To be, or not to be, a Humanist or ‘humanist’ celebrant? That is the question!
- celebrantcircle
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
(Clue: it’s all in the detail…)
If you’re exploring a possible career as a Professional Celebrant, you might have come across several different types of training paths.
Two terms that often cause confusion are the words ‘humanist’ and ‘Humanist.’ While they might appear to be the same thing, they very much are not! Understanding the difference in these terms is vitally important when choosing the right celebrant training for you.
Do you wish to become a certified Humanist celebrant or an Accredited Independent Celebrant, delivering humanistic styles of ceremonies.
Let’s dig in!
Certified Humanist Celebrant
To become a Certified Humanist Celebrant in the UK, typically means training with a recognised Humanist organisation - such as ‘Humanists UK.’ As part of this process, you’ll be expected not only to write and deliver non-religious or spiritual ceremonies but also to personally identify as a practicing Humanist. Certification via Humanist UK means you publicly represent Humanism and uphold its principles. For example, a commitment to secularism, reason, and compassion without any belief in the spiritual, religious or supernatural.
This specialist type of training is reserved for individuals who belong to, and align with, the Humanists UK philosophy and principles.
Accredited Independent Celebrant.
On the other hand, an accredited celebrant, trained by an independent celebrant training organisation like the Celebrant Circle, can offer ceremonies that are humanist in style, without needing to formally identify as a Humanist - or represent any Humanist organisation.
This approach means you are trained to craft and deliver a variety of ceremonies - both humanist or otherwise.
Our ceremonies can be non-religious, focused on the values and wishes of the family, and rooted in celebrating life without reference to faith or spirituality. The tone and content of the ceremony can feel very similar to a certified humanist ceremony, but you retain the flexibility to tailor services to individual needs without the formal affiliation.
Equally, we can work with families and couples to design wedding and funeral ceremonies that honour their personal belief systems or religious heritage. As independent celebrats, we can include prayers, references to spirituality and the afterlife. We have the flexibility to encompass all faiths - or none.
Importantly, being an accredited celebrant with the Celebrant Circle, gives you the freedom to work across a wide range of styles and client preferences. You might create a fully humanist wedding one day and a more spiritual or semi-religious funeral the next - depending on the family’s or client’s wishes. As we often say, ‘we meet the client where they are and honour what they need.’ We have the freedom to work as we wish!
Which training path is right for you?
The choice really depends on your personal beliefs and the career you want to build:
If you strongly identify as a Humanist and wish to be part of a formal Humanist organisation or network, certification through an organisation like Humanists UK may be the best option for you.
If you want more flexibility and the ability to deliver humanist-style ceremonies (offering a wider range of content if requested), Independent Celebrant training - leading to professional Accreditation - offers much greater versatility.
At the Celebrant Circle, our training equips you to deliver beautiful, meaningful and very personal ceremonies in a humanist way - with a focus on personalisation, storytelling, and sincerity.
Whether or not you choose to label yourself as a humanist, we believe every family deserves a ceremony that truly reflects their loved one’s life and values.
Interested in finding out more?
Contact us today and book a Discovery Call to find out how we can help you become the confident, compassionate Professional Celebrant you want to be!
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