CatechismClass.com offers a trusted, best-selling online Baptism Preparation Course designed specifically for parents and godparents preparing for a child’s Baptism in the Catholic Church. This course provides a clear, faithful, and convenient way to complete Baptism preparation and request a Certificate of Completion—on your schedule.

Preparing Families Since 2004

Written by Fr. James Zatalava, our Baptism Preparation Program is used by 500+ parishes across the United States, with over 1,000 families each month preparing for a child’s Baptism with CatechismClass.com. It is the #1 selling online Baptism preparation class in America, available 24/7 — most students finish in about one hour.

What You Receive With This Course

  1. Full online access to all 16 course modules (self-paced, available 24/7).
  2. Eligibility to request a Certificate of Completion after finishing the course.
  3. Certificate delivery by email and in your account when issued.
  4. Direct parish support — if your parish has questions, our team corresponds with them on your behalf.
  5. Optional personalized mentoring with certified catechists if you would like additional guidance.

Your Certificate of Completion

  1. After you complete all 16 modules, you may request a Certificate of Completion naming you and verifying that you finished the program. Certificates are prepared individually and reviewed for accuracy by human beings, not machines, before they are issued.
  2. Standard processing: your certificate is prepared and emailed within 2–3 business days of your request.
  3. 24-hour guaranteed option: if your Baptism date is close, your certificate is guaranteed within 24 hours of your request.
  4. Unlimited retakes at no additional cost. If you do not reach the required score on your first attempt, review the material and retake the quiz as many times as you need. There is no limit and no extra charge.
  5. Certificate processing is a separate service from course enrollment and carries its own nominal fee. Current certificate processing fees, including the 24-hour guaranteed option, are listed on our certificate requirements page and are shown before you complete your request.

Will My Parish Accept This Certificate?

This is the question we hear most, and the answer is that more than 500 parishes across the country use CatechismClass.com. Your certificate names you personally, identifies the program you completed, and carries the date of completion. If your parish office has any question about it, or needs specific wording or supporting documentation for their records, our support team will correspond with them directly on your behalf. You do not have to sort it out alone.

Course Highlights

  1. Written by a priest: this course was written by Fr. James Zatalava and reflects faithful Catholic teaching presented clearly and concisely from the Catechisms of the Catholic Church.
  2. A real standard, not a checkbox: completion of this program requires a passing score on the final Baptism quiz, with unlimited retakes so that every student can review the material and reach the required score.
  3. Designed for busy parents and godparents: most students finish in about one hour — no scheduled sessions, no instructor, no need to drive to a class or miss work, and no set start date.
  4. Take it from anywhere: parents and godparents who live in different cities — or different countries — can each complete the course on their own schedule, without traveling to the parish twice.
  5. Optional personalized mentoring and correspondence with certified catechists is available for those who desire additional guidance.

In this course, you will learn the following across 16 concise modules:

  1. The role of Baptism, its necessity for salvation, and the meaning of original sin.
  2. Baptism in the Early Church.
  3. The essential Rite of Baptism.
  4. Who may serve as the minister of Baptism and the effects of the sacrament.
  5. Key teachings on infant Baptism, unbaptized infants, non-Catholic Baptisms, and adult Baptism through RCIA.
  6. The role of godparents and why it is both a true blessing and a serious responsibility.
  7. Additional practical and doctrinal guidance related to Baptism.

What Families Say

“This class made preparing for our son’s Baptism so easy. The lessons were clear and faithful — and our parish accepted the certificate right away.”

— Jennifer & Michael, California

“I learned so much about my faith while preparing to be a godparent. This program helped me rediscover the meaning of Baptism.”

— Robert, Florida

“Beautifully done and accepted by our church. The online option made it possible for our whole family to take the course together.”

— Maria, Texas

Important Certificate Policy

Each person who needs to be named on a Certificate of Completion must complete the course using his or her own account. Course materials may not be shared, and each person expecting a certificate must make an individual purchase. As with any accredited course of study, enrollment and certification are per person: each name on a certificate reflects a person who personally completed and passed the coursework.

Optional parish assistance materials are available for those who would like additional help communicating with their parish. These materials are optional and not required to receive a certificate.

If you are preparing for your own Baptism, this course is not intended for that purpose. We offer separate programs for children, teens, and adults preparing for Baptism. Please use our course selector to find the appropriate program for your situation.