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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Clinical Pastoral Education?
- What do the essential elements of CPE include?
- What kind of things might be included in the Individual Learning Contract?
- What are the different types of CPE?
- What does CPE prepare a person to do?
- I want to be a chaplain or a pastoral counselor. Do I need CPE?
- What are some vocations in pastoral care?
- Who is eligible to enroll in CPE?
- Do I have to be ordained to do CPE?
- Do CPE Interns and residents get paid?
- How may I enroll in CPE?
- What are the dates for CPE and deadlines for application?
- What does CPE cost and are scholarships available?
- I am an international student. How do I enroll in CPE?
- Can I get academic credit for CPE?
- Can I get CPE credit for previous work/ministry experience?
- Can I do CPE on-line or through some other distance learning process?
- How do I become a member of ACPE?
- Do you provide housing for students?
- Additional Information for Prospective Students
- What is Clinical Pastoral Education?
Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and interprofessional relationships. Back to top
- What do the essential elements of CPE include?
- The actual practice of ministry to persons
- Detailed reporting and evaluation of that practice
- Pastoral supervision
- Action reflection methodology
- A theoretical perspective on all elements of the program
- A small group of peers in a common learning experience
- A specific time period
- An individual contract for learning consistent with the objectives of CPE
The CPE program must be conducted under the auspices of an ACPE certified supervisor (faculty) attached to an ACPE accredited CPE center, such as New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Back to top
- What kind of things might be included in the Individual Learning Contract?
The CPE participant's contract is developed around the learning goals of:
- Pastoral Reflection - reflection on one's self as person and pastor in relationship to persons in crisis, the supervisor, and peer group members, as well as the curriculum and institutional setting.
- Pastoral Formation - focus on personal and pastoral identity issues in
learning and ministry.
- Pastoral Competence - deepening and unfolding of competence in pastoral function, pastoral skills and knowledge of theology and the behavioral sciences.
Some centers also offer Pastoral Specialization, focusing on the student's desire to become competent and knowledgeable in a particular area of ministry, e.g. Oncology, urban ministry, parish ministry, hospice ministry, etc. Back to top
- What are the different types of CPE?
ACPE offers Level I and Level II CPE, as well as Supervisory CPE, in sequence. The outcomes for each level must be completed before moving to the next level. Level I CPE is offered in the Spring (January – May) for 16 weeks and in the Summer for 11 weeks. Level I and II are in the year long residency program. Back to top
- What does CPE prepare a person to do?
- CPE serves as a part of one's preparation for parish ministry, chaplaincy, lay ministry, teaching, and counseling. A student's learning contract may be focused toward integration of theological, psychological, and pastoral insights into pastoral functioning for parish work. Or the contract may be designed with a career goal of chaplaincy or pastoral counseling.
- Some students, after completing several units of CPE, choose to enroll in Supervisory CPE working toward certification as a CPE supervisor. In Supervisory CPE the student learns the theory and practice of supervision and has an experience of supervising CPE students under the guidance and with the consultation of a CPE supervisor.
- CPE develops the capacity for the pastoral and spiritual care of individuals, families, and systems.
- Many theological schools require one unit of CPE as a part of a theological degree program.
- Other schools accept a year of CPE as the required intern year of ministry for a theological degree program.
- A number of theological schools which are members of the ACPE have graduate degree programs which combine academic study and Supervisory CPE. Back to top
- I want to be a chaplain or a pastoral counselor. Do I need CPE?
The Association of Professional Chaplains (www.professionalchaplains.org), the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (www.nacc.org) and the National Association of Jewish Chaplains (www.najc.org) and other organizations certify chaplains. The American Association of Pastoral Counselors (www.aapc.org) trains and certifies pastoral counselors. Some CPE is required as a pre-requisite. You should contact these organizations directly about their requirements. Back to top
- What are some vocations in pastoral care?
Click here for a chart of vocations, training requirements and contacts. Back to top
- Who is eligible to enroll in CPE?
For units of CPE:
An individual who, through a written application and an admissions interview, has demonstrated the ability to participate in CPE, usually one who has successfully completed at least one year of theological school.
Such other requirements or education and experience as a specific CPE center may require.
For supervisory CPE programs:
An individual who has successfully completed several units of CPE and has demonstrated a readiness to utilize Supervisory CPE, usually one who has a theological degree and several years of pastoral. Back to top
- Do I have to be ordained to do CPE?
Ordination is not required for our CPE programs. Back to top
- Do CPE Interns and residents get paid?
Interns do not. Residents are paid a stipend. Call our office 910.343.7014 for the stipend amount. Back to top
- How may I enroll in CPE?
- Click here to access the CPE Application form as a Microsoft Word document: CPE Application Form or in a PDF format: CPE Application Form
- Complete the application and send it directly to New Hanover Regional Medical Center along with your $25 application fee. We will contact you for an interview. Back to top
- What are the dates for CPE and deadlines for application?
The Residency Program begins the end of August and ends the end of the following August. The programs are offered on a space available bases, and there is no application deadline. Back to top
- What does CPE cost and are scholarships available?
The Extended and Summer Unit have a $150 tuition charge and a $25 application fee. The Residency Program has a $150 tuition charge for each of the three units and a $25 application fee. We do not offer any scholarships, and, currently, there are no scholarship programs at the national level. Back to top
- I am an international student. How do I enroll in CPE?
International students should make an application to New Hanover Regional Medical Center as soon as possible. Once accepted, the student should contact the ACPE national office (email: acpe@acpe.edu) to apply for a J-1 visa. The visa process can take from six to nine months to complete. The visa must be obtained before you can begin CPE at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Additional considerations are discussed on the International Student Information page. Back to top
- Can I get academic credit for CPE?
Many theological schools and seminaries grant academic credit for CPE. You should contact them directly for this information. Back to top
- Can I get CPE credit for previous work/ministry experience?
No. ACPE credit is not granted for previous work experience. However, your previous work/ministry experience will be considered during the interview/acceptance process. Back to top
- Can I do CPE on-line or through some other distance learning process?
ACPE currently does not have any distance learning programs. Back to top
- How do I become a member of ACPE?
There is a Student Affiliate level of membership with ACPE. Membership with ACPE allows you the opportunity to participate in the National and Regional conferences, a subscription to The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, and the ACPE News, our bi-monthly newsletter. For an ACPE membership form, click here: ACPE Membership Application Back to top
- Do you provide housing for students?
We do not provide housing. Human Resources has brochures and information on apartments. For single Summer students we seek to find a room in the home of a congregational member of the student’s faith community. The room is free and usually includes a separate bedroom and bathroom, and accommodates the student only, no family. Back to top
- Additional Information for Prospective Students:
CPE is an experience in process education which has been shaped by history and yet remains responsive to the present-day cultural developments which will affect your pastoral formation. The heart of CPE is your ministry with people and learning from that ministry through reflection, discussion, and evaluation with other students and your supervisor. In your CPE experience, you will utilize verbatims, case studies, and other ministry descriptions to present your ministry to supervision. The focus in some seminars will be on what is happening to you, the care giver, as much as on what is happening to the people receiving your ministry. There will be discussions which assist you in understanding theological issues arising from experience. There will be opportunities to learn from behavioral sciences while also reflecting theologically, so you can draw from both in understanding the human condition. You will be challenged to think about groups and social structures as well as individuals in defining your ministry. You also will be part of a dynamic learning group with other students and your supervisor, which will provide opportunities for mutual supervision, care giving, challenge and appreciation. Back to top
- Where will you be ministering?
You will be assigned to the clinical areas at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. These range from Intensive Care units, to medical, surgical rehabilitation and psychiatric areas. You will minister to patients, families, and staff as a chaplain.
A typical day in CPE:
CPE units may be either full time or part time. Either schedule will include an equivalent number of ministry and education hours. Our Spring Extended CPE Unit meets one day per week for structured educational sessions, and ministry is performed at other times. Since the heart of CPE is ministering and learning from the experience, a day’s schedule frequently includes a clinical seminar in which a student presents a pastoral encounter to other students and the supervisor for discussion and feedback.
Other typical sessions are: didactic seminars in which discussion follows a lecture; discussion of a book or article; exploration of theological concerns; peer group meetings or interpersonal group sessions for mutual sharing, caring, support and relationship concerns are explored; and worship or sharing occasions which provide opportunity for spiritual nurture.
Field trips, workshops, and clinical observations may be periodically included. Evaluation experiences with the other students and your supervisor are also part of a CPE program and are scheduled at the end of a unit to sum up the experience, midway to assess your learning objectives, and, at other times, such as with the other care providers in your ministry area. You will discover that a CPE schedule asks for active investment but also provides time for sharing, reflection, preparation, and relaxation. Back to top
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