There are several paths by which you may fulfill the steps of this stage. The paths are explained in detail in Sourcebook for Ministerial Development. This portion of the journey will occupy several years of your life. You will want to understand the various paths well before you embark on a particular path. Education and study never end in ministry.
Candidacy is the third stage.
It assumes that you are finished or almost finished with your educational foundations. Its key element is ministry experience while others mentor and evaluate you. The culminating milestone for this third stage is ordination. The fourth and final stage is Lifelong Learning. The changes in society, technology, ministry assignments, and personal development mean that a minister constantly needs new preparation.