Clinical Pastoral Education Partnership

Christian Leaders Institute (CLI) partners with The Chaplains Academy of Christian Chaplains & Coaching to provide students with access to Christ-centered Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). This partnership combines biblical formation, professional pastoral-care education, supervised ministry practice, and practical application.

Educational Pathway

The Chaplains Academy offers four progressive Clinical Pastoral Education courses: CPE 511, CPE 512, CPE 513, and CPE 514. Each unit requires 150 hours of coursework and 300 hours of supervised clinical experience, for 450 total hours over a 16-week academic term. The Academy awards 10 academic credits for each CPE course. Any credits accepted toward a CLI program are subject to CLI policies and the academic partnership agreement.

Biblically Rooted Learning

The CPE curriculum integrates a Biblical Christian worldview with professional spiritual care, action-reflection learning, ethics, cultural sensitivity, and compassionate service to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Educators, Coaching and Clinical Experience

Experienced CPE Supervisor Educator-Coaches provide education, clinical supervision, mentoring, and personal Christian Life Coaching. Clinical experience may take place in approved ministry settings, including hospitals, hospice, elder care, first responder organizations, correctional settings, disaster response, workplaces, and churches. The Chaplains Academy reviews clinical-site arrangements with students.

CPE Recognition and Approval

The Chaplains Academy of Christian Chaplains & Coaching Clinical Pastoral Education program is accepted and approved by the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) and the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), and is accepted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Graduates of the Academy’s CPE program may be considered for Board Certification by major chaplaincy certification agencies, including EBCC, ACCC, BCCI/APC, NAVAC, and SCA, subject to each agency’s current eligibility and application requirements. Completion of CPE does not guarantee Board Certification.

Tuition and Fees

CPE tuition per unit: $1,300. Technology and Library Fee per unit: $375. Total per unit: $1,675. New applicants also pay a non-refundable $60 application and background check fee. Background-check costs may be higher in some regions. Additional payment-processing charges may apply depending on payment method. For current policies and details, please visit The Chaplains Academy CPE page.

Learn More and Apply

Explore the CPE program at https://www.chaplainsacademy.org/cpe-detail-page. 

View the current academic calendar at https://www.chaplainsacademy.org/academic-calendar-cpe-and-scc.

Ready to apply? Use the CPE New Student Application on this Christian Leaders Institute website.