Empowering BelieversOnline Theological Courses inBiblical Counselling

Qualifications and recognition

All theological, ministry and counselling qualifications referred to on this website are issued by Miami International Theological Seminary (MINTS) (www.mints.edu), based in Florida, U.S.A. MINTS issues religious qualifications intended to prepare people for ministry.

Please read the following carefully before enrolling:

1. These are religious qualifications. The MINTS qualifications are religious/theological in nature. They are not registered on the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) by SAQA, and they are not accredited by a South African quality council (such as the Council on Higher Education, Umalusi or the QCTO).
2. Our counselling course and the ASCHP route. Our counselling course runs over four years (Level 1 – one year, Level 2 – one year, Level 3 – two years) and is a MINTS religious qualification. It is not, in itself, an NQF-registered or accredited South African qualification. On completion of the full four-year programme, students may be eligible to apply to the Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP) (www.aschp.net) for a professional designation through a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process conducted by ASCHP. To be clear: ASCHP's RPL route leads only to a professional designation with ASCHP — it is not an accreditation of our course, and MyFiladelfia is not accredited by ASCHP. Any application, the applicable designation, and the outcome of the RPL assessment are determined solely by ASCHP in its discretion. MyFiladelfia does not guarantee that any ASCHP designation will be awarded.
3. MyFiladelfia's QCTO status. Separately from the MINTS religious qualifications, MyFiladelfia is an independent Skills Development Provider registered with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and offers one or more QCTO-registered programmes. Where a specific programme is a QCTO-registered occupational qualification, part-qualification or skills programme, this will be stated expressly on that programme's page. Our QCTO registration applies only to those programmes and does not apply to the MINTS counselling or theological qualifications.
4. MyFiladelfia is not a MINTS study centre. MyFiladelfia is independent and is not a study centre of MINTS.edu.
5. Purpose of the training. Our courses and all related documentation are designed to prepare people for ministry through Scripture-based training, so that they can fulfil their calling from God. MyFiladelfia does not train people for secular work or for a profession.
6. Recognition and transfers are not guaranteed. With appropriate recognition of prior learning, it may be possible for MyFiladelfia students to transfer to other institutions, but any recognition of training obtained through MyFiladelfia (via MINTS) is entirely at the discretion of the receiving institution. Neither MyFiladelfia nor MINTS guarantees that any qualification will be recognised.
7. No guarantee of employment. Neither MyFiladelfia nor MINTS guarantees any future employment, and neither appoints people to positions.
8. Your responsibility to verify. You are responsible for confirming that the MINTS qualification and MyFiladelfia's registration are accepted by any employer, church body or further-study institution before you rely on them for employment or further study.

Fees, cancellation and refunds

We want our fee terms to be clear and fair, and to comply with the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) and other applicable South African law.

1. How enrolment works. Each level is a separate agreement: Level 1 and Level 2 each run for one year, and Level 3 runs for two years.
2. Online cooling-off. Because enrolment takes place online, you may cancel within the cooling-off period allowed by law — generally within 7 days under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002, or within 5 business days where the CPA's direct-marketing provisions apply — and receive a full refund, including any deposit. This cooling-off right applies regardless of the general policy below.
3. Cancellation at any time. After the cooling-off period, you may cancel your enrolment at any time during the year by written notice. On cancellation, you will not be liable for the remaining fees for that level (the fees for the portion of the course you do not continue with).
4. Deposit. The deposit is non-refundable and is forfeited on cancellation.
5. No refund of fees already paid. Apart from the cooling-off right in clause 2, fees you have already paid are not refunded. You will not, however, be charged any further amount for the balance of the level after you cancel.
6. Suspension or termination for misconduct. If your enrolment is suspended or terminated in terms of our disciplinary policy, fees already paid are not refunded, and you will not be liable for the remaining fees for that level.
7. Withholding of certificates. MyFiladelfia may withhold certificates, results and formal written acknowledgement of completed training until all fees due have been paid in full.

Overdue accounts and debt collection

1. Reminders and notice. If your account falls into arrears, we will contact you. If your account remains unpaid for more than 120 calendar days, and after we have given you written notice and a reasonable opportunity to settle, we may hand the account over to a registered third-party debt collector (currently Vericred) for collection.
2. POPIA consent. By enrolling, you consent, in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), to MyFiladelfia sharing the personal information reasonably necessary to collect an overdue account with a registered debt collector engaged for that purpose.
3. Collection costs. MyFiladelfia does not charge interest or late-payment fees on overdue accounts. If an account is handed over, you may become liable for reasonable collection costs charged by the debt collector. Any such costs are limited by law, including the Debt Collectors Act 114 of 1998 and its prescribed tariff. We encourage you to settle any outstanding balance promptly to avoid these additional costs.