High School
If you plan to work in a temple in the United States, you should have a good command of English, as well as proficiency in Hindi; Telegu; Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and other regional languages of India; and Sanskrit (the primary sacred language of Hinduism), among other languages. Most American high schools do not teach Indian languages, but you can take language classes at Indian community centers or local colleges.
Recommended classes for an aspiring U.S.-based archaka include business, accounting, science, mathematics, speech, music, and computer science.
Postsecondary Education
Many archakas received their training from experienced archakas in India or through formal education programs offered by Indian universities.
Many U.S.-based Hindu temples require job applicants to have an undergraduate degree. In the United States and Canada, some colleges and universities offer degree programs with concentrations in Hindu studies or Southeast Asian Studies. For example, the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, offers a master of arts with an area of concentration in Hindu studies. Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, offers a bachelor of arts in Southern Asia Studies, and its graduate program in religion covers Hinduism in detail. Typical classes in these programs include Introduction to Hinduism; The Veda, Upanishads, and Religion in Ancient India; Hindu Sadhana: From Yajna to Yoga; Yoga in History, Thought, and Practice; Hindu Myth and Narrative: the Epics and Puranas; Gandhi, Colonialism, and Beyond; and Women and Religion: Hinduism Religion and the Arts in South and South East Asia.
Other Education or Training
Archakas continue to learn throughout their careers by interacting with more learned members of their religious community. They can also improve their language, computer science, and business skills by taking courses at colleges and universities and through business and technology associations.
Certification
The Graduate Theological Union, through its Center for Dharma Studies, offers a five-course certificate program that culminates in the awarding of a certificate in Hindu studies. While this certificate alone does not prepare you to become an archaka, it will provide you with a better understanding of the religion and its tenets. Visit https://www.gtu.edu/centers/cds/cds-degree-programs#certificate for more information. Some colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificates in Indian languages. Contact schools in your area to learn about available programs.