The Discipleship Training School (DTS) is designed to help you understand God more deeply, live more like Jesus and identify your unique gifts and purpose to use in missions.

DTS is a full-time, residential training course which begins with an 11 or 12 week classroom phase, followed by an 8-12 week outreach time. The DTS emphasizes cross-cultural exposure and global awareness, preparing students to answer the call to "Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations" Matthew 28:19.

Similar to the DTS is the "All Ages" or "Crossroads" Discipleship Training School (AADTS/CDTS) that is better suited to the needs and concerns of students over age 30, such as second-career people and families with children.

The Discipleship Training School is a requirement for applying as YWAM staff, and serves as a prerequisite to all other training programs. The DTS is offered at YWAM locations all over the world. Some schools have a special focus on particular areas of ministry or nations.

Use our search feature to find a DTS that interests you and then contact that location directly for information about dates, fees and focus. Please be aware that some of our locations are remotely located and do not have easy access to the internet or e-mail – be patient and try again if you don’t hear back right away.

Click here to get some help in choosing the DTS that's right for you!

YWAM schools are committed to ongoing discipleship as well as equipping students with the skills necessary to be effective in their purpose. The DTS qualifies you to attend further schools at any of YWAM’s 300+ training locations scattered in over 150 nations.

There is a YWAM training school for almost every area of interest. Many YWAM schools are approved for credit with YWAM’s university, the University of the Nations (UofN), which has campuses all over the world.

You can often prepare for Christian ministry in the nation you want to work in, studying in many languages, through traditional classroom learning combined with practical, hands-on experience. Areas of study include the Arts, Christian Ministries, Communications, Counseling & Health Care, Education, Humanities & International Studies, and Science & Technology.

To apply for a YWAM second level school, you must first complete a Discipleship Training School (DTS). Get more information about the programs you are interested in directly from the locations which offer those schools - use our search feature to find them.

Note: Not all YWAM schools (including some Discipleship Training Schools) are registered or approved for credit by the UofN. For more information on the University of the Nations, go to : uofn.edu

YWAM trains students for a purpose and that purpose is to share the love of Jesus all over the world, particularly among those people where He is least known.

You may come to YWAM with a particular sense of calling to a place, a people, or an area of service, or you may discover that calling during your training. Either way, YWAM will help to equip you and get you to the place where you can use your gifts to bring change.

Take a look at our photo galleries to see some of the ways YWAM is working to give people the opportunity to experience Jesus for themselves. Or use our search feature to look for existing teams and contact them to find out what opportunities there are for you to join the mission adventure!