Clinical Pastoral Education

Students are admitted without discrimination related to gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Good standing in one's faith group and regular practice are necessary. Denominational endorsement, ecclesial authorization or the equivalence are required. Positive references are important. Applicants should submit all written materials required by the ACPE's Standard Application Form, available at ACPE.edu/education. Other materials may also be requested. A non-refundable application fee of $40 should be paid upon submission, made payable to AdventHealth Shawnee Mission.

Faculty members will determine which candidates to invite for an interview and a final decision is communicated in a timely manner. Applicants are responsible for costs related to interviewing. Online applications are available online at ACPE.edu/education.

Content for learning in all programs of CPE is shaped collaboratively between student and supervisor. Individualized goals and objectives take shape in a personal learning covenant. Various methods of teaching and learning traditional CPE are used. These include, but are not limited to, theoretical presentations, case studies, IPR, peer-ship, literature review, verbatims, integrative and reflective writing, participation in supervision (individual and group) and interdisciplinary engagement. Each student is given a serious charge to serve designated clinical area(s) as a chaplain. Duties include participating in the 24-7 rotation of an on-call chaplain. All units of CPE, regardless of program, consist of 100 hours of structured learning (seminars) and 300 hours of unstructured learning (clinical work), minimally.

The supervisor responsible for this program is certified by the ACPE. Successful completion of four units of ACPE CPE prepares a student for board eligibility in order to be certified as a professional chaplain by The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC).

Part-Time Students (Externs) = 1 CPE Unit*

Structured class time is one full day each week, typically 8 am to 4 pm. Unstructured clinical learning opportunities include both weekday and weekend on-calls.

Part-time Programs: October - April

Summer Intensive Unit = 1 CPE Unit*

This is an intensive, full-time unit for seminarians, clergy and qualified laypersons, involving 40-plus hours per week. Expected hours are 8 am to 4 pm and include both weekday and weekend on-calls.

Full-Time Internship: June - August

Full-Time Residency = 3 CPE Units*

This is a full-time, three-unit residency for seminarians, clergy and qualified laypersons who are interested in a career in chaplaincy. One unit of CPE is a pre-requisite. This unit is a minimal 40-hour work week, that encompasses Monday to Friday and includes weekday and weekend on-calls. This program offers a 12-month competitive stipend.

Full-Time Residency: June to June

*CPE Units = Each unit of CPE will include 100 hours of instruction time and 300+ hours of clinical time.

Applications are received throughout the educational year but no later than two months before the beginning of the unit for which one is applying. Additionally, final selections are completed no later than one month before that unit begins. If, after the deadline, positions become open, the admittance deadline may change accordingly for the benefit of applicants.

Applications should be sent to:
[email protected]

Online applications are available online at ACPE.edu.