Our combined price for the training course and the certification examination is US $89.95 per individual but is also discounted for a Catholic diocese for groups of 5 or more via a special diocese purchase plan (starting at $60/student with a minimum of 5 students in a diocesan group, with more aggressive discounts for larger groups); we also offer a plan for Catholic schools using the Augustine Institute's Word of Life textbook curriculum, starting again at $60.00 per teacher. The training, preparation, and testing period is a generous one year from the date of purchase (individual purchase date or diocesan purchase date). Included in your registration is the window of available time to take the exam, access to the training and certification website, your own printed copy of the Symbolon Leader's Guide (we will ask for your mailing address to send the Leader's Guide), and a certificate of your AICCS credential upon successful completion of all the session quizzes, easily personalized and downloadable for display or teaching validation.
Augustine_Institute
Augustine Institute Catechist Certification (Symbolon), v.2
The Augustine Institute Certified Catechist Exam (AICCS) is the certification examination for the AICCS version 2.0, effective July 17, 2024.
THE AUGUSTINE INSTITUTE CATECHETICAL SCHOOL
CERTIFIED CATECHIST EXAM (AICCS)
About This Course
The examination is based on the material presented in the latest version of the Symbolon curriculum. The exam is based on a series of multiple-choice questions based on the learning objectives of each session of Symbolon. Participants can sign up individually for the exam or by their diocese as a group. The training is presented with integrated videos of the newest version of Symbolon and multiple-choice questions based on foundational levels of understanding of the material. The catechetical training is contained in the final four sessions of the AICCS training and quiz modules.
Cognitive Layer of Difficulty
Geared for introductory adult learners, the cognitive difficulty level for the AICCS quizzes is Foundational/Elementary. These levels are based on Bloom’s Taxonomy (an international standard for designing and evaluating the intellectual rigor of a testing or measuring instrument), including understanding (explaining ideas or concepts in Symbolon—includes skills of classifying, discussing, describing, explaining, identifying, locating, and selecting). You will also remember (which includes skills of defining, listing, repeating, and stating). For more information on the rigor of this examination, please visit Vanderbilt University's Guide for Bloom's Taxonomy.
AICCS Certification Test Price
Duration of Certification
As mentioned above, the AICCS certification for a particular version of the test does not expire. AICCS-certified catechists who have earned the version 1 certification will have 1 year to take version 2 of the certification exam for free, and one further year at a reduced rate. All certified catechists should earn the certification in the version of Symbolon they are teaching or plan to teach. For continued progress in the Augustine Certified Catechist Program (soon to be introduced), certified catechists must keep their AICCS certification current.
Number of Questions/Scoring
There are 20 sessions of the AICCS course, 16 sessions of the Symbolon material, and 4 sessions on General Catechetical Introduction. Each session will conclude with a 10-question quiz, so the entire course will consist of 200 multiple-choice questions. Passing grade is 80% or higher; you may retake the quiz for each session if you do not reach that score. Questions and answer orders are scrambled to ensure the security and integrity of the credential. Note: Please complete the reading of each of the parts of each session before attempting to start the next session. You must read (and watch) the material completely to take (and pass) the session quiz, and you must complete each session quiz before moving to the next session. After you complete a session, you may return to it at any time. Thanks for helping us make your training experience in the AICCS completely and thoroughly satisfying.
Non-Disclosure Agreement
All participants who enroll for the AICCS are reminded that by their payment and participation they affirm that they will not in any manner communicate any part of the certification test content, share answers, copy, use additional programs or resources on their computers, nor any reference works, or in any way duplicate the AICCS examination, which is protected by copyright by Augustine Institute.
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