CPEI Certification Standards

CS-1: Ecclesiastical or Faith Group Endorsement

Ecclesiastical or faith group endorsement is a written statement from a designated endorsing or approving organization that affirms an individual is in good standing and accountable to the faith group or denomination.  Faith group or denominational endorsement is a condition of Certification with CPEI.
This website will identify the approved ecclesiastical / faith group endorsing agencies: https://prhome.defense.gov/M-RA/MPP/AFCB/Endorsements/
If in question, please contact the Chair of the Certification Committee.

CS-2: Educational Accrediting Institutions

The Certification Committee seeks to affirm individuals that have met the requirements from accredited educational institutions; however, non-accredited institutions will be taken into consideration.

CS-3: Educational Equivalences

Persons who are seeking equivalency for education should adhere to the following and provide the required documentation by completing the form found here.

CS-4: Required Clinical Pastoral Education Units/Courses

  1. Certificate in Chaplaincy- One course
  2. Board Certified Associate Chaplain- A bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree with a minimum of (36 hours) and four courses in Clinical Pastoral Education.
  3. Board Certified Chaplain- four courses in Clinical Pastoral Education.
  4. Supervisor-Educator- four courses in Clinical Pastoral Education and four courses of Supervisory Education.
  5. Equivalency: individuals may apply for equivalency CPE, but only one course will be accepted and applied. Individuals can use this form.

CS-5: Reciprocity for Certification

  1. Individuals certified and in good standing with another professional organization may apply for reciprocity.
  2. Applications for Certification will be reviewed by the Chair or Co-Chairs for Chaplains or Supervisors for approval or request additional information.
  3. If approved, the approving chair for Chaplaincy or Supervision will submit the approval report which can be found here and provide the applicant with the letter of approval and a certificate
  4. Supervisors applying for reciprocity are required to complete a background check and submit a copy of the report with the application materials. Although other background check information can be submitted, CPEI recommends Clear Checks (Basic Search) Clear Checks 
  1. Individuals approved for reciprocity as a Supervisor-Educator or Training Supervisor-Educator will also be required to complete the CPEI Reciprocity Courses to better understand CPEI’s method of operating.
  2. Supervisor-educators or Training Supervisors-Educators joining CPEI and desiring to provide supervision will be required to review and sign the Memorandum of Understanding for CPEI Affiliate Organizations. The MOU replaces the self-study requirements previously required by CPEI.

CS-6: Submission of Materials

  1. Completed applications must be submitted a minimum of 60 days in advance of the time to be reviewed.
  2. Review of applications occurs during the months of February, May, August, and November.
  3. Incomplete or poorly written materials will be returned.

CS-7: Demonstrate Effective Personal, Professional and Pastoral Care Skills (Chaplain Certification (CC)

CC:1.0- Identify significant turning points, past hurts, disappointments, and successes in life which impact one’s personal, pastoral, and professional identity as well as the awareness of one’s strengths and limitations.

CC:1.1- Articulate the ability provide meaningful pastoral care to others in crisis, and describe one’s feelings, attitudes, values, and assumptions.

CC:1.2-Demonstrate in written and verbal discussions an awareness of one’s faith development and its integration into one’s theory of pastoral care.

CC:1.3-Identify potential ethical issues in the practice of ministry and the role as an advocate for clients/patients, families, and staff.

CC:1.4-Discuss one’s self-care plan for spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.

CC:2.0-Articulate a clear pastoral care theory which describes one’s approach in addressing spiritual and human development issues.

CC:2.1-Demonstrate the ability to center self and engage individuals with confidence while setting aside personal and religious agendas and utilize one’s professional authority as appropriate.

CC:2.2-Discuss the ability to conduct a spiritual/pastoral assessment and develop an appropriate pastoral intervention.

CC:2.3-Articulate the ability to consult, collaborate, and communicate with healthcare and other professionals.

CC:2.4-Describe one’s ability to establish a meaningful pastoral relationship with persons from diverse cultural and theological backgrounds.

CC:3.0-Demonstrate the ability to assess systemic principles and/or group dynamics in relating to and providing pastoral care.

CC:3.1-Communicate the ability to identify human development and spiritual issues while providing meaningful spiritual care to others, which contributes to the well-being of others. This could include but is not limited to psychological or emotional issues such as grief and loss, domestic violence, and anger.

CC:4.0- Demonstrate competency in oral and written communication, which reflects graduate-level work. Use of APA, Turabian, or a similar format.

CC:5.0-Present in a manner that reflects professional behavior, including appropriate attire and a confidential setting for the review.

CS-8: Certification Standards for Supervisor-Educators

SC:1.1-Articulate knowledge of pastoral supervision and the supervisory process.

SC:1.2-Demonstrate an awareness of supervisory literature

SC:1.3-Demonstrate the ability to integrate theory and knowledge in supervisory practice.

SC:1.4-Describe the ability to use critical relationships for consultation and support.

SC:2.0-Demonstrate the ability to integrate theory and knowledge in supervisory practice.

SC:2.1-Demonstrate the ability to assist in student development and evaluation.

SC:2.2-Demonstrate the ability to practice ethical supervision.

SC:3.0-Articulate an awareness of the administration and management of CPE.

SC:4.0-Discuss spiritual, emotional, and physical self-care.

SC:4.1-Demonstrate the ability to engage others for consultation and support.

SC:4.2-Demonstrate self-awareness as well as professional and pastoral identity as a   supervisor-educator.

SC:5.0-Demonstrate oral and written communication competency, reflecting graduate-level work. Use of APA, Turabian, or a similar format.

SC 5.1-Present in a manner that reflects professional behavior, including appropriate attire and a confidential setting for the review.

CS-9: Payment of Annual Fees and Continued Education Requirements

Certified members are required to renew their fees annually by November 1 and submit their continuing education hours by December 15.

  1. 10 Continuing education (CE) hours for chaplains
  2. 15 continuing education (CE) hours for supervisors-educators
  3. Participate in an ongoing collegial relationship with other pastoral clinicians for consultation, peer-review, support, and encouragement.

CS-10: Certification-Non-Approval, Removal of Status and Appeals

One of the goals of certification is to ensure to the public that an individual has successfully met the requirements to perform the duties ascribed to one’s profession. To maintain the highest order of certified individuals to represent the profession the following guidelines have been established.

Persons applying for certification as a chaplain, or a supervisor-educator should not assume that certification is automatic. The requirements are spelled out in this manual and must be met in both written and oral communication.

Certification Non-Approval

  1. Chaplain Non-Approval Status
    The Certification Committee assesses each applicant based on their fulfillment of the competencies (CC: 1.0-CC: 5.0) required as well as the presentation of self to a review committee. Applicants are assessed by each reviewer using a 5-Point Likert scale (Strongly Agree-5 to Strongly Disagree-1).
      a. The Interview Assessment is graded as follows:
         1) Points 70-56: Passed without comments.
         2) Points 55-40: Provisionally passed with specific comments: The applicant must schedule a follow-up meeting with the Certification Committee within the year to address the concerns identified.
         3) Points 39-Below: Candidate did not pass with comments. The applicant must schedule a follow-up meeting with the Certification Committee within the year to address the concerns identified.
       b. Repeat Certification Reviews
         1) Applicants are allowed three visits before the Certification Committee. A fee is charged for each visit.
         2) Applicants that fail to meet the requirements for certification have two options:
              a) Wait a minimum of one year to reapply.
              b) Commit to enrolling in at least one or more additional course of CPE as guided by the Certification Committee. After completion of the                    additional course(s) reapply.
         3) Applicants that fail after repeating additional courses of CPE will no longer be considered for certification.
  1. Supervisor-Educator Non-Approval Status
    The Certification Committee assesses each applicant based on their fulfillment of the competencies (SS: 1.1-SS: 5.1) required as well as the presentation of self to a review committee. Applicants are assessed by each reviewer using a 5-Point Likert scale (Strongly Agree-5 to Strongly Disagree-1).
       c. The Interview Assessment is graded as follows:
         1) Points 60-46: Passed without comments.
         2) Points 45-30: Provisionally passed with specific comments: The applicant must schedule a follow-up meeting with the Certification Committee within the year to address the concerns identified.
         3) Points 29-Below: Candidate did not pass with comments. The applicant must schedule a follow-up meeting with the Certification Committee within the year to address the concerns identified.
       d. Repeat Certification Reviews
         1) Applicants are allowed three visits before the Certification Committee. A fee is charged for each visit.
         2) Applicants that fail to meet the requirements for certification after three reviews have two options:
              a) Wait a minimum of one year to reapply.
              b) Commit to enrolling in one or more additional courses of Supervisory Education as guided by the Certification Committee. After completion of the additional course(s) reapply.
         3) Applicants that fail after repeating additional courses of CPE will no longer be considered for certification.


Removal of Certification

CPEI recognizes the removal of certification is a serious decision and will not take it lightly. Any actions involving this type of decision must be coordinated between the Certification and Ethics Committees with the applicant being informed in writing.

Removal of Certification can occur for the following reasons:

  1. Failure to abide by CPEI’s Code of Professional Ethics.
  2. Failure to complete the required annual continuing education requirements.
  3. Failure to maintain ecclesiastical endorsement.
  4. Failure to pay annual certification renewal fees.

CS-11: Certification Appeals Process

Individuals seeking to appeal decisions by the Certification Committee may submit their request using the CPEI Appeal Form.