School chaplains could be forced to acquire formal training qualifications if the federal government is convinced there is a need.
School Education Minister Peter Garrett said he would consider the option once a review of the National School Chaplaincy Program is completed.
"A minimum qualification is an important issue," Mr Garrett told ABC Television on Monday.
"My expectation is that whoever's working in a school environment that they should have a level of appropriate training and qualifications."
The chaplaincy program currently funds 2681 schools across Australia where chaplains or pastoral care workers provide students with "general advice, comfort and support".
A discussion paper has proposed that the government require chaplains or pastoral care workers to have a minimum Certificate IV (Associate Diploma) in Youth Work or similar.
"I will consider it," Mr Garrett said.
He defended the use of chaplains in a role that is meant to be free of any religious instruction, arguing the scheme has already proven popular with schools and parents.
"It's an additional resource if (schools) want it, remember it is voluntary," he said.
Any breach of the guidelines would result in funding being pulled, Mr Garrett said.
"They're not there for discipline, they're not there for teaching, they're not there for religious instruction, they're there to provide advice," he said.
"Any breach of the guidelines means that ... there won't be a continuation of funding."
In May, the government fulfilled a pre-election promise by pledging an extra $222 million to extend the scheme until the end of 2014.
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