer :
Question:
Answer:
All seminars, such as Level I, Level II, Level III and Disaster
Response (CERT) seminars are $360.00 .
Is there a discount if my spouse attends with me?
Yes, a married couple will only pay $490.00
Question:
Do I have to pay again if I have previously taken the
seminar(s)?
Answer:
Not normally, but this can depend on how long ago you took
the same seminar or which level you took. Please call the office
to insure a correct answer to this question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Can I get academic credit for this course?
Answer :
Question:
Answer:
Yes, but it will also depend on your present educational level.
Will the Community Service Chaplaincy issue CEU’s?
Yes.
Question:
How long will it take to process my certification?
Answer:
Normally it takes 3 – 5 weeks for the credential to arrive to you.
Chaplaincy Certification
Levels and Scope of
Advancement and Training
Chaplaincy Certification
and Levels
 After initial certification with the Community
Service Chaplaincy, each Chaplain can continue to
pursue Levels of chaplaincy which range from CSC
Chaplains through CSC Senior Master. These levels
of chaplaincy are based on training courses, years in
chaplaincy service and the passing of a peer board.
Various specialized courses are offered to include,
Suicide prevention, Domestic Violence, Disaster
Response and others.
Chaplaincy Certification
and Levels
 The International Association of Community Service
Chaplains, (TIACSC) is continually striving to achieve
the highest levels of professionalism. The Community
Service Chaplains section is no less dedicated to
providing a professional training cadre and a chaplains
corps which will truly have a dynamic impact upon the
church and communities which it serves. Following is
some vital information which will aid the reader in
understanding the requirements, qualifications and
advancement levels of Community Service Chaplaincy
ministry.
The Chaplaincy Credential
 NOTE: Certification with the TIACSC is a
credential of training and proficiency in a skilled
discipline. It is NOT to be understood as an
ecclesiastical license from any denomination. Any
use of this credential for ecclesiastical purposes
must be in compliance with the holder's own
denominational provisions and authorities.

Certification of Chaplains
 Community Service Chaplains stand ready to certify
those who have been recommended by the local
church and pastor, as Community Service
Chaplains providing all required training and
assessments have been otherwise met.
 Certification by the TIACSC does not constitute
official licensing in any Denomination, but rather is
a departmental credential for chaplaincy purposes
only.
Certification of Chaplains
 All Chaplains, prior to certification, must complete
the proper application, pass a criminal background
check and pay all necessary and applicable fees.
 Should the State Bishop or local pastor contact The
International Association of Community Service
Chaplains, regarding a disciplinary problem, moral
or otherwise, pertaining to a certified chaplain, said
chaplain shall be notified in writing and be placed
on a suspended list until the issue is resolved.
Certification of Chaplains
 Certification is taken very seriously by the TIACSC.
It is viewed as a tool for present and future
chaplaincy involvement in the church and the
community. Certification is therefore a valued
commodity which must be sought after, earned and
retained through discipline, ethical conduct and
respect.
Certification of Chaplains
continued
 Certification can only be granted from the TIACSC
by Certified and Approved CSC instructors. No
certification will be awarded unless the course is
completed, the test is passed and the Application for
Certification form is endorsed by a local pastor or a
representative from the Agency for which you are
serving.
Levels of Chaplaincy
Advancement
Following is a brief description of the levels of
chaplaincy rank and advancement with the
Community Service Chaplains
CSC Basic
 The following qualifications are required to meet
Certification Standards as a Community Service
Chaplain:
 Have attended and completed one (1) Level I CSC
Seminar.
 Must be actively involved or seeking involvement in
a community service ministry - CSC, Local Church
Chaplaincy, etc.
CSC Basic - continued
 Have completed and passed a criminal background
check.
 Must work under the supervision of a pastor,
agency liaison or designee of such.
 Must serve at this level for a minimum of one (1 )
year, prior to promotion to next level, unless
recommended otherwise by pastor or agency
liaison.
CSC Advanced
 The following qualifications are required to meet
Certification Standards as CSC Advanced Chaplain:
 Have attended and completed one (1) Level I and one (1)
Level II CSC Seminars within the past three (3) years.
 Has written a three (3) page philosophy of Community
Service Chaplaincy.
 Must be actively involved in a community service
ministry - CSC, Local Church Chaplaincy, etc.
 Have completed and passed an updated criminal
background check
CSC Advanced, continued
 Must work under the supervision of a pastor,
agency liaison or designee of such.
 Must meet and pass a Regional Chaplaincy Board.
 Must serve at this level for a minimum of one (1)
year, prior to promotion to next level, unless
recommended by the Regional Coordinator and
approved by the Coordinator of Community Service
Chaplains and Training.
CSC Chaplain
Master Chaplain
 The following qualifications are required to meet
Certification Standards as CSC Master Chaplain:
 Have attend and completed two (2) Level I and two
(2) Level II CSC Seminars, or equivalent, within the
past three (3) years.
 Has selected a specific discipline of Chaplaincy and
has written a five (5) page assessment of the selected
discipline.
 Must meet and pass a Regional Chaplaincy Board.
CSC Chaplain
Master Chaplain, Cont’d
 Have completed and passed an updated criminal
background check.
 Must work under the supervision of a Bishop,
pastor, agency liaison or designee of such.
 Must serve at this level for two (2) years, prior to
promotion to next level, unless recommended by
the Regional Coordinator and approved by the
Coordinator of Community Service Chaplains and
Training.
CSC Chaplain
Senior Master
 The following qualifications are required to meet Certification
Standards as CSC Senior Master:
 Have met all the requirements of Master Community Service
Chaplain.
 Must have a combined chaplaincy service totaling five (5)
years, prior to promotion, unless recommended by the
Coordinator of CSC and Training.
 Must possess a Technicians level Amateur Radio Operators
License.
 Must be approved by the Chairman of the board of The
International Association of Community Service Chaplains.
Processing Time
 All Badges, IDs and other outsourced items will be
subject to a time requirement.
 Pocket and Wallet Badges require 8 – 12 weeks for
delivery from the date order is placed for the
TIACSC office.
 ID Cards will require 3 – 5 weeks time lapse from
the day that all fees and application forms are
submitted and approved