CPEI Education
Find answers to common questions about Clinical Pastoral Education, CPE Supervisory Education, admissions, tuition, learning expectations, internships, student records, accreditation and professional pathways.
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These FAQs provide an overview of CPEI’s educational programs and commonly requested student information.
For official requirements, policies and current institutional information, students and applicants should refer to the Academic Catalog, Student Handbook, applicable program documents and CPEI policies.
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Programs & Admissions
Program structure, application, format and admissions information.
Clinical Pastoral Education is experiential education that integrates supervised spiritual care practice, reflection, peer learning and individual supervision. Students develop greater self-awareness, pastoral identity and competency in providing spiritual care.
The Certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education consists of four sequential courses, CPE 100 through CPE 400. Each course is 400 hours, for a total of 1,600 hours.
CPE includes small-group learning, individual supervision, online lessons and supervised clinical or ministry practice. The certificate is designed for completion within 24 months or less.
CPE Supervisory Education is advanced education for qualified chaplains and spiritual care professionals preparing to supervise, teach and evaluate CPE students.
The Certificate in CPE Supervisory Education consists of SEC 600 through SEC 900, totaling 1,600 hours. Students develop competency in pastoral supervision, teaching, group leadership, evaluation and the theory and theology of supervision.
CPE Supervisory Education has additional admissions requirements because it prepares experienced professionals for advanced supervisory practice.
Requirements include prior CPE education and applicable academic and professional qualifications. Board Certified Chaplain credentialing is generally required before admission, although CPEI policy provides a process for approved exceptions in qualifying circumstances.
Applicants should review the current Academic Catalog and CPEI policies for complete admissions requirements before applying.
Applicants begin by choosing a CPEI-approved Affiliate Organization offering the educational pathway they need. Applications are submitted using the CPE or SEC application link associated with that affiliate.
After the application is complete, applicants participate in the appropriate interview and admissions process. CPEI handles the centralized institutional processes connected with formal enrollment, records and billing.
CPEI provides education through online and hybrid modalities. Coursework, group learning and supervision use distance-learning technology, while CPE students complete approved clinical or ministry-based practice in real-world settings.
Each CPE or SEC course requires 400 hours. CPEI offers courses in 12-week and 16-week terms. Scheduling and availability may vary by Affiliate Organization and faculty.
The four-course CPE and SEC certificate programs are designed for completion within 24 months or less.
Many students balance CPE with employment, ministry and other responsibilities, but a 400-hour course requires a significant time commitment.
Applicants should discuss scheduling, course format and clinical-learning expectations with the Affiliate Organization and CPEI Faculty before enrolling.
Learning Experience
What students can expect during CPEI education.
CPEI uses a reflective and relational learning model. Depending on the course, students participate in small-group learning, individual supervision, online learning modules, written reflection, evaluations and supervised practice.
The educational process emphasizes action, reflection, feedback and continued application of learning.
Supervision is central to CPEI education. CPE students participate in individual supervision and peer-group learning with qualified CPEI Faculty.
SEC students progressively develop their own supervisory practice through observation, individual supervision, group leadership, teaching and evaluation.
Evaluation is part of the educational process and measures learning, accomplishments and areas for continued growth.
Students participate in structured evaluation processes, including required final evaluations. CPE courses also use internship documentation, learning activities, assignments and other assessments described in the course syllabus and institutional materials.
CPE education supports development in areas such as self-awareness, spiritual care, theological reflection, ethical practice, communication, diversity, collaboration and professional identity.
SEC students additionally develop competency in supervision, adult learning, teaching, group leadership, evaluation and educational administration.
Tuition & Benefits
Current tuition information and resources for eligible students.
Tuition is currently $1,375 for each 400-hour CPE or SEC course.
The four-course, 1,600-hour Certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education or Certificate in CPE Supervisory Education therefore totals $5,500 in tuition.
Students should review the current Academic Catalog for applicable fees, payment information and refund policies.
Students may wish to explore employer education benefits, faith-community or denominational support, veterans education benefits when eligible, and other external sources of educational assistance.
Availability and eligibility vary. Students should verify requirements directly with the organization providing the benefit.
CPEI is approved for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits for eligible students enrolled in approved CPE and SEC education.
Eligibility for individual VA benefits is determined through the applicable VA process. Students should confirm their eligibility and benefit requirements before enrollment.
Internships & Technology
Questions about clinical practice, internship sites and technology requirements.
Students identify internship settings that provide meaningful opportunities to practice pastoral and spiritual care. CPEI approves the internship site.
Appropriate settings may include healthcare, hospice, congregational, correctional, community, public-safety and other environments where meaningful spiritual care can occur.
Required site documentation, hour logs and site-coordinator assessments become part of the CPE educational process.
Yes. Hospitals and other healthcare environments can provide appropriate clinical-learning settings when the site meets CPEI requirements and is approved for the student’s internship.
Clinical settings are not limited to hospitals. CPEI students may complete supervised practice in a variety of approved settings appropriate to their learning goals.
Students need access to a computer or suitable device, reliable high-speed internet, video and audio capability, videoconferencing technology and CPEI’s learning management system.
Students should review the current technology requirements before beginning a course.
Student Records
Common questions about academic records and enrollment changes.
Students who have completed a CPE or SEC course can obtain an unofficial transcript through Populi.
From the student profile, select the Student tab, open the Transcript tab and use Transcript Action to obtain a PDF.
Contact the CPEI Registrar for questions involving enrollment records, transcripts, certificates, completion documentation or other official student records.
CPEI maintains formal policies governing cancellation, withdrawal, academic records and tuition refunds. The outcome depends on the timing of the withdrawal and the applicable course term.
Students considering withdrawal should review the current Academic Catalog and Student Handbook and contact the Registrar before making a decision.
Accreditations & Professional Pathways
How CPEI education relates to accreditation, chaplaincy certification and professional goals.
Yes. CPEI is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
CPEI education is recognized or accepted within several professional chaplaincy pathways.
CPEI is an approved provider of Clinical Pastoral Education toward BCCI chaplain certification through APC/BCCI. CPEI CPE is also recognized by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) and accepted by the National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC).
Certification requirements are established by the organization awarding the credential. Students should confirm current requirements directly with the applicable certifying body.
No. Completing a CPEI course or certificate does not guarantee employment or professional credentialing.
Credentialing organizations, endorsing bodies, employers and other professional entities may establish additional educational, experiential, ecclesiastical, examination or other requirements.
Still Have Questions?
Explore CPEI education, find an Affiliate Organization or contact CPEI for additional assistance.