Clinical Pastoral Education

Full-time, twelve (12)-month, four-unit CPE program from early September to late August. Intended for persons aiming at a level of competence that permits them to attain professional board certification as chaplains and/or admission to Educator CPE , or serve as congregational spiritual care specialists.

Pre-requisites:

• Education: Preference on selection will be given to students who have at least 36 hours of theological education toward a master’s degree, or the equivalent combination of apprenticeship/mentoring and experience according to their faith tradition that would meet standards for board certification.
  
• Experience: Pastoral experience.
• Skills and knowledge: appropriate to, and sufficient for, expectations and realities of the program. Evidenced in application materials, interview, and references.

Stipend and Benefits:

CPE Residents receive a stipend and benefits. They are Mercy coworkers for the time that they are in the program.

Tuition:

Unit 1: $400., Unit 2: $300., Unit 3: $200., Unit 4: $100., payable at the beginning of the respective unit, unless financial payment plan is worked out in advance with CPE Educator.

Calendar:

Clinical responsibilities continue between units and through holidays. Residents receive 21 days of paid-time off which includes holidays, sick days, and vacation.

Applications are accepted year-round and are considered in the order in which they are received. Interviews begin in January. Programs close when they are full (around April or May, typically). Application fee $25.00 non-refundable.

Certification:

Consult  www.acpe.edu for Educator CPE process and requirements.

Full-time, 11-week, program from early June to August. One unit of CPE. Intended for seminarians as part of their ordination process and for other qualified persons—lay and ordained—who wish to discern their future ministry options, hone their ministry skills, or prepare to do a CPE residency.

Pre-requisites:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or other professional designation; e.g. RN, with sufficient theological background for program.
• Experience: Pastoral experience sufficient for program.
• Skills and knowledge: appropriate to, and sufficient for, expectations and realities of the program. Evidenced in application materials, interview, and references.

Stipend and Benefits:

No stipend.

Tuition:

$500 per CPE unit, $200 for current Mercy co-workers, payable at the beginning of the unit, unless financial payment plan is worked out in advance with CPE Educator.

Calendar:

A summer unit will be offered in 2023.

The program is full at this time for the 11 weeks of its duration. July 4 is a holiday.

Applications are accepted after October 1 of the previous year. Application deadline: when program is full. Application fee $25.00 non-refundable.

The Certification Process is designed as a developmental, competency-based approach to learning. Evaluation of CECs/CESs is ongoing and is grounded in clearly articulated competencies that are required to successfully engage in our work. Competency-based learning utilizes systems of instruction, assessment and reporting that are based on students demonstrating that they have learned the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through the process.

Three-year Timeline

Certified Educator Student (Year 1): Demonstration of Level I & II Objectives & Outcomes, ACPE Admission Portfolio Completion, successful ACPE admission to candidacy interview
 

Certified Educator Candidate (Years 2 & 3): Completion of Phase I and Phase II Competencies of the ACPE certification process, plus all ACPE required support. Written evaluations every 6 months of the process. More information on competencies and certification process is available at https://acpe.edu/programs/cpe-educator-certification. 

Requirements:

• Education: graduate theological degree (Master of Divinity) or education/apprenticeship/mentoring appropriate for endorsement from the student’s faith tradition and equivalent for board certification
• Experience: leadership in a spiritual/religious community; ordination, license, or standing suitable for endorsement from a faith tradition recognized for board certification
• CPE requirements: completed ACPE applications are accepted anytime, 4-6 units of CPE with student & educator evaluations, demonstration of spiritual care and conceptual competence as evidenced by the attainment/completion of level I/level II outcomes
• Skills and Knowledge: evaluation of the competencies for admission to a certified educator program

Stipend and Benefits: stipend and benefits available according to budget designation. Students are Mercy co-workers for the time that they are in the program.

Tuition: based on APCE requirements

Certification: not required but preferred - consult  www.nacc.org or www.apchaplains.org for chaplain board certification 

Part-time program for CPE Interns who arrange for a clinical place, with approval of the CPE Educator, outside of the Mercy Health Ministry. The program seeks to accommodate persons with commitments (e.g. job or profession) that do not permit fulltime CPE. Students are accepted as space is available in the summer or extended units.

Pre-requisites:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or other professional designation; e.g. RN, with sufficient theological background for program. 
• Experience: Pastoral experience sufficient for program.
• Skills and knowledge: appropriate to, and sufficient for, expectations and realities of the program. Evidenced in application materials, interview, and references.

Stipend and Benefits:

No stipend or benefits are offered for this program.

Tuition:

$1200 per CPE unit, payable at the beginning of the unit, unless financial payment plan is worked out in advance with CPE Educator.  

Applications are accepted year-round. Application deadline: when program is full. 

Application fee is waived since we cannot guarantee a positions is available.

Calendar:

Online CPE coincides with the dates for the Summer Internship and Extended Units.

Supervisory Residency – Will consider any applications on merit if stipend is available.

Residency, 2023-2024

September 5, 2023 - August 16, 2024  (Start date subject to change)
We are accepting application currently.

Clinical locations: Mercy Hospital Springfield, Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City, Mercy Hospital St. Louis, Mercy South Hospital (St. Louis)
Application deadline: 60 days prior to start date (Programs are typically full by early summer. After May 31, email [email protected] to confirm availability before sending application and fee payment.)
Application Fee: $25, non-refundable
Units of CPE: 4
Tuition: Unit 1: $400, Unit 2: $300, Unit 3: $200, Unit 1: $100; Deposit: $200
Stipend: Yes

Summer Internship Unit 2023

June 3, 2023 - August 16, 2024 (start date subject to change)
Clinical Location: Any hospital in the Mercy system. Openings for online students with clinical placements outside of Mercy may be available.
Applications accepted year-round until positions are filled.
Application Deadline: 60 DAYS PRIOR TO START DATE
Application Fee: $25, non-refundable
Units of CPE: 1
Tuition: $500 for placements within the Mercy system. $1200 for online students. $200 for current Mercy co-workers.
Stipend: No

Extended Internship Unit 2023

September 5, 2023 - May 31, 2024 - (9 months)
Email [email protected] for information about the 17-week programs that could be offered in the fall and spring.
Clinical Location: Any hospital in the Mercy system. Openings for online students with clinical placements outside of Mercy may be available.
Educational hours will be provided virtually      
Applications accepted year-round until positions are filled.
Application Deadline: 60 DAYS PRIOR TO START DATE
Application Fee: $25, non-refundable
Units of CPE: 1
Tuition: $500 for placements within the Mercy system. $1200 for online students. $200 for current Mercy co-workers.
Stipend: No

Online Students 2023

Clinical Location: Student arranged with approval from Mercy educator
Coincides with summer or extended units
Applications accepted year-round until positions are filled.
Application Deadline: 60 DAYS PRIOR TO START DATE
Application Fee: None
Units of CPE: 1
Online Tuition: $1200, Deposit: $200
Stipend: No

Part-time, 17-week or 9-month program for CPE Interns serving at institutions with the Mercy Health Ministry. The program seeks to accommodate persons with commitments (e.g. job or profession) that do not permit fulltime CPE.

Pre-requisites:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or other professional designation; e.g. RN, with sufficient theological background for program. 
• Experience: Pastoral experience sufficient for program.
• Skills and knowledge: appropriate to, and sufficient for, expectations and realities of the program. Evidenced in application materials, interview, and references.

Stipend and Benefits:

No stipend.

Tuition:

$500 per CPE unit ($200 for current Mercy co-worker), payable at the beginning of the unit, unless financial payment plan is worked out in advance with CPE Educator.

Applications are accepted year-round. Application deadline: when program is full. Application fee $25.00 nonrefundable.

Calendar:

A 9-month extended unit will be offered beginning September 5, 2023 and running through May 31, 2023. Email [email protected] for information about the 17-week programs that may be offered in the fall and the spring.

Occasionally, Mercy offers a CPE extended unit offsite. The decision is based on need, interest, and availability of supervisory personnel. For information contact Center for Pastoral Education at 417-820-2735 or 405-752-3604.