Clinical Pastoral Education, (CPE) is a form of adult education that blends action and reflection. It utilizes online platforms such as ZOOM or MS Teams for classes, allowing students to acquire practical experience. CPE Courses involve small group interactions, online learning modules, and an internship at a clinical site. These sites can be the workplaces of professional chaplains or volunteer locations for chaplain visits.
CPE fosters growth in chaplaincy and pastoral development. The environment of the class and training involves mutual trust, respect, openness, challenge, and confrontation in a respectful and caring manner. Students are expected to be self-directed and explore one’s theological framework as it applies and is integrated into one’s abilities to practice compassionate pastoral care.
The Learning Contract. Students are expected to develop a learning contract appropriate to their learning needs and congruent with CPEI’s (Clinical Pastoral Education International) Objectives and Learning Outcomes.
the Certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education comprises four courses (CPE 100-400) or 1600 hours. Each course requires completing 400 hours (100 hours) of structured and unstructured learning and (300 hours) of an internship.
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is about change, transition, and transformation and involves group and individual supervision as part of an action-reflection-action learning process. Students will receive a certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education after the four courses.
Do V.A. Hospitals Recognize your CPE? The VA will accept our students for employment if they graduated after June 2024 (DEAC Accreditation). This is one of the main reasons CPEI sought accreditation to ensure our students had the best employment opportunities.” Anyone who receives their CPE’s through CPEI will be eligible to work as a Chaplain for the VA if they meet all of the other requirements of the VA for employment.”
Can I use my VA benefit to pay for my CPE Class? Yes! CPEI has been approved as a qualified institution for you to use your benefits. Our students can now be reimbursed if they otherwise qualify for those benefits! Check to make sure your benefits cover education for reimbursement.
Is BCC/BCCI available?
Yes! Both Associate Board-Certified Chaplain designation, and Board-Certified Chaplain designations are available depending on your education/qualifications. CPEI also now has an agreement with the Spiritual Care Association and the BCCI is also available
For more information:
CPE Application Link Below
Getting started right away is important. The application process may take you several weeks to gather all of the information needed.
Application Deadline for the Fall 2025 Semester beginning Sept. 1st. is Aug. 4th.
How to:
- Click on the link below to take you to the online application in our student portal.
- Complete the first page with your email so you get a link that will take you back to the application to continue editing it.
- After you complete your application process, your application will be viewed by the Supervisor-Educator, and you will receive an acknowledgement and a link to meet for a video interview via Microsoft Teams.
- Once you are accepted as a student, you will receive notification and a link to your student portal in Populi through which you will complete the learning modules, and turn in your assignments.
Notice:
On the second page of your CPE application, in the drop-down menu labeled “Select the Affiliate of your Cohort” scroll down and select:
“Spiritual Care Chaplains Network“
Click on the green button below to get started!