How to become a Clergy
Also called: Church leader, Lady superior, Church minister, Mother superior, Hospital chaplain, Commanding officer, Church army officer, Clerk in holy orders, Minister of religion, Shamanic practitioner, Salvation army officer, Member of religious community
Members of the clergy provide spiritual motivation and guidance, conduct worship according to the form of service of a particular faith/denomination and perform related functions associated with religious beliefs and practices.
Main tasks
- Prepares and delivers sermons and talks and leads congregation in worship
- Interprets doctrines and instructs intending clergy members in religious principles and practices
- Provides and arranges the provision of religious instruction to congregation members
- Performs marriages, funerals, baptisms and other special religious rites
- Provides pastoral care to members of the congregation in their homes and in hospitals and counsels those in need of spiritual or moral guidance
- Undertakes administration and social duties as required
How to become one
Entrants typically possess a degree or equivalent qualification. Candidates for the clergy according to the Christian faith must pass a selection procedure and attend theological college where training includes theological instruction and practical pastoral experience. Training can last up to six years depending upon age, experience and denomination. Entry routes for other religious professionals will vary according to the particular faith concerned.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Church minister (integrated degree) (level 6). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0527.
- University: Social Work & Community degrees, Offered by 14 universities in the UK
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £31,183 a year The middle half earn £30,329 to £37,251.
- About 71,600 people work in this job now, and about 80,300 are projected by 2035. (+12.2%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Clergy?
Entrants typically possess a degree or equivalent qualification. Candidates for the clergy according to the Christian faith must pass a selection procedure and attend theological college where training includes theological instruction and practical pastoral experience. Training can last up to six years depending upon age, experience and denomination. Entry routes for other religious professionals will vary according to the particular faith concerned.
How much does a Clergy earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £31,183 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £30,329 to £37,251.
Is a Clergy a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 71,600 to about 80,300 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a Clergy?
Usually. 85% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.