CPEI Credentialing
Find answers to common questions about CPEI credentialing, including eligibility, application requirements, review panels, timelines, fees, endorsement, and maintaining your credentials after certification.
Credentialing is the formal recognition that a chaplain, spiritual care professional, or supervisor-educator meets CPEI’s standards for education, training, competency, and ethical practice.
CPEI offers several professional credentials, including:
Credentialing can help you:
No. Completing CPEI coursework or a CPEI certificate program does not guarantee employment or credentialing. Candidates must meet the credentialing requirements, submit the required materials, and successfully complete the credentialing review process.
Board Certified Associate Chaplain (BCAC) generally requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent plus four units of Clinical Pastoral Education. Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) generally requires graduate theological education or equivalent plus four units of Clinical Pastoral Education.
Applicants for Board Certified Associate Chaplain certification generally need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent preparation, four units of Clinical Pastoral Education, required application materials, and successful completion of the credentialing review process.
Applicants for Board Certified Chaplain certification generally need:
Yes. Chaplain credentialing candidates must provide an endorsement from a recognized ecclesiastical or religious body affirming that they are in good standing and accountable to their faith tradition or endorsing agency.
A recommendation letter is not the same as an ecclesiastical or religious endorsement.
Candidates should first contact their faith group directly to determine whether it provides formal ecclesiastical or religious endorsement for chaplaincy. Candidates should also confirm whether that endorsement will be accepted by the employer, certifying body, or professional pathway they are pursuing.
CPEI may consider other endorsing agencies, but endorsing agencies outside an approved or recognized list may not be accepted by potential employers or certifying bodies.
Application materials may include:
No. CPEI does not grant exemptions for previous ministry experience, prior chaplaincy work, or other experiential learning in place of required CPE or supervisory education requirements.
Transfer credit may be considered. Applicants should submit official transcripts, preferably, or a certificate of completion from a pastoral care cognate organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an active COMISS member. Transfer requests are reviewed by CPEI.
No. Acceptance of CPEI coursework by another organization is always determined by the receiving institution, employer, certifying body, or professional organization. Transferability cannot be guaranteed.
Candidates complete the appropriate application through CPEI, submit all required written materials, and pay the application fee. Once materials are received and reviewed, eligible candidates are scheduled for a credentialing interview.
The credentialing application fee is $249. Candidates should review the current application materials and Credentialing Fees page for the most up-to-date information.
The timeline varies depending on when you apply, whether your application materials are complete, and when the next credentialing review dates are scheduled. Candidates are encouraged to begin preparing documents well before the application deadline.
CPEI generally follows three credentialing cycles:
Candidates should confirm current dates and requirements before applying.
No. Certification is not automatic. Candidates must demonstrate that they meet CPEI’s standards through their written materials and credentialing interview.
After submission, the process generally includes:
The review panel meeting is typically conducted by video conference. Panel members will already have reviewed your written materials and will ask questions about your pastoral care practice, theology, professional identity, ethics, and competencies.
The conversation is intended to assess readiness for certification and support professional growth.
The panel typically includes a reviewer and additional panel interviewers who are credentialed at or above the level for which the candidate is applying. To avoid conflicts of interest, past CPE supervisors-educators, training supervisors-educators, and CPE or SEC peers do not sit on a candidate’s review board.
Candidates are evaluated through a competency-based assessment process that considers both written materials and the interview. Reviewers assess whether the candidate meets the standards for certification at the level sought.
Competencies may include areas such as:
It is helpful to:
If the panel determines that additional work is needed, you may be asked to revise materials, address identified areas for improvement, and return for a future review. Feedback is intended to help candidates strengthen their readiness.
Supervisor-Educator certification recognizes qualified chaplains who are prepared to supervise, teach, evaluate, and form students in Clinical Pastoral Education.
Training Supervisor-Educator certification recognizes experienced Supervisor-Educators who are prepared to train and mentor Supervisor-Educator candidates.
Yes. Supervisor-Educator candidates should review the Credentialing Manual carefully. Requirements may include evidence of chaplaincy credentialing, supervisory education, supervisory theory and practice materials, evaluations, and a supervisory review process.
Yes. Credentialed members are expected to maintain ethical standards, complete annual continuing education, fulfill applicable annual fee requirements, maintain endorsement when required, and remain in good standing with CPEI expectations.
Chaplains are expected to complete at least 1.0 IACET CEUs or 10 contact hours per year. Supervisor-Educators and Training Supervisor-Educators are expected to complete at least 1.5 IACET CEUs or 15 contact hours per year.
Yes. Credentialed members are expected to participate in at least one credentialing review annually. This helps support the integrity of the credentialing process and keeps members connected to CPEI’s competencies and standards.
If annual requirements are not completed, the member may no longer be able to represent themselves as credentialed by CPEI. Additional documentation, review, fees, or reapplication may be required depending on the circumstances.
Credentialed chaplains may pursue opportunities in settings such as:
Yes. Credentialing can strengthen professional credibility, support advancement, and demonstrate that you meet recognized standards for chaplaincy and spiritual care practice.
Credentialing requirements can vary depending on your education, CPE history, endorsement, professional background, and credentialing pathway. Candidates should review the Credentialing Manual before applying.
Review the Credentialing Manual, confirm your pathway, and prepare your application materials before submitting your application.