Credential Applicant Resources

Dear Applicant,

We’re thrilled you’ve chosen to pursue the next step in gaining your credentials. Below are a few helpful resources to assist you as you prepare for your exams. If you have any additional questions, please contact us.

There are three exams total in the credentialing process: Bible Knowledge, Doctrine, and Polity.

The Bible Knowledge and Doctrine exams are required for Certified level credential and Polity is required for License level. If a candidate comes in directly to License level, skipping Certified, then all three exams are required. If a candidate is reinstating after seven years, they are required to take the exams at the level at which they’re reinstating.

The Bible Knowledge is our overall highest passing exam. The passing rate is 99% and the average score is a 90%. I tell candidates, ‘If you’ve been regularly reading your Bible, attending church and participating in small group bible study or Sunday School, then you’ll do fine.” Key insights - chronology questions of who came in what order in the Bible and chronology of events seem to sometimes be challenging. The exam is all multiple choice.

The Doctrine exam is based on the Pentecostal Doctrines and is our second highest passing rate with 98% of candidates passing with an average score of 92%. The biggest insight is the short answer listing of the 16 Fundamental Truths. Candidates must list from memory the title of the truth and two supporting scripture references. To help prepare see the statement of beliefs at AG.org (https://ag.org/Beliefs/Statement-of-Fundamental-Truths) and check out flashcards on quizlet (https://quizlet.com/153369379/16-fundamental-truths-flash-cards/). Any part of the short answer questions that is incorrect makes the entire question incorrect. The rest of the exam is multiple choice.

The Polity exam is the governance and legal structure of the Assemblies of God. Overall, it is our lowest passing exam with a rate of 85%, and the average score is 80%. Reviewing notes from AG History, Mission and Governance and reading the AG Constitution and Bylaws are great ways to prepare for this exam. Candidates are allowed to use an unmarked copy of the AG C&Bs, but IT IS A MISTAKE to not prepare for this exam and treat it like an open-book exam. The AG C&Bs can be found at ag.org (https://ag.org/About/About-the-AG/Constitution-and-Bylaws). The exam is entirely multiple choice

Study guides are provided, but these insights are meant to help you prepare as well. They’re just things I’ve observed and offer to try and help. Exams are scheduled throughout the year both at our headquarters in Gainesville, VA and locally in each region. Our office can help you find one. Candidates cannot participate in exams until all phase one requirements are complete (Application, References, Background Check, and Transcripts). Once we have that all together, we’d be glad to have you take the exams.

Thanks, Pastor Ben