Formation through supervised practice

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is theological education practiced in the lived encounter — at a bedside, in a ward, in the room where someone is hurting. You offer spiritual care, then bring those encounters back to a peer group and a certified supervisor who help you notice what you missed. The Celtic tradition calls such a person an anam cara — a soul friend. CPE forms that kind of companion into practice.

Tuition is $1,375 per 12-week intensive unit and covers 400 total hours: 300 clinical hours and 100 educational hours of supervision, group sessions, and didactics. Textbooks and technology ($25–$75 per unit) can be purchased separately. Alternatively, students can purchase SCC Premium during their application process for highly discounted rates on materials, free courses, and other training resources. Anam Cara does not offer payment plans or financial assistance; students may use PayPal Credit to apply for 0% financing for 6 months.

Each unit is 400 total hours: 300 clinical hours and 100 educational hours. Students complete the 300 clinical hours over the 12 weeks — an average of 25 hours per week — through paid or volunteer work at an approved clinical site they arrange in their local context. Clinical sites might include hospitals, hospice, church or parish, corrections, senior living, long-term care, non-profits, parachurch ministries, police, or first responder settings.

Each unit is a 12-week intensive in an online-hybrid format. Sessions and supervision are online; students complete their clinical hours at a local on-site context they arrange themselves. Plan on roughly 25 clinical hours per week plus the educational hours of group sessions, didactics, and written reflection.

Deadlines vary by cohort. See Program Options for current dates and the next available term.

After you submit your application, a supervisor reads it and reaches out within about five days to schedule a conversational interview, virtual or in person. Decisions are typically returned within one week of the interview.

No. SCC Premium is optional and never a condition of admission. It is $199 annually. Students in an SCC program — Anam Cara, CISF, or Sacred Life — can join for $125 as a first-year student discount during their application process.

Asynchronous affinity-based courses (hospice, corrections, military) are included in your premium membership, along with discounts on books and other resources, and lifetime access to our Board Certified Chaplain Writing Preparation Course ($1,300 value). One payment covers all materials needed across the four units required for board certification.

Yes — it's always available for $199. Applicants in an SCC program (Anam Cara, CISF, or Sacred Life) can join for $125, but only during the application process.

Premium is an annual membership ($199). The $125 first-year student discount is available during the application process for students in an SCC program; renewal is at the standard $199 rate.

Yes. The application offers an equally visible path to continue without Premium, with no extra steps or friction. Declining Premium never affects your admission.

No — textbooks and technology ($25–$75 per unit) are separate from tuition. You can purchase them per unit. Alternatively, students can purchase SCC Premium during their application process for highly discounted rates on materials, free courses, and other training resources — one payment covers all four units required for board certification. See Tuition & Costs for details.

Anam Cara CPE is an affiliate of CPE International (CPEI). CPEI is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). See the About page for details.

A high school diploma or equivalent is required, along with a willingness to bring your whole self into the work of care — your training, your faith or doubt, your questions and your story. No specific faith affiliation is required.

Limited deferrals are possible with supervisor approval and seat availability. Contact admissions to discuss.

Tuition refunds follow a published schedule based on withdrawal date. No deposit is required to confirm your seat. See Tuition & Fees.

Yes, subject to placement and visa considerations. Contact admissions early to discuss feasibility.