About Clinical Pastoral Education

The CPE process utilizes verbatims, case studies and other methods for reporting one’s ministry and pastoral care for self-evaluation and group supervision. Your ministry discussions focus on what is happening with the caregiver, and as much as possible about what is happening with recipients of your ministry. Individualized learning for each student entails what they want to learn and exploring how they learn.

CPE students’ structured education sessions involve weekly seminars and supervision. These focus on theological, medical, psychological, emotional, interpersonal and group dynamics. These sessions, along with the clinical experience and related reading, provide opportunities for challenge, support, care and personal reflection.

In CPE, students enter a pastoral training program of small-group, action-reflection-action learning. Spiritual Care Leadership development is fostered by:

• Personal goal-setting and ongoing reflection within a safe and respectful small group context
• Theological, spiritual and personal reflection
• Facilitated peer dialogue
• Collaboration with physicians, hospital teams and a team approach to patient care
• Regular one-on-one consultation with an ACPE Certified Educator
• Reflective self and group evaluation process

As an AdventHealth University CPE student, you can expect:

• To be involved in ministry in a wide range of clinical contexts and with a diverse group of patients, families and team members, while functioning as an integral part of the multidisciplinary care team
• To be encouraged and challenged to provide excellent spiritual care ministry, to expect more from yourself than you imagine and to participate in providing effective and meaningful spiritual care for every person
• To learn about yourself as an individual, learner and colleague in the process, and as a minister to individuals in crisis, grief, pain and distress
• To learn how all that encompasses you — your strengths and weaknesses, your wholeness and brokenness, your faith and doubts — both enrich and hinder your spiritual care practice

The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, or ACPE, is a professional standard for pastoral care education. ACPE, ACPE-accredited centers and certified supervisors have a history of quality education recognized by professional ministerial associations, judicatories and accredited theological academic institutions. Their accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

AdventHealth CPE System Center is accredited by ACPE to offer Level 1, Level 2 and Certified Candidate Education in a challenging and supportive learning environment.

ACPE accredits centers based on their conduction of CPE through a process and structure to evaluate the institutional issues where CPE will be held. Students can be assured that the institution providing their clinical experience is financially stable, employs qualified supervisors, provides a peer-reviewed curriculum, offers evaluations and sets high standards for students’ treatment and safety.

ACPE standards for a CPE center’s ongoing accreditation are systematically reviewed to ensure consistency in practice for the center and its supervisors. ACPE is committed to quality and consumer protection; therefore, as an association, their standards are externally reviewed by the U.S. Department of Education every five years, with their recognition indicative of ACPE values and practice.

ACPE requires all accredited centers to undergo both five- and ten-year reviews to maintain their individual accreditation status. These strict guidelines for accreditation and recognition by the U.S. Department of Education make CPE at an ACPE-accredited program acceptable for academic credit and VA benefits.

Problems at an accredited center can be immediately addressed through a process called Review of Accreditation to assure compliance and maintenance of standards. ACPE accreditation and certification standards are approved for board certification by the Association of Professional Chaplains, the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and other professional chaplaincy organizations.

ACPE Certified Educators have completed a training process with multiple opportunities to have their work evaluated by other professionals for certification as a CPE Certified Educator to be granted. This process follows training standards that have been scrutinized and recognized as part of the ACPE accreditation process.

ACPE Certified Educators are required to participate in regular review processes as well as continuing education to maintain their certification as Certified Educators.

ACPE CPE is guided by standards as well as defined outcomes and objectives for student learning. These standards, along with certification and accreditation requirements, are available for review by visiting the ACPE website.