General Orientation

*Requirements for Licensing as a Unity Teacher
(All Focus Areas)

1. Complete 120 hours of the Spiritual and Personal Development cycle.
2. Meet with your minister to discuss your interest in the Leadership Program.
3. Contact the Unity National School Director and get instructions from him/her about the local procedure for taking the  psychological exam MMPI-2.
4. Take the psychological exam MMPI-2
5. Upon receipt of the psychological exam's favorable results, send a Letter of Intent, co-signed by your recommending minister and indicating your Focus Area, and a request for an application packet for the Leadership Development Program to the Unity National School Director:
   Indicate the focus area in which you are interested:
   Licensed Teacher Specializing in Administration
   Licensed Teacher Specializing in Adult Education
   Licensed Teacher Specializing in Prayer Ministry
   Licensed Teacher Specializing in Youth and Family Ministry

6. An application packet of information will be mailed to you containing a Focus Area application (yellow form), questionnaire, practicum, specialty courses, Skills Demonstration Seminar (SDS) application.
7. After receiving your packet, complete the Focus Area application and questionnaire and send to the Unity National School.
8. Before starting the Leadership Program, complete and graduate from the Spiritual and Personal Development cycle.
9. When officially admitted into the Leadership Program, plan and complete the following:

A. With the minister:

• Learning agreement. The purpose of the Learning Agreement is for each candidate to keep track of his/her requirements, as agreed between the candidate and his/her recommending minister.

• Serve a minimum of one year as a volunteer in your Unity ministry. During your training, volunteer in your Unity ministry by assisting the minister in whatever you and your minister agree upon to for this requirement. Must be documented.

• 60 hours practicum as agreed to by you and your minister (Form LT5). The purpose of this practicum is for the student to learn the overall operation/structure of the ministry from a leadership standpoint and also for the minister to be able to articulate his or her expectations and to listen to the student as well.

• Practice teaching. Teach two 10-hour courses from the provided list, using the established class plan model previously reviewed with the minister. Present lesson plans/handouts for your minister's approval a month prior to your first class.  

• Classes will be taught as 10 one-hour classes or five two-hour classes. Your minister needs to observe you teaching at least one class.

• Attend a Unity leaders event.

B. With the Unity National School:

• 12 leadership courses (Form NS2)  

• Specialty courses or portfolio. The purpose of the Specialty Courses/Classes is to afford candidates more in-depth instruction and training in their Specialty Area of Focus. This is a prerequisite for licensure as a licensed Unity teacher.

10. Send the Skills Demonstration Seminar (SDS) application (included in the application packet), with completed practicum paperwork to the Unity National School three months prior to SDS attendance.
11. Ask your minister to send your Minister's Confidential Evaluation and Candidate's Competency Forms to the Unity National School three months prior to your SDS and according to your specialty or focus area.

Minister's Letter of Recommendation—Adult Education

• Includes candidate's understanding of perceived knowledge of Unity's teachings, its purpose, structure and resources. He/she has the ability to relate to individuals as a Unity teacher.
• Demonstrates character in keeping with the role of a licensed Unity teacher in adherence to the Licensed Teacher Code of Ethics.
• Functions in the role of a licensed Unity teacher with emotional maturity, integrity and a spirit of cooperation and integrates theory with practice.

Minister's Letter of Recommendation—Pastoral care/Prayer Ministry

• Includes candidate's understanding of perceived knowledge of Unity's teachings, its purpose, structure and resources. He/she has the ability to relate to individuals and involve them in their own healing.
• Demonstrates character in keeping with the role of the ministry's Pastoral Care or Prayer Ministry's needs in adherence to the Licensed Teacher Code of Ethics
• Functions in the role of a licensed Unity teacher with emotional maturity, integrity and a spirit of cooperation and integrates theory with practice.

Minister's Letter of Recommendation—Administration

• Includes candidate's understanding of perceived knowledge of Unity's teachings, its purpose, structure and resources. He/she has the ability to relate to individuals as a church administration specialist.
• Demonstrates character in keeping with the role of church administrator in adherence to the Licensed Teacher Code of Ethics.
• Functions in the role of a licensed Unity teacher with emotional maturity, integrity and a spirit of cooperation and integrates theory with practice

Minister's Letter of Recommendation—Youth Education and Family

• Includes candidate's understanding of perceived knowledge of Unity's teachings, its purpose, structure and resources. He/she has the ability to relate to individuals as a Unity teacher.
• Demonstrates character in keeping with the role of a Licensed Unity teacher in adherence to the Licensed Teacher Code of Ethics.
• Functions in the role of a licensed Unity teacher with emotional maturity, integrity and a spirit of cooperation and integrates theory with practice.

12. Attend SDS given by the Unity National School or Association of Unity Churches International.
13. Be recommended for licensing to and approval by the Board of Trustees of the Association of Unity Churches International.

NOTE: Written evidence of completion of all requirements will be necessary three months prior to your SDS. Previous experience in any Focus Area will not exempt you from participating in the entire program. All credits earned for the Leadership Development Program must be accrued after your Leadership Development starting date.

*Contact the Unity National School in your country for procedures to become a licensed Unity teacher. If there is no Unity school in your country, contact:

Claudia Maltos-Young
CYoung@unity.org