CONFERENCE 2025 FAQS

The Moalem program can be completed in as little as four years. The Choristress program can be completed in as little as three and a half years. The Church Leader program can be completed in as little as two years. If you are taking courses to become a hymns teacher, certificates are awarded at the completion of each course. Please note that if you complete the Church Leader Program, you can take a one semester pre-requisite course and transfer into the Moalem or Chorsitress Program for the remaining two years. The Church Leader to Moalem track can be completed in as little as four and a half years. The Church Leader to Choistress track can be completed in as little as four years.

For the Moalem and Church Leader programs you will need to fill out an application online along with any relevant documents. Below is a detailed list of the requirements for each program. Moalem Program • Male, 17 years of age or older • Recommendation from father of confession • Hymns recording submission • Application interview • Experienced in reading Coptic • Final approval from Bishop Choristress Program • Female, 17 years of age or older • Recommendation from father of confession • Hymns recording submission • Application interview • Experienced in reading Coptic • Final approval from Bishop Church Leader Program • Male or Female, 15 years of age or older • Recommendation from father of confession • Hymns recording submission • Application interview • Experienced in reading Coptic • Final approval from Bishop

Starting Fall of 2025, the tuition for the Moalem, Choristress, and Church Leader program will be $500 a semester plus the technology fee. Hymns Teacher & Priest Certificate course tuition is $200 per course plus the technology fee. The Priest Certificate courses are free for all clergy.

The Fall semester starts in August and goes until December. Exams for the Fall semester are held in January. The Spring semester starts in February and ends in May/June. Exams for the Spring semester are held end of July.

There is currently no limit to how many students we accept per semester for any of our programs or certificates.

You must be at least 17 years old to apply for the Moalem or Choristress Program and 15 years old to apply for the Church Leader Program.

No. We are not teaching any responses or hymn in Arabic. You should have no problem communicating or understanding your instructors.

You should be able to read Coptic well before starting the program.

All of our programs and certificate are virtual. You only need to attend the final exams in person at the ICH Headquarters located at 1617 W. La Palma, Ave. Anaheim, CA 92801.

No, we do not allow for virtual testing for exams.

If you live overseas or have a situation that doesn't allow you to fly to LA each semester for exams, you will be allowed to test once a year.

If there are more than seven students enrolled in your particular region or country, we can organize to host exams in your area.

You may use hazzat as part of the learning process but will not be permitted to use them during exams.

Women may participate in the Chorister Program, Church Leader Program, or any Hymns Teacher certificates courses.

Absolutely! As long as you can handle the workload. We recommend that you have at least 8 hours a week to dedicate to the program.

As the programs are somewhat intensive, we recommend that you have some knowledge of hymnology prior to starting.

No. Once you are accepted into any program at the institute, you will be given a hymns matrix. All of the hymns completed during the Church Leader program will count towards the Moalem or Choristress program.

The hymns matrix is a document that contains all of the hymns taught at the institute. As you complete more courses, more and more hymns will be checked off the matrix. You will not be required to test a hymn more than once during your tenure at the institute. For instance, if you take Hymns Teachers certificate courses, those hymns will count towards the matrix if you decide to pursue the Moalem, Choristress, or Church Leader program. Those who complete the Moalem program will have checked off all the hymns in the hymns matrix. Those who complete the Choristress program will have checked off all of the hymns, except for the deacon responses and priest parts.

As per the MOU we signed in 2023, we operate in cooperation with St. Didymus, Cairo. We will be teaching the same curriculum using the same sources. In addition, all of the Cairo institute instructors will teach in the Cantors program and a member of the Cairo staff will be present at all exams. There will be conferences held each year either in Los Angeles, California, or Cairo, Egypt with the Moalemeen.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept everyone who applies. Acceptance into the program depends on a variety of factors including submission of required documents, meeting all required pre-requisites, entrance interview, and final approval from the Bishop.

ICH and St. Didymus Cairo are the only two institutions where one can become an official Moalem recognized by the Coptic Orthodox Church.