Service Playing Certificate Application Form

***Before starting this online application, be sure to accomplish the following steps.***
1. Contact the chapter where you plan to take the Service Playing exam.
2. Find out who from the chapter will serve as the Chapter Exam Coordinator and be able to provide that person’s email address and postal address on this form.
3. Find out from the chapter the exact date on which you will be making the exam recording.

Please fill out and submit this form to apply for the Service Playing Certificate exam. When completed, after you click “submit,” a confirmation message will appear on this page. Applicants will also receive a confirmation message that contains all answers provided in the form. Please review the following before completing the form.

1. Applications submitted by February 1, 2026 must be received by AGO Headquarters and the local chapter administering the exam at least 30 days in advance of the test date.

2. Candidates seeking dual AGO/NPM certification should be careful to select and perform those items on the test that are required for NPM certification, as outlined in the examination requirements, available HERE.

3. One (and only one) piece from each of the three repertoire groups (A, B, & C) is to be used for Prelude (S1), Offertory (S7), and Postlude (S10). Only one piece may be selected from each group. The choice of group order is determined by the candidate. For example, Prelude (S1) may be from Group A, B, or C.

4. The psalm accompaniment (S3), and all hymns for transposition and accompaniment (S2, S5, and S9) must be drawn from the 2023 Revised Examination Hymn Booklet.

Service Playing Certificate Exam Application 2025-2026

To apply for the Service Playing Certificate (SPC) exam, please complete this application form. The final deadline for submissions is February 1, 2026. However, ensure your application is submitted at least 30 days before your requested exam date. All fields marked with a red asterisk are required to successfully submit your application. For comprehensive information on exam content, study materials, and preparation strategies, please visit agohq.org/certification.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*

First Last

Candidate Email Address*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Address*

The postal address entered here must be the billing address which is attached to the credit card used to pay the certification exam fee.

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

At least one phone number is required. What type of phone number(s) are you providing?*

USA or Canada

International (non-USA/Canada)

USA/Can. Phone 1*

International Phone 1*

What type of number is Phone 1?*

Work

Home

Mobile

USA/Can. Phone 2

International Phone 2

What type of number is Phone 2?

Work

Home

Mobile

Date of Birth*

Are you seeking joint AGO/NPM certification?*

Yes

Please enter the specific date between 10/01/2025 and 03/31/2026 scheduled for the recording of your test:*

NOTE: Applications must be submitted before February 1, 2026 and received by AGO Headquarters and the local chapter administering the exam at least 30 days in advance of the test date.

Full name exactly as you wish it to appear on the certificate*

Please note that no honorific titles (i.e., Dr., Prof., etc.) or academic suffixes (DMA, Esq., etc.) are utilized on AGO certification documents.

Name of Chapter where taking Exam*

Please enter the name of the chapter you have contacted to make arrangements for taking the Service Playing examination.

Name of Chapter Exam Coordinator*

First and last name of the Guild member administering your test for the Service Playing Certificate to whom the materials should be mailed

First Last

Chapter Exam Coordinator Email Address*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Address of Chapter Exam Coordinator*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Repertoire Selections

Please make your selection of one option each in Groups A, B, and C. Then in the questions below for each section of the exam using the organ repertoire (S1, S7, and S10), select the Group you are using for each piece. Candidates seeking NPM certification should either choose either the Dupré or the Demessieux piece as their Group B selection.

Group A*

Group B*

Candidates seeking NPM certification should choose either the Dupré or Demessieux piece as their Group B selection.

Group C*

Kenneth Leighton: Rockingham from A Leighton Organ Album (Oxford University Press)

Paul Manz: Liebster Jesu from God of Grace: A Compilation (Canticle Distributing 10-599)

Craig Phillips: Prelude on Engelberg from Glad Praises We Sing (Selah Publishing 160-814)

Robert Powell: There Is No Rose from A Medieval Carol Celebration (Wayne Leupold Editions)

Florence Price: Adoration (ClarNan Editions CN24)

Margaret Sandresky: IV. Cantabile from Six Variations on a Ground Bass in Organ Music Vol. VI (Wayne Leupold Editions)

S1 Prelude*

Please select the group from which your prelude piece has been selected.

Group A

Group B

Group C

S2 Opening Hymn with two transpositions*

S3 Psalm for Accompaniment*

Select one of the four psalm accompaniments in the 2023 Examination Hymn Booklet. [For NPM certification candidates, the required psalm selection is either Psalm 22/23 (Gelineau) or Psalm 22/23 by Mary Frances Reza (Oregon Catholic Press 93688).]

Psalm 22/23 from Gelineau Psalms

Psalm 22/23 by Mary Francis Reza (Oregon Catholic Press 93688)

Psalm 34 from Guimont Psalms

Psalm 126 from Anglican Chant Psalter

Psalm 25:1-9 from St. Martin's Psalter

Psalm 27:1-4 from The Hymnal 1982

Psalm 90 from ELCA

Psalm 97 from LCMS

S4 Anthem for Accompaniment*

Choose one anthem from the following anthem list.

Moonyeen Albrecht: O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem (available on the Guild’s website as a PDF courtesy of St. James Music Press)

Martin How: Day by Day (GIA Publications G-4178)

William Bradley Roberts: For the Bread Which Thou Hast Broken (available on the Guild’s website as a PDF courtesy of St. James Music Press)

Richard Shephard: Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (available on the Guild’s website as a PDF courtesy of St. James Music Press)

Charles Villiers Stanford: O for a Closer Walk (GIA G-4181)

S5 Middle Hymn, no required transposition*

Select one hymn different from the one chosen for S2 above. NPM candidates are required to select “Alabaré” from the PDF of the Revised Examination Hymn Booklet to play for S5. (Non-NPM candidates are not permitted to choose this selection.)

S6 Accompaniment of a Vocal solo

Hal Hopson: The Gift of Love, medium or low solo (Hope Publishing #371)

S7 Offertory*

Please select the group from which your offertory piece has been selected.

Group A

Group B

Group C

S8 Sight Reading

S9 Closing Hymn, no required transposition*

Choose one hymn different from the two hymns chosen from the two hymns chosen for S2 and S5.

S10 Postlude*

Please select the group from which your postlude piece has been selected.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Are you a member of the American Guild of Organists, National Association of Pastoral Musicians, and/or the Music Teachers National Association?*

Yes

[Through a cooperative arrangement, members of National Association of Pastoral Musicians and Music Teachers National Association are eligible to take AGO exams at the AGO member rate.]

What is your AGO, NPM, or MTNA member ID number?*

AGO members who don't know their member ID number should contact AGO Headquarters at 212-870-2310 or by email at info@agohq.org. NPM members who don't know their member ID number should contact contact the NPM National Office at (240) 247-3000 or by email at npmsing@npm.org. MTNA members who don't know their member ID number should contact MTNA at (513) 421-1420 or by email to mtnanet@mtna.org.

2025-26 Service Playing Exam Fees*

SPC Exam $250

SPC Exam (Student) $150

Student Rate: candidate must under age 30 with proof of valid student ID.

Student ID*

Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB.

Please upload an image of your valid student ID.

Nonmember surcharge*

Price:

Total

Credit Card*

American Express

Discover

MasterCard

Visa

Card Number

Expiration Date

Security Code Cardholder Name

CAPTCHA

Service Playing Certificate Exam Application 2025-2026

Repertoire Selections

S6 Accompaniment of a Vocal solo

S8 Sight Reading

Lessons for the New Organist

Search

Search help:

Mission Statement

PROFESSIONAL LINKS

Don’t Fall for Scams

Service Playing Certificate Exam Application 2025-2026

Repertoire Selections

S6 Accompaniment of a Vocal solo

S8 Sight Reading

Footer

Lessons for the New Organist

Connect

Search

Search help:

Mission Statement

PROFESSIONAL LINKS

Don’t Fall for Scams