Licensing & Course of Study

If God is calling you to become a licensed local pastor, we welcome you to the start of your journey.

Where Do I Begin?

1. Talk to your pastor.
2. Read The Ministry of the Licensed Local Pastor.
3. Locate License Schools, Course of Study Schools and Advanced Course of Study Schools.
4. Read the FAQ for more detailed answers to licensing questions.

The Course of Study

The Course of Study (COS) is prescribed by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry – Division of Ordained Ministry (¶ 1421.3d). It includes License School, the Five-Year Basic Course of Study, Advanced Course of Study, and Correspondence Studies. In prescribing the COS, the Division of Ordained Ministry is responsible for developing curriculum, purpose and learning goals; providing resources; establishing, maintaining, and evaluating License Schools and Course of Study Schools (COS); keeping central records on all students, and reporting on student progress to each Board of Ordained Ministry every year.

Regional Course of Study Schools

Regional Course of Study Schools are established by the Division of Ordained Ministry at locations central to the student populations, taking into consideration such factors as availability of United Methodist theological school faculty, library resources, dormitory space, the density of student populations, etc. Full time local pastors shall attend one of the approved Regional Course of Study Schools.

Extension Schools for Part-Time Local Pastors

When the Division of Ordained Ministry determines that there is a need for a Basic Five-Year COS school for part-time local pastors who are unable to attend a Regional Course of Study School, the division may negotiate its development as an extension of an existing Regional Course of Study School. Regional Schools establishing Extension Schools shall not cross jurisdictional lines without consultation with other Course of Study Directors in the jurisdictions involved. The following process is utilized in establishing an Extension School:

1. Written Proposal is submitted to the Council of COS Directors
2. Reviewed by Council of COS Directors
3. Approved by Council of COS Directors
4. Approved by Division of Ordained Ministry
5. Board of Advisors is selected for the Extension School
6. Director of Extension School is approved by Division of Ordained Ministry, after consultation with
   • Annual Conference(s). (This may be the Board of Ordained Ministry Executive Committee or task group assigned for this purpose, all with the Bishop’s knowledge.)
   • Regional COS Director
   • Board of Advisors of the Extension School
   • The Director of the Extension School shall be a United Methodist.
7. Faculty is selected by the Extension School Director with the approval of the Regional COS Director.
8. In development of new Extension Schools, each course offered shall be scheduled over at least two (2) non-consecutive weekends or sessions. There should be at least one month between course offerings.
9. All costs are to be assumed primarily by annual conference funding and student fees.
10. An Extension School will budget for the administrative support services provided by the Director of the Regional Course of Study School at a rate negotiated with the Regional Course of Study Director.
11. Extension Schools will send grade reports to COS Regional Directors and the Division of Ordained Ministry.

Curriculum

The Basic Five-Year Course of Study is a year-round experiential and classroom learning process. This process assumes cooperation between the instructors in the Course of Study Schools and the clergy mentors in the annual conferences. Each Regional Course of Study School shall offer all 20 courses of the Basic Five-Year COS and shall seek to meet the needs of both the full-time and part-time local pastors. Normally courses are to be taken in the sequence prescribed by the curriculum. At a minimum, students are expected to take first year courses in the first year of study and fifth year courses in the final year of study. In addition to these basic curriculum courses, the school may provide a communication skills program for students. Other special programs may be funded at the discretion of the schools or the Division of Ordained Ministry and other programs that meet student needs.