Six Degree Certification

Six Degrees of Connection™ Certification

Become a certified Connection Architect with Plus Wonder’s Six Degrees of Connection™—a life-tested framework distilled from 20+ years of study and 2,200+ years of wisdom from model partnerships of purpose (familial, romantic, civic, educational, and organizational).

This fully subsidized, asynchronous certification helps you move from Connection Explorer to Connection Architect by deep-diving into each of the Six Degrees and implementing them in your real context—classroom, team, organization, or community.

Get Started Earning Badges

At-a-Glance

Cost: Free (generously funded by Plus Wonder donors)
Format: Self-paced, online, unproctored
Time: ~1.5 hours per badge (six badges); certification application upon completion & implementation
Recognition: Digital badges per degree + Connection Architect credential upon certification
Community: Bi-monthly enrichment calls & movement building with fellow Architects

The Six Degrees of Connection™

Each degree module honors your prior knowledge and guides you to plan, implement, and reflect:

Something Bigger – Purpose as the north star
All-In – Commitment and trust you can feel
Ecosystem of Virtues – Six core virtues and how to grow them
Magnetic Moments – Rituals that spark joy and belonging
Celebrate Friction – Turning conflict into shared learning
Collective Connections – Scaling partnership skills for outsized impact

Get Started Earning Badges

You’ll experience:

👥 Short primers & stories from model partnerships
📘 Connection Architect Toolkits of practical activities
💭 Planning prompts tailored to your setting
📝 Submission forms that double as your implementation plan
📚 Examples curated into a growing community resource library

Is This for Me?

Perfect for educators (6–12, higher ed), instructional designers/coaches, training leaders, youth facilitators, and community organizers.

Also powerful for parents, team leads, nonprofit managers, faith and civic leaders, and anyone seeking to strengthen relationships and collaboration.

Get Started Earning Badges

By the end, you will:

Confidently explain the Six Degrees of Connection™ and the virtues ecosystem
Adapt and apply the framework to your setting with purpose-aligned activities
Design and facilitate experiences that build deeper connection across differences
Collect evidence of impact and reflect for continuous improvement
Join a recognized network of Connection Architects advancing collaboration for bold, shared goals

Recognition & Benefits:

🪪 Connection Architect title & shareable certification
⭐ Digital badges for each degree to boost profile
🤙🏽 Bi-monthly calls with fellow Architects for enrichment
📇 Visibility via Plus Wonder storytelling and recognition
📖 First access to tools, events, and new learning resources
📈 Opportunities to leverage your skills for our movement

How certification works

Step 1 — Earn Badges: Choose any degree, complete the short deep dive, and submit your plan to earn a badge. Go 1→6 or jump around. This process is self-paced. Start now!
Step 2 — Implement: Pilot your plan (in part or whole). Capture evidence of impact (artifacts, photos, reflections, before/after indicators). Got questions?
Step 3 — Apply to Certify: Submit your experience and evidence demonstrating knowledge, skills, and competency. Upon approval, you’ll receive your Six Degrees of Connection™ Certification and Connection Architect title. Badged and ready to certify?

Standards & evidence:

💡 Knowledge: Clear definitions/interpretations for each degree/virtues
💪🏽 Skills: Reframing and contextualizing degrees for your environment
✅ Competency: Modeling framework and scaffolding experiences that measurably deepen connection

FAQs

What does it cost?

Thanks to donor support, all modules and the certification process are currently free.

How long will it take?

Plan ~1.5 hours per badge (six total). Implementation time varies by context. The certification application follows once you’ve gathered evidence.

Do I need to complete all six badges?

Yes—six badges plus evidence of implementation are prerequisites for certification.

How are submissions reviewed?

Educators and subject-matter experts review for:

Knowledge of core concepts
Skill in adapting the framework
Competency to model and scaffold experiences that deepen connection

What if I don’t meet the bar yet?

You’ll receive clear feedback and are invited to resubmit after strengthening your plan or evidence. Coaching is available.

Is it recognized professionally?

You’ll receive digital badges and the Connection Architect credential. Many participants include these in CVs, performance reviews, and professional portfolios. (PD/CEU recognition varies by organization or state; check local requirements.)

How long is certification valid?

Certification is valid for the current calendar year and the next. Renewal includes a brief reflection and evidence of continued practice.

Is the program live or proctored?

It’s asynchronous and unproctored, designed for global access and equity.

What about privacy and use of my submissions?

Badge forms have optional fields for submitting anecdotes, resources, or other strong exemplars that may be adapted into a community resource library to inspire future Architects. Submission via these form fields or email are interpreted as consent with attribution. The certification form fields for submitting evidence are required and therefore do not have the same expectation of implied consent. Should we desire to share your artifacts with a wider audience (with attribution), we will reach out to you for your informed consent.

Governance & Quality:

🧑🏽‍⚖️ We maintain clear eligibility, digital badging, renewal, and conduct policies; NDAs are available when needed. A cross-functional team continuously improves content, reviews standards, and sustains program integrity.