Step 1: Before committing to the full certification program, we advise new students to start with one or two courses as a trial.

Step 2: Once you have completed at least 1 course and are committed to starting a certification program with Ribaat, email advising@rabata.org to meet with an advisor.

Step 3: Registration for the Ribaat Teacher Certification program is open year round: Visit register.rabata.org to register in the orientation course: CRT 101. 

Applications to join the next Ribaat Scholar Certification cohort are scheduled to open January 2026. 

Step 4: Start your courses! Students can enroll in the required courses at their own pace, starting from Level 1, and may choose which order to enroll in them. Level 1 should be completed before moving on to Level 2 and so on. As students complete courses, their progress will be tracked and they will be contacted with more certification details.

Step 5: Attend the termly certification cohort class which is held once in each of the Fall & Spring terms. Keep an eye on your inbox for the announcement on the class date & time.

Step 6: Contact your advisor each term to ensure you are on the right track and receive advice on course load and sequence.

Yes. The Ribaat curriculum has been designed to be flexible to student needs and timelines. You need not finish the certifications within a set time limit.

Ribaat students are from all walks of life and reside in over 90 countries.

Yes. Credits earned for the Teacher Certification will also be counted towards the Scholar certification. Students can complete one certification program and then start the other, or enroll in both simultaneously.

It is not required to take the courses in order. However, to achieve the utmost benefit, we suggest completing the levels in order, as Level 1 and 2 courses will provide a solid foundation upon which to build subsequent knowledge in the higher levels. Prerequisites are also listed for each course, and it is required to complete all prerequisites before advancing.

Yes, courses you have passed previously will be counted.​

From previous student experience, it is not advisable to enroll in more than three courses at once unless you intend to study full-time. Full-time students should not enroll in more than 6 courses at once. 
First-time students are advised to enroll in one or two courses, until they can adequately assess how many they will be able to take on at once. Keep in mind that in terms of workload, each Arabic or Tajwid course is equivalent to 2 Islamic Studies courses.

Yes, students should meet with an adviser to set a plan of study. To arrange an appoint, email advising@rabata.org.

You may complete an Arabic placement test to ascertain that you have reached the required level of Arabic to earn the certification. However, we highly suggest you ensure the program you choose is geared towards liturgical Arabic and will help you access sacred texts in formal Arabic in addition to speaking and listening skills.​ 

To access the placement test, visit register.rabata.org.

Yes, scholarships are available for students who cannot cover the registration fees. A student may apply for up to two scholarships per term.​ Course completion of previous courses will be taken into consideration upon application. To learn more about financial aid, go to Enrollment >> Financial Aid.

Yes. All students starting in the Tajwid Program must complete an assessment with one of our tajwid instructors. Based on the result, you will receive a recommendation on the best course for your level inshallah.

To arrange an appointment, email tajwid.assess@rabata.org. The Tajwid team will be in touch with you as soon as possible inshallah.

Ribaat focuses on Shafi’i fiqh and it is a requirement to complete the Ribaat certifications. You may also, of course, study fiqh on other madhhabs and inshallah this will only increase your knowledge and ability to help others.

Accreditation options are currently under review.