Clinical Pastoral Education Programs

This is a full-time, 12-month, three-unit CPE program offered from early September to late August. It's intended for anyone looking to:

• Attain professional board-certification as a chaplain
• Enter our Educator CPE program
• Serve as a faith community spiritual care specialist

Prerequisites:

• Education: Preference will be given to students who have at least 36 hours of theological education toward a master's degree. We may also consider applicants who have an equivalent combination of mentoring and experience according to their faith tradition which meets the standards for board certification.
• Experience: Students must have one prequalifying CPE Unit (ACPE preferred).
• Work Residency: Mercy doesn't provide visa sponsorship for our CPE program. All applicants must be fully authorized to work and/or study in their chosen jurisdiction when they apply.
• Stipend and Benefits: CPE residents will receive a stipend and benefits. They're considered Mercy caregivers for the time they're enrolled in the program.

Tuition:

Once selected for the program, you'll need to place a $100 non-refundable holding fee, which will later be deducted from your tuition. Tuition is $650 and is payable at the beginning of your respective unit. Financial payment plans may be worked out in advance with approval from the CPE program coordinator and faculty.

Additional Info:

Clinical responsibilities will continue between units and over holidays. Residents will accrue paid time off (PTO), which can be applied toward holidays, sick days and vacations.

Applications are accepted year-round and will be considered in the order in which they're received. Interviews begin in January. Programs close when they're full. The application fee is $50 and is non-refundable.

This is a full-time, 12-week, one-unit CPE program offered from early June to August. It's intended for seminarians or other qualified persons (lay and ordained) looking to:

• Explore future ministry options
• Hone their ministry skills
• Prepare for a CPE residency

Prerequisites:

• Education: A bachelor's degree or other professional designation, such as RN, with sufficient theological background is required for the program.
• Experience: Faith group or community leadership experience is expected.
• Work Residency: Mercy doesn't provide visa sponsorship for our CPE program. All applicants must be fully authorized to work and/or study in their chosen jurisdiction when they apply.
• Stipend and Benefits: Unfortunately, we can't offer a stipend or benefits at this time.

Tuition:

Once selected for the program, you'll need to place a $100 non-refundable holding fee, which will later be deducted from your tuition. Tuition is $650 and is payable at the beginning of your respective unit. Financial payment plans may be worked out in advance with approval from the CPE program coordinator and faculty.

Additional Information:

Clinical hours are available through Mercy hospitals in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas.

Applications are accepted year-round and will be considered in the order in which they're received. Programs close when they're full. The application fee is $50 and is non-refundable. 

In this part-time, one-unit CPE program, students arrange for their own clinical placement, with approval from the CPE educator, outside of Mercy facilities. This program is primarily for people with other commitments which don't allow them to complete clinical hours at a Mercy hospital.
 

Prerequisites:

• Education: A bachelor's degree or other professional designation, such as RN, with sufficient theological background is required for the program.
• Experience: Faith group or community leadership experience is expected.
• Work Residency: Mercy doesn't provide visa sponsorship for our CPE program. All applicants must be fully authorized to work and/or study in their chosen jurisdiction when they apply.
• Stipend and Benefits: Unfortunately, we can't offer a stipend or benefits at this time.

Tuition:

Once selected for the program, you'll need to place a $500 non-refundable holding fee, which will later be deducted from your tuition. Tuition is $3,500 and is payable at the beginning of your respective unit. Financial payment plans may be worked out in advance with approval from the CPE program coordinator and faculty.

Additional Information:

Applications are accepted year-round and will be considered in the order in which they're received. Programs close when they're full. The application fee is $50 and is non-refundable.

This part-time, five-month program is for CPE interns serving at institutions within Mercy. This program is primarily for people with other commitments which don't allow them to enroll in full-time CPE.
 

Prerequisites:

• Education: A bachelor's degree or other professional designation, such as RN, with sufficient theological background is required for the program.
• Experience: Faith group or community leadership experience is expected.
• Work Residency: Mercy doesn't provide visa sponsorship for our CPE program. All applicants must be fully authorized to work and/or study in their chosen jurisdiction when they apply.
• Stipend and Benefits: Unfortunately, we can't offer a stipend or benefits at this time.

Tuition:

Once selected for the program, you'll need to place a $100 non-refundable holding fee, which will later be deducted from your tuition. Tuition is $650 and is payable at the beginning of your respective unit. Financial payment plans may be worked out in advance with approval from the CPE program coordinator and faculty.

Additional Information:

Applications are accepted year-round and will be considered in the order in which they're received. Programs close when they're full. The application fee is $50 and is 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.

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 (Typically years 2 to 4): 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

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