Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an action/reflective, interfaith, hands-on clinical ministry model of learning. The purpose of the University Health program is to develop competency in providing spiritual care for patients, families, and staff. Using case studies, verbatims, reflections, didactic sessions, individual supervision, and group seminars, students will gain self-awareness, crisis management skills, pastoral ministry skills, and evidence-based interventions while providing spiritual care in a medical facility.

CPE Residency

The CPE residency is a full-time, one-year program beginning in September each year. A unique feature of our residency program is the presentation of psychological/ spiritual assessment models as residents develop their theory and approach to spiritual care. A variety of beliefs and theological perspectives, as well as selected readings in spiritual care research and outcome-oriented chaplaincy are discussed. Spiritual Care residency is to enhance personal growth and the skills for effective support through empathy, excellence, and innovation. Students will gain experience providing broad range of spiritual care at a 1000 bed Level I Trauma Center where a full range of spiritual care is offered as well as grief, and bereavement support. CPE Residents are required to be available to work a variety of shifts including weekdays, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

What the CPE Residency Program Entails

The overarching ACPE goals of the program focus on spiritual formation and integration, awareness of self and others, relational dynamics, spiritual care interventions and professional development. These goals work in conjunction with the student's individual learning goals. University Health focuses on these five core competencies and combines them with ACPE outcomes:

This Program Emphasizes:

1. 1. Spiritual Awareness and Assessment
2. 2. Self and Interpersonal Awareness with a special emphasis in story theology
3. 3. Spiritual Care Theory Integration and Competency with a special emphasis on family systems theory
4. 4. Consultation, Mentoring, and Supervision

The Residency Includes:

• Onboarding as a University Health employee and as a chaplain
• Full time employment, included paid time off, health insurance and other benefits
• Residents complete a 1-year program.
• Residents complete a minimum of 1600 hours of supervised learning each year.
• Weekly participation in after-hours call duty responsibilities
• Weekly classroom sessions
• Mentoring and collaboration with staff chaplains and other health professionals invested in your success.
• Apply for University Health CPE Residency program

CPE Internship (Extended Unit)

University Health offers a 22-week extended program where group meets once a week for classroom learning. Clinical work is completed during the week for those faith and/or lay leaders who are serving or want to explore their call to serve in the hospital setting. The clinical work requirement includes serving as an on-call chaplain once a month. This is an unpaid internship.

Apply for a University Health Extended Unit.

Summer CPE

During the summer month, we host an 11-week intensive (full-time) on-site program. Students are afforded the opportunity to serve and learn alongside UH staff chaplains throughout the full continuum of healthcare provided on our campus. Summer CPE students may serve as chaplains throughout the Level I Trauma Center. Each week there will be weekend on-call opportunities.

The spiritual care education hours in the summer intensive program are comprised of meeting with the CPE group for 10-12 hours each week and for individual instruction 1 hour weekly, totaling 150 hours. The remaining 250 hours of clinical ministry required for the program are done at UH, including weekdays and some weekend on-call hours. There is a small stipend given to the summer students.

Apply for a University Health Summer Unit.

CPE Residency

The CPE residency is a full-time, one-year program beginning in September each year. A unique feature of our residency program is the presentation of psychological/ spiritual assessment models as residents develop their theory and approach to spiritual care. A variety of beliefs and theological perspectives, as well as selected readings in spiritual care research and outcome-oriented chaplaincy are discussed. Spiritual Care residency is designed to enhance personal growth and the skills for effective support through empathy, excellence, and innovation. Students will gain experience providing broad range of spiritual care at a 1000 bed Level I trauma center where a full range of spiritual care is offered as well as grief, and bereavement support. CPE Residents are required to be available to work a variety of shifts including weekdays, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

Read more about the Residency program.

Apply for the University Health CPE Residency program.

CPE Certified Educator Training

The Certified Educator program trains individuals who demonstrate essential pastoral and clinical skills and the interest and potential to become certified ACPE Educators. CEC certification prepares the student to become an ACPE Certified Clinical Educator. Acceptance to this program requires Clinical Educator Candidates to have completed four units of CPE, prepared significant written materials, and completed successful interviews with the University Health CPE program, and with ACPE.

Certified Educator Candidate Training Includes:

• Onboarding as a University Health employee and as a chaplain
• Full time employment, included paid time off, health insurance and other benefits
• CECs are accepted for 3 years and undergo an annual review for continued participation.
• Regular consultation with other ACPE Educators and CECs in training.
• Weekly participation in after-hours call duty responsibilities
• Weekly classroom sessions

Apply for University Health CEC program.