Each civilian chaplain pursuing healthcare ministry should have one year (4 quarters) of Clinical Pastoral Education/CPE or its equivalent. Military chaplains are encouraged to do the same, although they are given equivalent training in the services which includes self-understanding and pastoral care alongside clergy of other faith groups.
Minimum educational requirements for endorsement as CCCC Civilian & Military Chaplains:
- Bachelor’s degree of 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) undergraduate credits (or the equivalent) from a qualifying educational institution listed in the current edition of the American Council on Education (ACE) Accrediting Institutions of Post-secondary Education. If the school attended is not listed in the ACE Directory, all credits earned must be transferable to a school maintaining such listing.
- The applicant must possess a Master of Divinity degree, or equivalent theological degree earned in residence (90 hours), or have the equivalent of graduate-level study in theology or related subjects, leading to ordination and endorsement that will quality the candidate to successfully perform the professional functions as a chaplain.
- All post-graduate educational requirements must be completed in an institution that is an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools, or accredited by a regional accrediting agency or association listed in the Directory. If the school attended is not listed in the ATS directory, all credits earned must be transferable to a school maintaining such listing.
- Note: Military chaplaincy requirements often change; it is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the branch they are considering to determine the most recent data regarding acquisitions.
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