Online Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
Coming June 2027
Grow Personally. Develop Professionally. Prepare for Chaplaincy.
New Beginnings Christian Education is preparing to offer an online Clinical Pastoral Education opportunity beginning in June 2027. This learning experience is designed for individuals who want to deepen their capacity for spiritual care, strengthen their pastoral identity, and grow in both personal awareness and professional ministry practice.
Professional spiritual care formation through reflection, supervision, and real ministry experience
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a professional ministry training experience that brings together theological reflection, spiritual care, supervised clinical practice, and personal growth. Students learn not only through instruction, but also through guided reflection on real encounters with patients, families, and others receiving spiritual care.
CPE helps individuals develop deeper self-awareness, stronger pastoral identity, and greater effectiveness in ministry. It is widely valued by those preparing for chaplaincy and by ministers who want to strengthen their ability to care for people in times of crisis, grief, illness, transition, and spiritual need.
- Deeper self-awareness and pastoral identity
- Guided theological reflection on real care encounters
- Supervised ministry experience in approved settings
- Growth in spiritual care, presence, and professional readiness
A multi-faith training partner committed to chaplaincy, formation, and spiritual care
The online CPE opportunity is being developed in partnership with the Institute for Clinical Pastoral Training (ICPT), a multi-faith educational community focused on preparing individuals for meaningful spiritual care and chaplaincy service.
ICPT’s approach combines academic learning, reflection, supervision, and ministry practice in ways that help students grow both personally and professionally. This partnership supports a structured learning experience designed to strengthen pastoral identity, deepen self-awareness, and prepare participants for real-life caregiving environments.
Accreditation and Recognition
Trusted training partnership and recognized standards
This online CPE opportunity is offered through a trusted training partnership and is supported by recognized educational and professional standards. These affiliations help provide students with a structured pathway for meaningful formation, supervised learning, and professional spiritual care development.
ACCET Accredited
ICPT is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
BCCI Certification Pathways
Students pursuing chaplain certification should review the current requirements of their certifying body, including BCCI, to determine how CPE units may apply toward certification pathways.
VA-Accepted CPE Provider Listing
ICPT is listed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs among accepted CPE unit providers for applicable VA chaplain qualification pathways.
CPE Educator Leadership
The June 2027 online unit will be led by Benita K. Hairston-Gorham through ICPT.
The program is built around one 400-hour CPE unit
This online CPE structure blends education, reflection, supervision, and clinical ministry so that participants grow in both understanding and practice.
100 hours of education and formation
Participants engage in online instruction, peer-group learning, case studies, theological reflection, and individual supervision. This portion of the program is designed to strengthen pastoral awareness, professional identity, and ministry insight.
300 hours of clinical ministry
Participants complete supervised spiritual care in approved settings where they can apply what they are learning in real ministry and caregiving environments.
Clinical hours may be completed in a current ministry setting, hospital, hospice, prison, skilled-nursing or assisted-living facility, or community organization. Depending on the setting, these hours may be fulfilled through either paid or volunteer service.
A learning process that develops both personal insight and ministry practice
CPE is more than a classroom experience. It is a guided process of reflection, supervision, ministry engagement, and growth that helps participants become more present, effective, and discerning in spiritual care.
Online didactic learning
Structured instruction provides theological, pastoral, and professional foundations for spiritual care practice.
Peer-group learning
Participants learn with others through shared dialogue, discussion, and collaborative reflection.
Individual supervision
Regular supervisory guidance supports personal growth, ministry development, and professional formation.
Clinical ministry practice
Students apply their learning directly in approved ministry and caregiving settings.
Case studies and reflection
Participants reflect on real encounters in order to deepen understanding, awareness, and pastoral response.
Personal and professional formation
CPE encourages growth in identity, self-awareness, spiritual maturity, and pastoral effectiveness.
CPE is not limited to hospital settings. Its value extends to many ministry, caregiving, and community environments where compassionate presence and spiritual care are needed.
CPE can serve a wide range of ministry and spiritual care callings
Clinical Pastoral Education is valuable for those preparing for chaplaincy, those already serving in ministry, and those seeking greater self-awareness, stronger pastoral presence, and more effective spiritual care in real-life settings.
- Chaplains and aspiring chaplains
- Pastors and ministers
- Seminary and theological students
- Healthcare and hospice spiritual care providers
- Military and VA chaplains
- Correctional chaplains
- Police, fire, and community spiritual caregivers
- Others seeking deeper pastoral effectiveness and personal formation
Coming June 2027
Interested in the June 2027 online CPE unit?
New Beginnings Christian Education plans to begin offering this online Clinical Pastoral Education learning opportunity through ICPT in June 2027. Additional details regarding dates, application requirements, clinical site expectations, tuition, and enrollment procedures will be shared as they become available.
A closer look at the value of Clinical Pastoral Education
Clinical Pastoral Education helps shape the heart, presence, and pastoral effectiveness of those who care for others in moments of need. It is not only about gaining knowledge, but about growing in self-awareness, spiritual care, theological reflection, and ministry readiness.
This short video offers a broader perspective on the value of CPE and why this kind of training matters in chaplaincy, caregiving, and ministry settings.