Clinical Pastoral Education

Theological and professional education for ministry.

What is CPE? Program Information Apply Now Contact Us

What is Clinical Pastoral Education?

ChristianaCare offers education and practical training in the spiritual and pastoral care of patients, families and health care personnel through the Clinical Pastoral Education Program. ChristianaCare’s CPE Program is fully accredited by The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc. to offer Level I, Level II, and Supervisory CPE.

Clinical pastoral education is theological and professional education for ministry. Our program is designed to emphasize the importance of the pastoral relationship in each person’s life journey. The curriculum integrates theology, behavioral sciences, and spiritual development with personal experience and reflection. Training for the Clinical Pastoral Education Program takes place at both our Newark and Wilmington campuses.

Program Information

Summer Unit

June through August, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one overnight on-call per week.

Extended Unit

September through May, with seminars on Mondays, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, plus 8–10 hours of pastoral care per week and two overnight on-calls per month (24 hours).

Residency Program

Full-time 12-month stipended residency program integrated within Academic Affairs that begins in mid-August. An application fee of $30 should be included made payable to ChristianaCare. There is no tuition required for the CPE Residency Program.

Tuition (Summer & Extended Units)

The first unit is $500. Additional units are $250 each.
Scholarship assistance is available for persons of the Jewish faith through the Rheva H. Cook Memorial Chaplaincy Fund. Call us for information about this fund.

For more information, contact The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc., 1 West Court Square, Suite 325, Decatur, GA 30030. Phone: 404-320-1472. Fax: 404-320-1472.

How to Apply

For any of the programs, applicants should meet one of the following criteria:

Seminary student with one year at an accredited theological school or equivalent.
Ordained, licensed or commissioned clergy with one year at an accredited theological school or equivalent.
Member of a vowed religious community.
Lay minister or caregiver with an undergraduate degree and some theological education, who is either engaged in pastoral care or preparing for pastoral ministry.

Apply early to secure your program of choice by completing and submitting the Application for Clinical Pastoral Education.