Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is interfaith professional education for those interested in providing spiritual care to patients, families and staff in a clinical setting. It brings laypersons and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounters with persons in crisis, experiencing trauma and at end of life.
Out of these life-changing interactions with people in need, and through feedback from peers and teachers, students develop a new awareness of themselves as people and of the needs of those to whom they minister. CPE uses theology, behavioral sciences and adult education to help students reflect and gain a new understanding of their ministry practice.
By collaborating with Children’s interdisciplinary team and clinical staff chaplains, students also develop skills in interpersonal and interprofessional relationships.
CPE students will be placed at Arthur M. Blank Hospital, where they will have a unique opportunity to explore spiritual care in a pediatric hospital, with an emphasis on family dynamics, systems theory and the holistic development of children. Specialty care areas include:
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
- Emergency Department
- Heart Center
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
- Solid Organ Transplant
- Technology-Dependent Intensive Care Unit (TICU)
Children’s is accredited to offer Level I/II and Certified Educator CPE by The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
Children’s CPE program is accredited by ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education. ACPE-certified educators are clinical pastoral educators who are academically prepared and who are authorized by either a spiritual or religious community, or by means of a spiritual or religious community affiliation and ACPE, to combine perspectives from theology and the behavioral sciences in conducting accredited programs of clinically supervised education.
Clinical Pastoral Education Chaplain Intern
- The chaplain internship is a 12-week summer intensive experiential educational program from May to August that introduces students to the practice of learning and facilitating spiritual care under direct supervision.
- All units require a minimum of 400 hours of supervised spiritual care and education.
- Tuition: $500.00 (per unit)
Clinical Pastoral Education Chaplain Resident
- The chaplain residency is a one-year experiential educational program that builds upon the completion of an initial unit of CPE and a master’s degree. The year is divided into three CPE units, offering chaplain residents the opportunity to further develop as a learner and spiritual care practitioner under direct supervision. All units require a minimum of 400 hours of supervised spiritual care and education.
- Residents receive a salary for the year and are eligible for Children’s benefits.
- Tuition: $250.00 (per unit)
Clinical Pastoral Education Certified Educator Candidate
- This position is currently filled.
- Tuition: $500.00 (yearly)
The CPE Program fill up quick. Prospective CPE students are encouraged to apply early.
- The CPE Internship and Chaplain Resident Program has rolling admissions.
- The Certified Educator Candidate application process is based upon vacancy. Please contact Amanda Alexander, CPE Program Manager, for details.
What is the Admission Criteria for Children's Clinical Pastoral Education Programs?
CPE Chaplain Intern Program
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, as well as prior ministry involvement or experience as clergy or laity. To apply:
- Complete the ACPE application and provide three references.
- Complete an admissions interview with an ACPE Certified Educator and the CPE Leadership Team.
- Obtain a positive health clearance from Employee Health.
- Pass the required Children’s criminal background check prior to the start of the program.
CPE Chaplain Resident Program
Candidates must have a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university, ordination or ministry experience as clergy or laity and should have successfully completed one unit of ACPE CPE (Level 1A). To apply:
- Complete the ACPE application and provide three references.
- Complete an admissions interview with an ACPE Certified Educator and the CPE Leadership Team.
- Obtain a positive health clearance from Employee Health.
- Pass the required Children’s criminal background check prior to the start of the program.
CPE Certified Educator Candidate
Admission to the local ACPE Accredited Center includes the following criteria:
- A completed Application for Certified Educator Programs.
- College degree.
- Graduate theological degree or its equivalent.
- Ordination or commissioning to function as a spiritual care provider by an appropriate religious/spiritual authority as determined by ACPE. Individuals whose spiritual or religious community do not have ordination should email certification@acpe.edu for more information.
- Endorsement/statement of accountability from an appropriate religious/spiritual authority, as determined by ACPE.
- Successful completion of a minimum of four units of Level I/Level II ACPE CPE.
- Demonstration of spiritual care and conceptual competence as evidenced by the attainment/completion of Level I/Level II Outcomes.
To submit your completed application and references, please submit the $60 application fee and email your completed application to CPE@choa.org.
For more information about our Clinical Pastoral Education Program, email CPE@choa.org.
Rev. Amanda A. N. Alexander, MDiv
ACPE Certified Educator
Clinical Pastoral Education Program Manager
Rev. Jason Ranke, MDiv, CCSH-RC, BCC
Lead Chaplain
ACPE Certified Educator Candidate
For more information on ACPE, please contact ACPE, Inc.:
1 Concourse Pkwy, Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 404-320-1472
Fax: 404-320-0849