Vaishnava Training and Education

Vaisnava Training and Education (VTE) is an organisation based in the United Kingdom and operating worldwide, established for the development of Vaisnava Hindu training and study programs by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Its publishing house is in the city of Oxford.
The VTE the organisation within ISKCON that oversees the worldwide development and execution of such shastra study and other devotional programs for ISKCON devotees, including those qualifications given by the ISKCON Examination Board. Under the guidance of the VTE and the ISKCON Ministry of Education, such courses recognized throughout the world by ISKCON centres exist worldwide. It is the VTE that manages the curriculum for the programs and exams administered by the ISKCON Examination Board.
The ISKCON Examination Board, sometimes abbreviated as BOEX and alternatively called the ISKCON Board of Examinations, is the official examinations board for ISKCON. The ISKCON Board of Examinations is responsible for administering the exams, ensuring their validity, and monitoring the exams to uphold academic integrity, fair grading, and maintenance of standards.
The ISKCON Examination Board administers standardised shastric exams based on the Gaudiya Vaishnava scriptures, for the spiritual development of Hare Krishna devotee members as well as to ensure high religious standards are maintained by the leaders of the organization, as well as for the highest level initiation candidates of the brahmana class and sannyasa renounced order.
Establishment
The ISKCON Examination Board qualifications were first envisioned by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, who desired the establishment of an educational institution of shastra study established within the institution, with qualifications awarded to students who successfully pass exams on these shastric topics.
The foundations of the VTE programs were given by Swami Prabhupada in his letters, and developed further in initial training programmes for devotees, such as the early Bhakta Program for new brahmacaris, or celibate student monks, who had moved into the temple to serve full-time. The present VTE programme was spearheaded in England in 1992 Since then, the VTE has continued to develop, offering new and revised educational programs for ISKCON devotees.
Prominent locations administering the programs and examinations of the VTE and ISKCON Examination Board include the Mayapur Institute for Higher Education and Training (MIHET) in Mayapur, the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE) in Vrindavan, Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium, Rupanuga Vedic College in Kansas City, the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture in South Africa, and the ISKCON centres in San Diego, Houston, and London. Bhaktivedanta College, the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education, and the Mayapur Institute also offer online courses.
Qualifications
The Bhakti Sastri exam is the lowest level of the four standard qualifications, first envisioned and established by Swami Prabhupada. Successful receipt of the Bhakti Sastri certificate is expected of those who aspire for brahmin initiation, and required of sannyasis within ISKCON. The Bhakti Sastri exam covers the entire texts of the Bhagavad Gita, the Isopanisad, and the Upadesamrta, as well as the first half of the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, all as translated by Swami Prabhupada.
The Bhakti Sastri is the most widely available course and qualification available, of the four main sastric qualifications within ISKCON. Successful completion of the Bhakti Sastri is a requirement for those desiring to become a candidate for sannyasa, The Bhakti Sastri title is a prerequisite for the Bhakti Vaibhava title, and the Bhakti Vaibhava title is a prerequisite for the Bhakti Vedanta title. The final level of study that follows, which holds Bhakti Vedanta as a prerequisite, is the Bhakti Sarvabhauma title, which covers the entire text of the Caitanya Caritamrta.
Other Courses
The VTE additionally accredits two levels of the Teachers Training Course, with the first level as a prerequisite for the second, for individuals who would like to teach the VTE sastric study courses and administer the ISKCON BOEX exams to their students.
Additional standard courses provided include the Leadership and Management Course,
Independent courses relating to Vaishnava culture, etiquette, and introductory principles of bhakti yoga philosophy are additionally offered by some centres. The original Bhakta Program, which preceded the formal establishment of VTE programs,<ref name="SocialCompass" /> also continues today in some locations.

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