About CPEI
Clinical Pastoral Education International is part of a long tradition of learning through supervised practice, reflection, and compassionate care. CPEI carries that tradition forward through accessible, high-quality online and hybrid clinical pastoral education.
Clinical Roots
Clinical Pastoral Education emerged in the early twentieth century as theological educators, physicians, and ministry leaders began exploring how to connect classroom learning with real-world care.
Rev. Anton T. Boisen, a Presbyterian minister and pioneer of clinical pastoral training, emphasized learning through engagement with what he called “living human documents” — the real experiences of people facing illness, crisis, grief, and spiritual struggle.
In 1925, at Worcester State Hospital in Massachusetts, Boisen began supervising theological students who served in a clinical setting and gathered for reflection, seminars, and supervised learning. Around the same period, Dr. Richard Cabot of Harvard Medical School helped shape a case-study model of clinical training that emphasized observation, documentation, and interdisciplinary learning.
Together, these early efforts helped lay the foundation for modern clinical pastoral education: learning through practice, reflection, supervision, and the integration of theology, identity, and care.
CPE is rooted in the belief that meaningful spiritual care is formed through direct experience, careful reflection, supervision, and the integration of theology, identity, and practice.
CPEI’s story is connected to the broader history of clinical pastoral education while also reflecting a new chapter in access, innovation, accreditation, and international learning.
Anton Boisen begins supervising theological students at Worcester State Hospital, helping shape a model of learning from direct clinical experience and reflection.
Leaders in theology and medicine form the Council for Clinical Training to support and organize this emerging approach to ministerial education.
Several clinical training groups unite to form the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, helping standardize CPE training across hospitals, correctional institutions, congregations, and other ministry settings.
Clinical Pastoral Education International is established in Florida as a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to quality clinical pastoral education.
CPEI becomes accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training and authorized to issue IACET Continuing Education Units.
CPEI becomes accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
CPEI continues expanding professional pathways through recognition, approval, and acceptance by organizations including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, APC/BCCI, NACC, NAVAC, and others.
CPEI advances clinical pastoral education through accredited programs, professional credentialing, continuing education, Cadres, affiliates, partnerships, and innovative online and hybrid learning environments.
CPEI was founded to make rigorous, life-transforming clinical pastoral education more accessible to students, chaplains, educators, and ministry professionals across diverse settings.
From the Beginning
Accessible Learning
CPEI’s programs combine experiential ministry with online and hybrid learning, allowing students to participate in accredited CPE while serving in hospitals, hospices, correctional institutions, congregations, community ministries, and other care settings.
People, Community & Formation
CPEI’s history is not only institutional. It is also the story of students, educators, chaplains, credentialed members, affiliates, partners, and supporters learning together in community.
Students
CPEI students engage in supervised learning, peer reflection, and clinical practice that supports personal formation and professional growth.
Educators
Supervisor-educators help students integrate theology, identity, practice, self-awareness, and ethical spiritual care in real-world settings.
Affiliates
CPEI affiliates and partners extend clinical pastoral education into hospitals, hospices, congregations, correctional settings, community ministries, and other care environments.
Members
Credentialed chaplains, supervisor-educators, and members support professional standards, continuing education, peer review, and the next generation of spiritual care providers.
Recent recognitions, approvals, and partnerships strengthen professional pathways for CPEI students, graduates, affiliates, and members.
Accreditation
CPEI is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA.
Continuing Education
CPEI is accredited by IACET and authorized to issue IACET Continuing Education Units for eligible learning activities.
Veterans
CPEI is approved for VA Educational Benefits for eligible students enrolled in preparatory CPE and SEC courses.
Certification
CPEI is approved by the Association of Professional Chaplains and the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. as a provider of CPE toward board certification.
Professional Pathways
CPEI’s CPE units are recognized, accepted, or connected to additional chaplaincy certification pathways through NACC, NAVAC, EBCC, and related partners.
Looking Ahead
Guided by its mission, CPEI equips chaplains and spiritual care professionals to serve with compassion and competence across diverse settings. Together with students, faculty, members, affiliates, and partners, CPEI continues to strengthen the practice of spiritual care and prepare professionals who listen deeply and serve with presence.
Expanding high-quality CPE through online and hybrid learning.
Supporting reflective practice, supervision, and spiritual care identity.
Connecting students, educators, members, affiliates, and partners.
Learn more about CPEI’s mission, educational programs, accreditation, and professional community.