How to Become an Ordained Minister Online

As an ordained minister, you can officiate wedding ceremonies, baptisms, and other religious ceremonies. Of course there is more to being ordained than just officiating ceremonies. Being ordained can be a rewarding experience. With the advent of online courses, the process is easier than ever

Consider whether becoming a minister online will affect your standing in your current church. If you want to perform a wedding for a friend but you already belong to a different religion, investigate whether becoming ordained online could get you excommunicated.

• Some churches (such as the Catholic Church and the LDS Church) consider becoming a minister in another religion apostasy, and grounds for immediate excommunication.
• If you're unsure, ask your local clergy for guidance.

Find out if you can legally be a minister in your state or province. This step is particularly important if you wish to perform a legal wedding. Look up your state's laws, or call your county clerk for more information. Some states require minister licensing, which is the process of registering as clergy with the state. Here are some general guidelines^[1]:

• States that require minister licensing:
  • Alaska
  • Connecticut
  • District of Columbia
  • Hawaii
  • Louisiana
  • Minnesota
  • Nevada
  • New York City
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
• States that require minister licensing in some areas or counties:
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • New Jersey
  • New York State
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Utah
  • Wyoming
• States that do not require minister licensing:
• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Maine
• Maryland
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Vermont
• Washington

Discern the reasons why you're seeking ordination. Have you been called to serve but don't have the money or time for a traditional seminary? Have you been asked to officiate a wedding? Do you want to open your own church or missionary service? Whatever the reason, evaluate your commitment and willingness to take on the role of minister.

Find an organization that suits your needs and your beliefs. Do some research to find an online ministry you can see yourself joining. Make sure that whatever you choose is an incorporated and legitimate service.

• Choose a service that will send you a hard copy of your credentials, with an original signature and a seal. Additionally, find out if they'll send a letter of good standing or a wallet card. Free ordinations will usually provide a certificate to be printed from your browser. A higher-quality version, often with a gold seal will normally have to be ordered for a nominal fee.
• Don’t be fooled by sites that say a church must be a tax-exempt organization to be valid. This is not true. It is totally up to the organization to decide if they wish to apply to the IRS for tax-exempt status. Some organizations choose to keep government out of religion through the payment of taxes.

Contact prospective ministries via phone or email (optional). If you'd like to find out more information about the process, as well as whether your ordination will be sufficient to perform any ceremonies you're interested in doing, contact the ministry. While you're at it, you can ask if they know anything about acting as a minster in your particular state.

• Avoid organizations that do not list their contact information on their site or do not respond to your attempts to contact them.
• Know that your ordination may or may not allow you to perform weddings in your state. You must check the state requirements by calling the clerk in the county in which the wedding is going to be performed.
• Find out about renewal fees. Some ministries will ordain you for life, while others will only ordain you for a year.

Complete the ordination request. Every church has different requirements for the ordination process, but most require your full legal name, mailing address and a valid email address. Be sure to follow any further instructions.

Receive your official ordination paperwork in the mail. Processing your request should take no more than 2 weeks. If you still have not received your official certificate and letter of good standing by then, contact the ministry.