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Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE)

The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) is a multicultural, multifaith organization devoted to providing education and improving the quality of ministry and pastoral care offered by spiritual caregivers of all faiths through the clinical educational methods of Clinical Pastoral Education.

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) started in 1925 as a form of theological education that takes place not exclusively in academic classrooms, but also in clinical settings where ministry is being practiced. CPE is offered in many kinds of settings:

• In hospitals and healthcare facilities including private, university, military, and veterans
• In prisons and correctional institutions
• In parishes and congregations
• In hospices and other places that care for the dying
• In psychiatric facilities and community care
• In business, industry and other workplace settings
• In retirement homes and geriatric centers
• In rehabilitation centers such as those for physical illness and injury as well as those working with the addicted
• In communities, both urban and rural

The textbooks for CPE include in-depth study of "the living human documents." By "living human documents," we mean both the people who receive care as well as a study of ourselves, the givers of care. Through the practice of ministry and the reflection thereon with supervisor and peers, the experiential learning that is CPE takes place.

Among the 3,300 members that make up the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education are some 350 ACPE Accredited CPE Centers and about 600 ACPE certified faculty members (called CPE Supervisors). There are 118 Theological Schools Members and 15 Faith Groups who are partners with ACPE in seeking to provide excellence in theological education. Other groups of ACPE members are clinical members, students, individuals, retired supervisors, retired members, and ACPE networks.

Since ACPE formed in 1967 (as a merger of four CPE organizations), nearly 150,000 units of CPE have been offered to about 65,000 individuals from the United States and many other countries internationally. CPE students come from many different ethnic and cultural groups. Individuals from many faith traditions - Protestant, Roman Catholic, Judaism, Islam, Orthodox Christian, Native American religions and Buddhism - have taken CPE.

On-line applications are available through the ACPE, Inc. Web site at www.acpe.edu.