Clinical Pastoral Education - Frequently Asked Questions

CPE is experience‐based spiritual education and formation for seminarians, clergy and lay persons of diverse cultures, ethnic groups, faith traditions or spiritual expressions.
 

In CPE, you'll join other people currently in ministry or who are preparing for it. Some may be health care professionals looking to supplement their work pastorally. CPE welcomes qualified persons across all faith traditions and spiritual expressions. 

"Clinical" describes the basic methodology of CPE, which is reflecting on your experience. Some people call it "process education" and describe it with three simple steps:

• Experience
• Reflect
• Act

"What did you learn?" is a common question you'll hear in CPE. 

"Clinical" also refers to your ministry site for your Clinical Hours. Residency, which can be at Mercy Hospital Springfield or Mercy Hospital South. For extended and summer CPE, more locations are available across the Mercy system throughout Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. You'll provide pastoral care at your clinical site, a key component of your learning.
 

Through our new virtual CPE program, you can also arrange an acceptable ministry site near you, participating in classroom education online.

Mercy's CPE program has been accredited since 1974. The program is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), making it one of 350 ACPE‐accredited CPE centers in the U.S. Mercy's CPE program is accredited to offer Level I and Level II CPE as well as virtual CPE. 

Mercy is accredited to offer Level I, Level II and Certified Educator Candidate:
 

• Level I CPE – addresses the fundamentals through five key areas:
  • Spiritual formation and integration
  • Awareness of self and others
  • Relational dynamics
  • Spiritual care interventions
  • Professional development
• Level II CPE – develops the five key areas to a level that allows participants to pursue professional certification as a chaplain and/or Educator CPE
• Certified Educator Candidate – incorporates educational theory and practice following the educational contract and format of Mercy CPE (not currently accepting new applicants)

Learn more about Mercy's CPE program offerings by visiting this page.

According to ACPE Standards, a unit of CPE is at least 100 hours of structured group and individual education. Each unit includes approximately 300 hours of supervised clinical practice in ministry. The combined time should be no less than 400 hours.

Within any unit of Level I or Level II CPE, you'll be a part of a peer group (minimum of three people but usually more) who learn from case studies, critique and feedback on your practice of ministry. Peer groups will also critique each other's verbatims, which are word‐by‐word reviews of a pastoral visit.
 

You'll work with a qualified supervisor who is first and foremost a pastoral educator, a companion in your own pastoral formation process. This educator has pastoral experience and a Master of Divinity or the equivalent. By certifying as a CPE educator, he/she has pursued three to six years of post-graduate work.
 

Students will meet with their CPE educator for about an hour each week, during which time they'll discuss ministry events, personal issues, theological questions, peer relationships or any other experiences that might impact their ministry and/or their pastoral identity. 

Ordination is not required for CPE. Since CPE is a graduate-level program, preferred applicants will have completed a bachelor's degree and at least half of the coursework for a master's degree appropriate for chaplaincy (theology, pastoral ministry, divinity, etc.). 
 

For spiritual traditions with leadership development based in apprenticeship or mentoring, educational equivalency that meets standards for board certification will also be considered. For all CPE programs, the Mercy Pastoral Education Center looks for applicants who are active and established in their faith tradition, and who have been in service in some way in their local faith community. 

Each application requires a $50 non-refundable application fee. Tuition for the program is set at either $650 or $3,500 (virtual CPE) per unit. 

At the present time, we have no available scholarships. You may be able to receive financial support through your faith community. Mercy caregivers may be eligible for continuing education funds through Mercy University. 

Mercy is not currently accepting new admissions for either second year residency or Certified Educator Candidates. You may be able to find an offering through the ACPE website.

You can complete a Mercy CPE application or general inquiry by completing this online form.
 

Once you complete your application (including application fee, references and essays), it will be reviewed for accuracy and quality. If deemed a candidate for the program, you'll be contacted for an interview to:

• Discuss your application materials
• Ask any questions you have about CPE, specifically concerning Mercy's program
• Decide whether this program is a good fit for you 

Through our new virtual CPE program, launched in September 2025, it is possible to do clinical work at alternative sites with approval from the CPE Educator.
 

To be approved, a clinical site must be able to provide:

• 300 hours of spiritual care visits over the course of the unit
• On-site mentoring by a qualified individual
• A site placement agreement

Details of this arrangement are unique to each situation.

Mercy's CPE program sites can't provide housing. Students are responsible for arranging their own housing prior to beginning their program.

Mercy is unable to assist with or sponsor any visa applications. We don't provide visa sponsorship for employment and/or educational purposes, which includes our CPE program.
 

All applicants must have the necessary authorization to work and/or study in the relevant jurisdiction at the time of their application. 

The CPE curriculum at Mercy is designed with both APC and NACC Standards in mind, as well as those of the accrediting body, ACPE. Alumni of Mercy's program have successfully achieved both NACC and APC chaplain certification.

Students meet with their CPE educator for about an hour during which they discuss ministry events, personal issues, theological questions, peer relationships, or any other experiences that might have an impact on their ministry and/or their pastoral identity.

The extended units run over 17 weeks or 9 months. The 17 week units require 6 hours of educational time per week, individual supervision, and an average of 18 hours per week of patient care. The 9 month units require 3 hours of educational time per week, individual supervision, and an average of 8 hours per week of patient care. Patient care is on site at a Mercy facility

This is a full time 11-week program. Group and clinical work and individual supervision will be Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The student will also work with a staff chaplain on a pre-determined number of weekend days, evening, or nights to provide pastoral care throughout the hospital.

The residency is a 12-month, full time program. Group and clinical work and individual supervision will be Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students also provide weekend and night coverage in rotation with staff chaplains. 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.

Mercy currently offers 4 positions in Springfield, 4 in Oklahoma City, and 4 at Mercy South in St. Louis.

An on-site interview is preferred. Arrangements can be made for a video interview.

Second year residency for current Mercy residents are considered case by case. We do not currently accept new admissions to a second year residency. You may be able to find an offering through the ACPE website, www.acpe.edu. 

The first day you will join new Mercy coworkers for orientation to the ministry, history, and values of the organization. You will receive orientation to your clinical site from department staff before you begin to see patients on your own.

For the summer and the extended unit there is no stipend. The CPE Residency pays a stipend, computed at $17.50/hr. subject to state and federal withholdings. CPE residents also receive benefits at the same rates as other Mercy coworkers. A person in Educator CPE receives Mercy coworker benefits and earns a salary in the range for chaplains at Mercy.

The following websites provide information that can be downloaded:

• Association for Professional Chaplains (APC) www.apchaplains.org
• National Association for Catholic Chaplains (NACC) www.nacc.org
  
• National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) www.najc.org
• The National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (NAVAC) www.navac.net

Information can be downloaded from the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) website at www.acpe.edu.

CPE is offered at Mercy Southeast (Cape Girardeau, MO), Mercy Jefferson, Mercy South, Mercy Washington, Mercy St. Louis, Mercy Springfield, Mercy Joplin, Mercy Ada, Mercy Ardmore, Mercy Lebanon, Mercy Ft. Smith, and Mercy Northwest Arkansas (Rogers, AR). Current Resident openings are on the application.

The CPE curriculum at Mercy is designed with both APC and NACC Standards in mind, as well as those of the accrediting body, ACPE. When you successfully complete a residency at Mercy, you have at least four units of CPE, which are required for certification. Alumni of Mercy’s program have successfully achieved both NACC and APC chaplain certification.

As in most fields, the answer is mixed. If you are willing to relocate, you will have more possibilities. People who complete Mercy’s residency program have a good track record on employment.

There are many educator positions that become available every year across the USA. You may have to relocate. Mercy educators will support Educator CPE students at the end of their program with their job search with contacts, resume and cover letter review, and coaching.

Mercy’s CPE program is accredited through:
 

ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education
1 Concourse Pkwy, Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30328 

(404) 320-1472
Email: acpe@acpe.edu.
Web: www.acpe.edu