The applicant is required to complete an online application for endorsement and submit the items below. An Endorsement Manual is also available for download.

1. An updated professional resume.
2. An autobiographical statement highlighting the following:
   • Family and religious life story including significant life-changing events
   • Significant events shaping the applicant’s interest and ability to provide services and represent Islam in public
   • Religious leadership experiences, Islamic community involvement and personal philosophy of religious leadership
   • Personal code of ethics for religious leadership
   • Personal applications of Islam to daily life
   • Life experience that has prepared the applicant to serve as a chaplain
3. The five core competency statements:
   • Qur’anic Literacy
   • Prophetic Theory & Praxis
   • Cross Cultural Capability
   • Facilitation Skills
   • Professional Theory & Practice
4. Proof of graduation from an institution of higher education in the areas of Islamic Studies, Islamic Chaplaincy, and/or a related field. MEC will evaluate each Applicant’s program of study on a case by case basis. Certificates, transcripts, and copies of diplomas can be submitted as proof of one’s formal education. Applicants without a formal course of study in the field of Islamic studies must apply for an equivalency waiver
5. Proof of at least one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education training as provided by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) or the College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy (CPSP); or demonstration of equivalent training; or supervised clinical experience in counseling and pastoral care. In all cases, appropriate documentation must be provided to MEC. Applicants without Clinical Pastoral Education training must apply for an equivalency waiver
6. Statement of any voluntary chaplaincy work experience (if applicable) including a signed Volunteer Reference and Certification Form by the applicant’s supervisor. The signed Volunteer Reference and Certification Form should be sent directly to MEC from the supervisor by email or snail mail. (online form for download)
7. Notarized letter of accountability for ethical conduct (online form for download). The letter requires an attached statement form, sworn before a notary public, specifying that:
   • No religious body, employer, or professional organization has filed a civil or criminal complaint against the Applicant for unethical conduct, nor is such a complaint pending, nor has one been previously settled.
   • The applicant has never resigned or been terminated from a position, nor negotiated a settlement with an employer, for reasons related to unethical conduct.

• • • If the above cannot be certified:
      • The applicant should provide an account of the complaint(s) including the forum, charges, and outcome. He or she must provide contact information for people involved in the process and written authorization for these persons to give a full accounting to MEC representatives. Each situation will be evaluated on its own merits by MEC. Prior complaints are not an automatic bar to endorsement. Information obtained will not be shared outside of MEC. MEC has the right to accept or deny an applicant according to the judgment of the review panel and the MEC Board.

8. Background Check Authorization/ Release of Liability form (online form for download)
9. The candidate should send the Reference Forms to the following appropriate persons:
   a. Community Religious Leader / Local Imam / MEC-endorsed chaplain
   b. Muslim professional peer / Muslim peer working in Islamic chaplainc
   The completed Reference Forms should be sent directly from your references preferably by email to info@mec-usa.org;
   or by U.S.P.S. to PO Box 8224 New Haven, CT 06530
10. A copy of birth records and proof of citizenship, permanent residency, or work authorization forms.
11. Non-refundable application and processing fee of $150

DOWNLOAD

1. MEC Endorsement Manual
2. Volunteer Reference and Certification Form (if applicable)
3. Notarized letter of accountability for ethical conduct (required)
4. Background Check Authorization/ Release of Liability (required)
5. Reference form (Community Religious Leader/Local Imam/MEC-endorsed chaplain) (required)’
6. Reference form (Muslim professional peer/Muslim peer working in Islamic chaplaincy) (required)
7. Distinctive Religious Group Leader (DRGL) / Non-Chaplain Lay Leaders Application

The application for endorsement process will take the following steps:

1. The applicant submits an online application form with all the required items listed under Application Requirements for one chaplaincy area. Once endorsed, Chaplains may request for endorsement in additional chaplaincy areas by submitting credentials that demonstrate their qualification(s) in the additional areas with related letters of recommendation through the MEC Endorsee’s portal
2. The application and submitted items are reviewed for completeness
3. The applicant is notified whether or not the application package is complete and meets the competency requirements
4. Upon notification of completion of the application package, an interview with the applicant will be scheduled
5. A three-person panel appointed by the MEC Board of Directors will conduct an oral interview with each applicant to assess whether he or she has the competencies attested to in the application. At least one of the panel members must be a person who has worked in the applicant’s area of specialty. After the interview, the panel will make a written recommendation to the MEC board for approval or denial.
6. The Board of Directors of MEC will make a final determination as follows:
   1. Approval of chaplaincy endorsement. In some instances, the Board may require applicant to meet certain conditions to maintain their endorsement.
   2. Deferral of chaplaincy endorsement wherein the Board may require further information from the applicant prior to making a final decision.
   3. Denial of chaplaincy endorsement. If the applicant is denied, the Board will provide a written rationale for the denial. The applicant may reapply at any future time.
7. A letter of the decision will be sent to the Applicant
8. If an applicant is dissatisfied with the MEC Board’s decision regarding his/her application for endorsement, the applicant may file an appeal.  The appeal must be filed by email to info@mec-usa.org within 15 calendar days from the date the MEC Board issued its decision.The appeal must be in the form of a 1-3-page double-spaced statement in 12-point font with unlimited exhibits explaining the reasons for the appeal.  The exhibits must not include any documents that were previously provided to MEC as part of the initial application for endorsement.There is also a $25 fee which must be paid electronically within the same 15 calendar days of the appeal filing.Upon receipt of the appellant’s statement and fees, the MEC Board will appoint a three-person appeal panel.  At least one of the panel members will be a person who has worked in the applicant’s area of specialty. The appeal panel will not include any persons from the panel which conducted the oral interview and assessed the appellant’s competencies and eligibility for endorsement.The appeal panel will conduct a hearing with the appellant within an additional 15 days to evaluate the appellant’s reason(s) for appeal, review the recommendations of the interview panel and provide a report of its findings and recommendations to the MEC board for final determination.The board will inform the appellant within 30 days of its decision.  This decision is final.

Note: The average length of the endorsement process from application to endorsement decision is about 30-45 days. This length depends on how long it takes for the applicant to complete the application and provide all required items

Applicants may withdraw their applications at any time during the process. However, the $150.00 application fee is non-refundable.