What Is a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)?

Written by True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

Reviewed by Editorial Team

Updated on March 11, 2023

The Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation is the only biblical financial counseling designation in the world and was established through NACBC in 2016. This designation is an individual who has earned their certification through Kingdom Advisors LLC.

Kingdom Advisors has a global presence and is the only Christian Certified Financial Counselor designation in the world.

The Kingdom Advisors, Inc. was established as a non-profit organization via the National Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (NACBC) in 1999 with a mission to provide biblical financial counseling worldwide through its CKA designation.

CKA is a certification that is earned through training and experience that demonstrates mastery of biblical financial principles and their application.

They are persons who have proven to be highly skilled in personal growth, self-mastery, interpersonal relationships, marriage enrichment, family dynamics and the art of working with others while maximizing personal effectiveness.

A CKA holder may have a background in business, finance, counseling, or ministry.

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CKA Certification Requirements

Applicants must either hold one of the following industry approved designations: CFP®, ChFC®, CPA, CPA/PFS, EA, CFA, CIMA®, AAMS, CLU®, FIC, JD, or hold 10 years of experience in the discipline he is applying for in the CKA designation.

Aside from these, to become a Certified Kingdom Advisor, there are certain requirements that must be met:

Ability to Apply Biblical Wisdom in Financial Counseling

The first requirement is that an applicant must be able to apply biblical wisdom in financial counseling.

This means that they must have a good understanding of the Bible and be able to apply it to real-life situations.

Technical Competence

The second requirement is that the applicant must have technical competence in business and financial planning.

This means that they must be able to understand financial concepts and be able to help others with their finances. The applicant must also have 10 years of full-time experience in financial counseling.

Ethical Practice

The third requirement is that the applicant must espouse and practice the Kingdom Advisors Code of Ethics.

This means that they must be a person of integrity and be able to counsel others in a godly manner. They must have good communication skills and be able to work well with others.

They should also be maintaining active local church involvement, and by providing pastoral and client letters of reference

Biblical Stewardship

The fourth requirement is that the applicant must demonstrate a commitment to personal and family stewardship. They should have a good understanding of God's direction for them in terms of their finances.

Steps in Becoming a Certified Kingdom Advisor

The steps in becoming a Certified Kingdom Advisor are:

Step One: Enrolling and Completing the CKA Educational Program

The Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) Educational Program is an educational program that will equip you with the principles of personal effectiveness, biblical wisdom in financial counseling, ethical practice, and practical skills.

It is composed of 95 Video Lessons (approximately 15 minutes each), 212 Scripture Verses on money, 19 Case Study Assignments, and 20 Practice Quizzes which should be completed in 6 months.

Step Two: Pass the Certified Kingdom Advisor Program Proctored Exam

After completing the CKA Educational Program, you must pass an exam to become a Certified Kingdom Advisor.

The exam is delivered online and monitored by live proctors. Applicants for the designation must receive an 80% passing grade on the proctored exam. There is a charge of $199 to take the proctored exam.

Step Three: Complete the Certified Kingdom Advisor Application

Once you have completed the Certified Kingdom Advisor Program Proctored Exam, you will need to complete the Certified Kingdom Advisor application.

The Certified Kingdom Advisor application will require you to provide letters of reference from a pastor and a client who can vouch for your character and ethics in counseling others.

It includes a summary of your CKA Education and experience, plus answers to a series of questions about your personal and professional goals. Once the application is complete, it will be reviewed by the KCA Board of Certification.

Step Four: Maintain Active Status

The Certified Kingdom Advisor designation is a lifetime designation, but there are requirements to maintain active status.

Annual requirements for renewal include completion of 10 hours of continuing education with Kingdom Advisors, Inc., active Kingdom Advisors membership, and completion of an annual renewal online.

Different CKA Disciplines

The Certified Kingdom Advisor designation is not just for those in the financial industry. There are different disciplines of Certified Kingdom Advisors that include:

Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) – Financial Planner

The type of practice involves Comprehensive Financial Planning. The process of determining whether and how an individual can meet life goals through the proper management of financial resources.

Financial planning integrates the financial planning process with the financial planning subject areas outlined by the CFP® Board of Standards

Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) – Accountant

Personal Income Tax/Corporate Income Tax is the focused type of practice in this discipline.

An Accountant/Tax Professional is either a Certified Public Accountant who has been licensed by the respective agency responsible for professional licensing in their state or an Enrolled Agent who has demonstrated technical competence in the field of taxation and is licensed by the federal government.

Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) – Investment Professional

This practices Investment Management. An investment professional provides professional expertise to the management of investment assets held in retirement accounts, trusts, individual and joint accounts.

This type of advisor is registered with the SEC/CSA or State and “flat fee” paid for advice, or they are registered with a Broker-Dealer and paid on a commission basis.

Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) – Insurance Professional

This focuses on Life or Long-Term Care Insurance Planning and Sales. An insurance consultant helps people find adequate amounts of insurance coverage at competitive prices.

This type of advisor can be captive, career, or independent.

Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) – Lawyer

Estate, Wills, Trusts, Planned Giving, Business Succession, etc. is its type of practice. An attorney is a person who has passed the bar exam in their state and is licensed to practice law in that state.

Those attorneys who are most involved with Kingdom Advisors tend to be proficient in the area of gift and estate planning, business succession planning, income tax planning, business law, family partnerships, and corporate reorganizations.

Benefits of Becoming Certified Kingdom Advisor

There are many benefits to becoming a Certified Kingdom Advisor:

  • Increase in personal and professional income.
  • Increased opportunities for career advancement.
  • Certified Kingdom Advisor designation on your resume.
  • Opportunity to be a part of an international community of Christian financial professionals.
  • Increased opportunities for networking and fellowship with other Christians in the financial industry.
  • Free subscription to the Kingdom Advisors Journal.
  • Discounts on all Kingdom Advisors products, resources, and events.

The Bottom Line

The Certified Kingdom Advisor designation is a respected and recognized credential in the financial industry. It demonstrates a high level of professionalism and expertise in Christian financial planning.

The certification process is rigorous, and the requirements to maintain active status are stringent.

But the benefits of becoming a CKA are many and include increased income, career advancement opportunities, networking opportunities, and discounts on all Kingdom Advisors products and resources.

Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) FAQs

About the Author

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.

True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.

To learn more about True, visit his personal website, view his author profile on Amazon, or check out his speaker profile on the CFA Institute website.

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