Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Anam Cara

What Is CPE?

Clinical Pastoral Education isn’t just another class.

It’s a transformational process that shapes who you are as a caregiver.

It's also a clinical requirement for professional certification as a chaplain.

Through CPE, you learn to enter spaces marked by grief, trauma, transition, or uncertainty—not to fix or rush past the pain, but to stand there with clarity, trust, and spiritual depth. It’s where care becomes craft, and calling becomes credibility.

One unit of CPE combines 300 clinical hours with 100 educational hours over 12 weeks.

The 300 clinical hours happen in your ministry context—hospital, hospice, military unit, prison, shelter, congregation, or community program. You’ll serve about 25 hours per week, offering real spiritual care in real moments of need. You won’t just watch from the sidelines. You’ll be the one sitting at the bedside, listening to hard stories, navigating spiritual questions, and showing up when it matters most—under the guidance of a trained supervisor.

The 100 educational hours give those encounters depth and meaning. Each week, you’ll join a 3-hour live Zoom session with your peer cohort and facilitator where you bring the week’s encounters into the light. You'll explore:

  • How your family history and personal experiences shape your reactions.

  • How your theology of God, humanity, and suffering emerges in the room.

  • How culture, identity, and spiritual background affect the care you offer.

  • What your emotional responses—grief, frustration, hope, compassion—are teaching you about yourself.

The remaining educational hours include individual supervision, case study presentations, targeted reading, and reflective writing. It’s a space for honest reflection and shared learning—integrating the inner work with the outer work—so your care is not just skilled, but deeply rooted.

Investment

CPE is more than a credential—it’s a season of intentional formation that changes how you show up for others and for yourself.

The skills, habits, and self-awareness you develop here will stay with you long after the unit ends. You’ll leave with:

  • Professional credibility – CPE is the gold standard for chaplaincy preparation and is required for board certification.

  • Integrated care – The ability to respond to people of all backgrounds with spiritual depth, emotional intelligence, and cultural humility.

  • Sustainable ministry practices – Learning to offer care without burning out, so you can serve for the long haul.

Registration: One-time $300 fee gets the process started.

Tuition: $1,375 per unit.

Payment plans are available, and we’re committed to financial transparency—no hidden costs, no surprises.

Still Have Questions?

Join a Live Information Session to meet our team, hear more about the program, and get your questions answered in real time.

Accreditation

Anam Cara CPE is an affiliate of Clinical Pastoral Education International (CPEI).

CPEI is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)