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 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 Leader Program, you may be required to complete additional pre-requisite course/hymns to be eligible to transfer into the Moalem or Chorsitress Program.

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

• Priest recommendation

• Hymns recording submission

• Personal Statement

• Admissions Interview

• Proficient in reading Coptic

• Final approval from Bishop

Choristress Program

• Female, 17 years of age or older

• Priest recommendation

• Hymns recording submission

• Personal Statement

• Admissions Interview

• Proficient in reading Coptic

• Final approval from Bishop

Church Leader Program

• Male or Female, 15 years of age or older

• Priest recommendation

• Hymns recording submission

• Personal Statement

• Admissions Interview

• Proficient 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.

There are no responses or hymns taught 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 and testing 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 Choristress Program, Church Leader Program, or any Hymns Teacher certificates courses.

Absolutely! As long as you can handle the workload and required obligations of the program. We recommend that you have at least 15 hours a week to dedicate to the program.

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

Our certificate programs are usually not as intensive and can be a good starting point if you don't have any prior hymnological background. We recommend starting with a certificate program when offered.

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, admissions interview, priest recommendation, 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.

Currently, we accept transfer students from Didymus, Cairo and ASAPH Institute. We will consider transfers from other institutes on a case by case basis. To apply for a transfer, please email admin@ich.la.

Transfer requirements

1. A letter from your institute showing your enrollment.

2. A copy of transcript with list of hymns you have covered so far.

3. A report of attendance/assignment submission performance.

4. An official letter stating your request to transfer addressed to Father Joseph.