Accreditation status
Auckland Park Theological Seminary’s Bachelor of Theology is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), and registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
SAQA registration number: 102355
HEQSF Aligned, NQF Level 5, 120-Credits: Distance Mode
“There is lot of information we received from the lecturers - ATS is a Word-based seminary with Jesus as a centre of the studies.”
~ ATS student
/ 2023
“ATS is an effective and highly efficient institution that offers quality and dynamic knowledge to it's students.”
~ ATS student
/ 2023
Overview of the Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling
The Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling comprises of theoretical work and a compulsory practical component.
The work is covered by 10 modules out of 10 credits per module.
Credits are, in accordance with the DHET (Department: Higher Education and Training) calculated according to the following formula: 1 credit equals 10 study hours.
Practical work
Pastoral counselling requires that counsellors be both academically and practically equipped. The Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling therefore has a set practical programme for achieving this qualification.
All the practical assignments are compulsory. In the event of a student struggling to find a competent counsellor/pastor to assist with the required assignment supervision, the programme leader (Dr. Oldewage) will help the student to be accommodated.
Assessment
Each module will be formally assessed in the following manner:
- Assignments
- Practical work
- An exam at the end of each module.
The mark for the assignments and practical work will count for an exam entry mark. A minimum average mark of 50% is required for an exam entry mark.
The final mark for each module of the Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling is made up out of: The final exam mark (counting 50%) and the module exam mark (counting 50%).
A minimum total mark of 50% is required as a pass mark for the specific module. Students must pass all modules to obtain the Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling.
Students may apply to resubmit assignments and practical work or re-write the exam to improve their marks.
Order of modules
Students start with module 1 and must progress in the chronological order of the modules as indicated in the “Module Content”.
Minimum admission requirements
The minimum admission requirement is at least one of the following:
- The minimum entry requirements to a Higher Certificate is the achievement of a National Senior Certificate according to the rules of subject combination prescribed in the policy for the National Senior Certificate – A qualification at level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework, Government Gazette, Vol. 481, No. 27819, July 2005.
- A tertiary qualification on NQF 5 (Higher Certificate)
- If the applicant is older than 23 years and have matriculation exemption from the Matriculation Board.
- If applicant is older than 45 years.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
Students who have completed the Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling will receive RPL when they do the Diploma in Theology or the Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree at ATS.
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RPL is the process through which the prior knowledge, skills and experience of an applicant/student are made visible and assessed for the purposes of gaining access to a qualification programme, or exemption from modules of a particular qualification.
In order for the Academic Board to assess an applicant’s application for RPL, you’ll need to upload a portfolio of evidence in the form of supporting documentation. The more complete your documentation, the better your RPL application can be assessed by ATS.
For previous studies, you’ll need to provide:
- certified copies of transcripts or academic results (for foreign qualifications upload SAQA evaluation certificate), and
- documentation stating the objectives, learning outcomes, content and credits of the completed modules (The training institution should be able to provide you with such).
For knowledge and skills gained in practices (e.g. having been an ordained pastor for 15 years) outside Higher Education in terms of their value for the envisaged course of study, you’ll need to provide:
- your comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV),
- certified certificate of ordination (if applicable), and
- reference letters detailing the work you have been involved with.
- a short motivation letter describing:
- why you are applying for RPL, and
- what you value about your learning, work experience and your specific competencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about how your studies will work.
Here we explain among other things how the Application and Registration processes work, ATS’ Online Learning system, how to submit your assignments, and the requirements for your invigilator for tests and exams.
Study fees for the Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling (2025)
The Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling consists of 10 modules and is pay-as-you-go.
Students do not have to register for all the modules at the same time but the full fee for each registered module is payable at registration.
It costs R1300 per module (which includes deposit fee).
Example: when a student registers for the first 3 modules, an amount of R3900 (R1300 x 3) is payable at registration.
Unlike other institutions, Auckland Park Theological Seminary does NOT charge extra fees for your Application or Registration every semester.
This qualification is priced 140-250% lower than comparable programmes, and in an effort to make the Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling even more affordable, ALL of the qualification’s prescribed study material is included in the module fees and provided to the student.
A handling and dispatching fee for books and study material is payable if you do not collect your material from ATS. The amount will depend on how many study manuals are to be posted. Estimated R200.
Further study opportunities
Successful completion of this Higher Certificate will allow the student access into a Bachelor degree at NQF Level 7.
Student loans
These financial institutions in South Africa offer student loans.
International Students
The minimum requirements for international students will be a final school year certificate bearing the same value as the South African National Senior Certificate.
This qualification of the applicant must be assessed by SAQA and the original SAQA assessment certificate as well as the SAQA Evaluation Certificate must be submitted to ATS. Review detailed information for international students.
“I must also give a special thanks the whole ATS staff for their superb professionalism, administrative intellect, passionate and wonderful service!”
~ ATS alumni
/ 2023
Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling Module Content
The module content for each subject in the Higher Certificate in Pastoral Counselling is as follows:
INTRODUCTION TO PASTORAL COUNSELLING (10 credits)
- Introduction to Pastoral Counselling
- Pastoral counselling and psychology
- Communication in Pastoral Counselling
- Pastoral counselling ethics
- The crisis requiring pastoral counselling
PASTORAL COUNSELLING PRESUPPOSITIONS (10 credits)
- God and pastoral counselling
- The Church and pastoral counselling
- The community and pastoral counselling
- Doctrinal issues
THE PASTORAL COUNSELLING PROCESS (10 credits)
- Building a trusting relationship
- The counsellor’s ethical commitment
- The counselee’s commitment
- Understanding the presented crisis
- A strategy for life-change
A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON HUMAN DYSFUNCTION (10 credits)
- Man as a holistic being
- Human dysfunction
- Illness and healing
CROSS CULTURAL COUNSELLING (10 credits)
- Understanding culture
- Religion and culture
- The cross cultural counselling context
- A cross cultural counselling model
VARIOUS COUNSELLING CRISES (10 credits)
- Abuse
- Addictions
- Trauma
- Grief
- Anger
MARRIAGE COUNSELLING (10 credits)
- A biblical perspective on marriage
- Marital problems
- Marital conflict
- Marital counselling
FAMILY COUNSELLING (10 credits)
- A biblical perspective of the family
- Family structures
- Family problems
- Conflict resolution
DELIVERANCE AND INNER HEALING (10 credits)
- Inner healing in perspective
- The spirit world in perspective
- Deliverance in perspective
- Ministering healing and deliverance
INTRODUCTION TO VARIOUS COUNSELLING MODELS (10 credits)
- Introduction
- Understanding various models
- Applying a correct model
- A model for pastoral counselling
