FAQs About Credentialing

Credentialing is the formal recognition that a chaplain or spiritual care professional meets CPEI’s standards for education, training, competency, and ethical practice.

CPEI offers several professional credentials, including:

• Board Certified Associate Chaplain (BCAC)
• Board Certified Chaplain (BCC)
• Supervisor-Educator (SE)
• Training Supervisor-Educator (TSE)
• Supervisor-Educator Emeritus

Credentialing can help you:

• Demonstrate professional competence in spiritual care
• Strengthen credibility with employers and institutions
• Show commitment to ethical and accountable pastoral practice
• Support career advancement in chaplaincy and leadership
• Connect with a professional community of chaplains and educators

Applicants for Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) certification generally need:

• A graduate theological degree of at least 72 hours, or equivalent
• Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (1600 hours)
• An ecclesiastical or religious endorsement
• Required application materials, including essays and evaluations

Board Certified Associate Chaplain (BCAC) generally requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent plus four units of CPE. Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) requires a graduate theological degree or equivalent plus four units of CPE.

Yes. 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.

Application materials typically include:

• A professional recommendation letter
• An ecclesiastical or religious endorsement
• A background check, when required
• A resume or CV
• Academic transcripts
• CPE final evaluations
• Competency essays
• A recent case study
• An integrated autobiography

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.

Yes, 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. 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, the candidate is scheduled for a credentialing interview.

The credentialing application fee is $249. Candidates should consult the current application materials for the most up-to-date fee information.

The timeline varies depending on when you apply, whether your application materials are complete, and when the next credentialing review dates are scheduled. It is helpful to begin preparing your documents well in advance.

CPEI generally has multiple credentialing cycles during the year. Candidates should review the current application schedule and deadlines when planning their submission.

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:

1. Confirmation that your application has been received
2. Review of your written materials
3. Possible feedback before the interview
4. A credentialing interview with a review panel
5. Notification of the outcome or any next steps

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 your readiness for certification and support your 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.

Candidates are evaluated using 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:

• Personal and spiritual development
• Theology of pastoral care
• Ethical decision-making
• Spiritual assessment and intervention
• Care for people in crisis, grief, and trauma
• Use of supervision and collegial relationships
• Leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Oral and written communication

It is helpful to:

• Review your submitted essays and case study carefully
• Be ready to discuss your pastoral care practice and theology
• Reflect on your growth, strengths, and learning edges
• Choose a professional setting for the interview with reliable technology
• Approach the conversation with openness, clarity, and professionalism

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 you strengthen your candidacy.

Yes. Credentialed members are expected to maintain ethical standards, complete continuing education, and fulfill annual requirements such as fees and other professional expectations.

Credentialed chaplains may pursue opportunities in settings such as:

• Hospitals and healthcare systems
• Hospice and palliative care
• Correctional and public safety settings
• Military and veteran-related settings
• Behavioral health and community care
• Education, supervision, and leadership roles

Yes. Credentialing can strengthen professional credibility, support advancement, and demonstrate that you meet recognized standards for chaplaincy and spiritual care practice.