Applying to the Certificate in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy (SCP) Program

• Offers of admission are subject to meeting all admission requirements, suitability for the program and the availability of program space and placements.
• Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an offer of admission to the certificate program.
• Application to the SCP Certificate program is made by completing the online form, including attaching the required documents and paying the application fee.
• All required application materials (see Step 1 below) must be uploaded to the online application form, and the online form submitted by the application deadline, in order for an application to be considered for admission. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• No deferrals of admission will be granted. Applications for entrance into the certificate at the mid-point of the academic year (January) will not be considered.
• All materials submitted to the Admissions Committee may be used in the assessment of an application. Application materials will be destroyed as per TST's document retention policy.

Refer to the MPS SCP Program Handbook for detailed program and admission information.

IMPORTANT: 

Please ensure that you have all of the following information prepared and available to you prior to starting the online application form. Although you will be able to save your application in progress and return to complete it, you are advised to have the required documentation ready to upload as PDF documents. Please complete only one online application - multiple applications will make all of your applications invalid.

Application Fee

$32.50 (CAD). The non-refundable fee is payable as part of the online application form and is completed via PayPal by using a credit card. You will not be able to submit your online application until payment is made.

Personal Statement

This statement, between 500-750 words, outlines your academic interests and purposes - this is your autobiographical narrative, your statement of interest and why you are interested in taking the certificate. You will enter your Personal Statement online as part of the application form. You can copy-and-paste from an existing document or type it into the appropriate section.

Spiritual Care Identity Description

This description, between 500-750 words, describes your spiritual care identity and your spiritual maturation over time. You will enter your Spiritual Care Identity Description online as part of the application form. You can copy-and-paste from an existing document or type it into the appropriate section.

Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE)

Submit proof of successful completion, current registration, or expected registration in SPE. You will need to upload a PDF document in the online application. Only one document should be uploaded for this category. This can be demonstrated by:

• registration/completion of approved SPE course(s) shown on your academic history, OR
• a copy of an acceptance letter from an SPE unit stating that you have been accepted to study at a TST approved centre (this should indicate the start and end dates, as well as the teaching location), OR
• a statement in your Personal Statement that you have applied for SPE, but are awaiting confirmation of placement.

Transcripts/Academic History

You must upload your unofficial transcript (e.g. scans, copies, or academic history which you have downloaded from ACORN*) showing your registration in the MPS at Emmanuel or Knox College, that you have completed 5 courses (5 X 0.5 FCEs) whilst registered in the MPS, and if available, the cumulative GPA for the minimum of your first five courses (5 X 0.5 FCE). If admitted, the CGPA will be verified by TST. The CGPA is that which shows on your Academic History on ACORN, no other calculation will be used. Your Academic History from ACORN is all that is required, you should not be requesting a transcript from your college. Please ensure that the document clearly shows your name and/or student number and your entire academic history as shown on ACORN, including any previous programs you have taken. You will be required to upload a PDF of your Academic History at the appropriate point in the online application.

*Find information on how to download your academic history from ACORN here.

Additional Information

As part of the online application you will asked to list relevant:

• qualifications and/or certifications you hold, including the name of the issuing body and the year of completion;
• current memberships in professional organizations; and
• current and previous work or volunteer experience in spiritual care, ministry, social service, therapy, or community service, including the name of the organization, position, and dates.

Please ensure that you:

• read the information in the online application about how to save your application to return to it later to complete it;
• make note of the application deadline noted at the top of this page, and ensure you click the “Submit” button at the end of the online application prior to the deadline; and
• are aware that prior to being able to click the "Submit" button, you will be required to pay your application fee via PayPal through the application portal.

Online Application Form (now closed for 2025)

Can TST confirm that my materials have been received?  

You will receive a confirmation email following the submission of your online application and a link to pay your application fee. If you do not receive the emails within 10 minutes of your submission, please check your junk mail.  If you still have not received the emails, you may contact us at admissions@tst.edu. During busier times of the year, however, especially in April, response times may exceed a week. We therefore strongly encourage you to submit your application well in advance of the deadline.

I have applied for Supervised Psychospiritual Education; SPE or CPE, but have not received an offer. Can I still apply?
You should indicate in your Personal Statement that you have applied to SPE or CPE, and include the dates and location of the unit to which you have applied.

If I do not receive an offer of admission am I automatically considered for next year?   
No. You will need to apply again next year.

I have been declined admission to the certificate program. Can I appeal the decision?   
No. However, an applicant may request the reconsideration of a decision by the Admissions Committee. Such a request must be made by the applicant in writing to the TST Registrar (diane.henson@utoronto.ca) in a letter emailed or delivered within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving the decision communication from TST. The request must state, in full, the grounds for the request. The Admissions Committee will consider the request and make a determination at its next meeting. Decisions made by the Admissions Committee concerning admission and related matters are not subject to appeal.

I have forgotten/lost my unique URL to get back into my application. Can I recover it?
If you set up your secret password in the online application, you may request your URL by calling the TST Registrar at 416-978-4040 during regular office hours. You will be asked some security questions to ensure the privacy of your information in your application, and you will be asked for the secret password you set-up. Then the unique URL associated with your application will be emailed to your University of Toronto email address.

I will complete the courses required for my MPS before Fall. Can I still apply for the SCP Certificate?
No. If you have or will have completed the 20 credits required for your MPS prior to the Fall, you are not eligible to apply for or be admitted to the SCP Certificate.