AODA "transfer credit" policy
The system of Druid training offered by AODA has important features in common with study programs offered by several other Druid organizations, and with common patterns within the Druid community as a whole. The presence of common themes and interests through much of the modern Druid movement makes such parallels as inevitable as they are welcome. Since AODA's focus is on the development of a personal path of Druid nature spirituality by each member, AODA's Grand Grove has chosen to recognize work done in comparable study programs, or by individuals working on their own, as an equivalent of work done in the AODA system of training, and members of AODA who have completed work in other organizations may be able to qualify for advancement in AODA on that basis.
Since advancement on the basis of transfer credit from other Druid organizations involves very little work on AODA's part, members who receive degrees in AODA on this basis are not required to pay the usual dues for advancement to a higher degree. Thus, for example, someone who joins AODA and has previously done work qualifying for the First Degree pays only the $50 lifetime dues for Candidate membership, and becomes a First Degree member of AODA without having to pay the additional $100 lifetime dues for the First Degree.
At this point two Druid organizations, Ar nDraiocht Fein (ADF) and the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD), have training programs that qualify automatically for transfer credit in AODA. AODA's Grand Grove is interested in extending this program to other Druid organizations as well.
Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD)
Members of AODA who have completed the Dedicants Program of ADF qualify automatically for advancement to AODA's First Degree. Please mail a photocopy of your signed Dedicant's certificate to AODA along with a letter requesting First Degree standing.
Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD)
Members of AODA who have completed the Bardic Grade program of OBOD, and who have been accepted into the Ovate Grade, qualify automatically for advancement to AODA's First Degree. Please let us know the name under which you took the Bardic Grade course, the year in which you enrolled in the Bardic Grade, and the year in which you enrolled in the Ovate Grade, so that we can verify your standing with OBOD.
Members of AODA who have completed the Druid Grade program of OBOD, and have applied for and received standing as Druid Companions of OBOD, qualify automatically for advancement to AODA's Second Degree. Please let us know the name under which you took the Druid Grade course, the year in which you enrolled in it, and the date on your Druid Companion certificate, so that we can verify your standing with OBOD.
AODA's Grand Grove seeks to extend its transfer credit program to other Druid organizations. If you belong to another Druid organization and are interested in arranging for transfer credit for its members, please contact us via the contact page. We'll need to know details of your training program, as well as a method of verifying that people who apply for advancement on this basis have done what they claim to have done. To qualify as equivalents to AODA's First Degree, training programs should take at least one year to complete and cover essentially the same ground as our First Degree curriculum; to qualify as equivalents to AODA's Second Degree, training programs should take at least two years to complete, should require a program taking at least one year as prerequisite, and should cover the same general ground as our Second Degree curriculum. Transfer credit is not available for AODA's Third Degree except by special action of the Grand Grove.
Those who have completed equivalent studies on their own, outside of a specific Druid organization, may also apply for transfer credit. If you wish to apply for transfer credit on this basis, please visit the First Degree and (if appropriate) Second Degree curriculum pages, and prepare a written outline of your work, explaining how you have met each of the requirements of the curriculum. For example, if you are applying for transfer credit equivalent to the First Degree, your outline of work must explain exactly what you have done to fulfill each of the requirements of the Earth Path, Sun Path, and Moon Path, and all requirements for one of the Spirals. Any documentation you can provide us, including certificates, contact information for people who are familiar with your skills, and examples of your work, will help us assess your application. The outline, along with all documentation, should be sent to us via the email or postal address given on our contact page.