How to Become a Wedding Officiant Online

Many online options exist for those who are interested in officiating at wedding ceremonies. Possible choices include online ordination, becoming an officer of the state and earning a degree to become a religious officer. These options require varying levels of commitment, and this article might help you decide which option is right for you.

Possible Routes to Becoming a Wedding Officiant Online

Wedding officiants are empowered by law to perform marriage ceremonies. There are many routes to becoming a wedding officiant, and specific legal regulations on valid officiant status vary by state. Several states allow notary publics, justices of the peace, officers of recognized religious communities, judges, magistrates or temporary state deputies to officiate at marriage ceremonies. Some states allow married couples or friends to solemnize vows.
Requirements for marriage officiants may be found on the websites of state governments' secretary of state or public health departments. To create a business as a wedding officiant, a business license is mandatory. Requirements for getting a business license vary by jurisdiction and can usually be found at local city halls.

Online Ordination Possibilities

Several interfaith organizations offer online ordainment, including secular humanist organizations, the Universal Life Church and the Church of Learning Ministries. Applicants for these ordinations typically must supply certain personal information, specify a desired type of ordination and pay a fee. This process may take a few days or a few months, depending on the program.
To officiate at a wedding, an ordained individual must register as a marriage officiant with the appropriate local government offices. Officiants may need to do some research to ensure they are in compliance with local rules and regulations before performing a wedding ceremony.

Justice of the Peace or Notary Public Option

State government websites usually provide online requirements and application procedures to become a justice of the peace or a notary public. General stipulations include state residency, registered voter status in the selected state for a minimum of three years and an oath declaring the applicant has not been convicted of a crime. Applicants might also undergo state police record checks. The application process may take several weeks to complete. Accepted applicants will be assigned as a justice of the peace or notary public for a specific time period, generally a few years, that may vary by state.

Graduate Degree Options

Graduation from a master's degree program in divinity, chaplaincy or rabbinic studies also empower individuals to officiate at wedding ceremonies in some states. These programs include 3-6 years of online study and may include on-campus study as well. Master's degree programs in divinity and chaplaincy focus on religious leadership and offer coursework in religious ethics, comparative religion, care and counseling, practical psychology and specific topics related to a religious denomination.
Rabbinical school with some online coursework may be completed in 5-6 years and includes topics such as modern Hebrew, rabbinical literature, classical grammar and biblical studies. The capacity to officiate at a marriage ceremony is a limited aspect of such graduate school programs.