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Spiritual Care

Association for CPE

About the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

  • The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) is nationally recognized as an accrediting agency in the field of clinical pastoral education by the U.S. Secretary of Education through the U.S. Department of Education.
  • ACPE is a multicultural, multifaith organization devoted to providing education and improving the quality of ministry and pastoral care offered by spiritual caregivers of all faiths through the clinical educational methods of Clinical Pastoral Education. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) was begun in 1925 as a form of theological education that takes place not exclusively in academic classrooms, but also in clinical settings where ministry is being practiced.
  • ACPE Accredited Centers are in hospitals and health care settings including university, children’s, and veterans’ facilities; in hospices; in psychiatric and community care facilities; in workplace settings; in geriatric and rehabilitation centers; and in congregational and parish-based settings.
  • Since ACPE formed in 1967 (as a merger of four CPE organizations), nearly 150,000 units of CPE have been offered to about 65,000 individuals from the United States and many other countries internationally. Approximately 7,000 units of CPE are completed annually. CPE students come from many different ethnic and cultural groups. Individuals from many faith traditions — Protestant, Roman Catholic, Judaism, Islam, Orthodox Christian, Native American religions and Buddhism — have taken CPE.
  • Chaplain Interns and Residents take CPE training for credit in their Master level programs or to complete the required clinical hours and develop professional competencies to become Board Certified Chaplains (1600 hours post master’s in ACPE training and clinical hours)
  • The textbooks for CPE include in-depth study of “the living human documents” in addition to required reading and lectures. By “living human documents,” we mean both the people who receive care as well as a study of ourselves, the givers of care. Through the practice of ministry and the reflection thereon with supervisor and peers, the experiential learning that is CPE takes place through case study review.
  • Among the 2,600 members that make up the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education are almost 450 ACPE Accredited CPE Centers and about 600 ACPE certified faculty members (called CPE Supervisors). There are 113 Theological Schools Members and 23 Faith Groups and Agencies who are partners with ACPE in seeking to provide excellence in theological education.

Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
One West Court Square, Suite 325, Decatur, GA 30030
Tel: 404-320-1472, Fax: 404-320-0849 n acpe@acpe.edu