CPEI Development
Answers to common questions about professional development, continuing education, IACET CEUs, Cadres, annual reporting, and professional growth at CPEI.
Frequently Asked Questions
CPEI professional development supports chaplains, supervisor-educators, supervisory candidates, students, members, and spiritual care professionals through continuing education, peer consultation, Cadres, IACET CEU opportunities, and professional learning resources.
These FAQs provide a general overview. Specific professional development requirements, forms, deadlines, and processes may be updated by CPEI as programs and reporting systems continue to develop.
Parthenia Caesar
Professional Development Chair
parthenia@cpei.edu
Dr. Kay Myers
Co-Chair, Complaince
core@cpei.edu
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Basic questions about CPEI professional development and who it supports.
Professional development at CPEI refers to ongoing learning and growth beyond initial education or credentialing. It may include continuing education, Cadre participation, peer consultation, workshops, conferences, research, writing, presentations, online learning, and other chaplaincy or spiritual care-related activities.
Professional development is important for chaplains, supervisor-educators, supervisory candidates, students, CPEI members, and spiritual care professionals who want to continue strengthening their practice, leadership, reflection, and professional accountability.
Ongoing professional development helps spiritual care professionals remain current, ethical, reflective, responsive, and connected to a wider community of practice. It also supports lifelong learning and continued formation throughout a professional career.
No. Some annual documentation expectations apply to credentialed professionals, but professional development is valuable for students, candidates, members, educators, chaplains, and others engaged in spiritual care learning or practice.
Questions about contact hours, annual expectations, and qualifying learning activities.
CPEI credentialed chaplains document at least 10 contact hours annually. CPEI Supervisor-Educators and CPEI Training Supervisor-Educators document at least 15 contact hours annually.
Continuing education may include formal courses, non-degree training, conferences, workshops, seminars, webinars, distance learning, research, self-study, writing, presentations, course creation, scholarly reading, connection groups, Cadre participation, and other chaplaincy or spiritual care-related learning activities.
Yes. Continuing education claimed for professional development should relate to chaplaincy, spiritual care, supervision, education, ethics, leadership, or other professional areas that strengthen spiritual care practice.
Scholarly books or articles related to chaplaincy or spiritual care may count when they support professional learning. Members should document the reading, explain how it relates to professional practice, and track the time claimed according to CPEI reporting expectations.
Yes, when connected to chaplaincy or spiritual care-related professional work. Presentations, writing, course creation, research, and educational leadership may support professional development when appropriately documented.
Questions about IACET, CEUs, contact hours, and compliance.
IACET is a continuing education standard-setting organization. CPEI’s IACET approval supports recognized continuing education practices, CEU processes, and quality-focused professional learning.
Contact hours document time spent in learning activities. CEUs are a recognized continuing education measure for eligible learning experiences. CPEI may refer to both contact hours and IACET CEUs depending on the activity, reporting requirement, or program structure.
Questions related to IACET or compliance may be directed to Dr. Kay Myers, IACET & Compliance Contact, at core@cpei.edu.
Not necessarily. Some professional development activities may count as contact hours or professional learning but may not be offered as IACET CEUs. CPEI will identify eligible IACET CEU opportunities when applicable.
Questions about Cadres, peer learning, case consultation, and professional support.
A CPEI Cadre is a small professional development group that supports connection, consultation, continuing education, best-practice sharing, professional growth, and communication between CPEI and members.
No. Cadres may feel similar to a chapter because they create a smaller community within CPEI, but their primary purpose is professional development. Cadres support peer learning, consultation, continuing education, professional accountability, relationship-building, and member support.
Cadres may meet for clinical case discussion, peer consultation, professional development planning, continuing education review, relationship-building, best-practice sharing, communication of CPEI updates, and support for members’ professional growth.
Cadres have identified leaders who help coordinate meetings, communication, member participation, and annual reporting. Cadre leadership and structure may vary as CPEI continues to refine the Cadre system.
Cadres are intended to be small enough for meaningful participation, conversation, support, and accountability. Specific size and structure may be determined through CPEI’s Cadre process.
Yes. Members interested in forming a Cadre should contact CPEI’s Professional Development Chair for guidance about the Cadre process, leadership, membership, meeting structure, and approval steps.
Questions about annual reporting, documentation, deadlines, and Cadre reports.
Credentialed professionals are expected to document annual continuing education or professional development activity according to CPEI expectations. Documentation helps support accountability, compliance, and professional growth.
The annual Cadre Report materials identify a December annual reporting deadline. CPEI may update specific deadlines, forms, or reporting instructions, so members should follow current CPEI communications and forms.
Members should be prepared to describe the professional development activity, the date received or completed, the source of the learning, and the number of contact hours claimed. Cadre leaders may also document member participation, meeting hours, meeting frequency, agendas, professional development plans, concerns, successes, and achievements.
A Cadre leader may report the Cadre name or number, leader contact information, active members, continuing education credits claimed, meeting hours, number of meetings, regular agenda items, professional development plans, concerns, and successes or achievements.
Yes. Members should keep their own records of continuing education and professional development activities, including dates, descriptions, sources, and contact hours, so they can complete annual documentation accurately.
Questions about who to contact and where to go next.
Contact Parthenia Caesar, Professional Development Chair, at parthenia@cpei.edu.
Contact Dr. Kay Myers, IACET & Compliance Contact, at core@cpei.edu.
Start with the Professional Development Overview page, then review CPEI Cadres and Professional Development Programs for current or developing opportunities.
Professional development announcements, events, learning opportunities, and program updates may be posted on the Professional Development Programs page as this section develops.
Contact CPEI for questions about continuing education, Cadres, IACET CEUs, annual reporting, or professional development opportunities.