Program Dates
Levels of CPE Offered
Beginning in January 2024, all new students will begin CPE at Level 1a according to the New ACPE Outcomes and Indicators and proceed according to the ACPE Student Achievement policy. Students who have completed CPE units previously may begin at a different level based on the ACPE Certified Educator's assessment; this level will be communicated in the admissions letter. Ascension St. Vincent Hospital is accredited to offer Levels 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b by ACPE.
Spring 2025 Extended Program (Indianapolis)
Five days of orientation (January 6 to 10)
Following orientation, 15 hours of chaplaincy care per week and 4 hours of group education.
Group education on Wednesdays, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
Four hours per week, and six eight hour weekend Chaplain on Duty shifts also required at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital (Indianapolis).
The other ten hours per week of chaplaincy care could be done at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital (Indianapolis), Anderson, Kokomo or outside facility by a signed clinical placement agreement.
Applications now being received/reviewed (September 2024)
One unit of ACPE credit
Spring 2025 Extended Program (Clinical Placement in Evansville)
15 hours per week of clinical practice, plus three 8 hour weekend shifts through a signed clinical placement agreement at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville.
Group education on Wednesdays, 12:00-4:00 Central Time; on three occasions this will extend to a whole day 9 am-5 pm.
Priority to applicants completing clinical hours at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville, other outside clinical placements available by request
Applications now being received/reviewed (updated September 2024); will make decision by December 15, 2024 about whether we have sufficient students to run the unit
One unit of ACPE credit
Summer 2025 Intensive Program
May 27 to August 8, 2025This full time program (40 hours a week) is intended primarily for seminarians as part of their ordination process and for others -lay and ordained- who want to hone their ministry or chaplaincy skills. All clinical hours will be at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital.
Applications now being received/will be reviewed starting in December 2025.
One unit of ACPE credit
2025-2026 Chaplain Residency
Residents are paid a stipend of $43,488 and are overtime-exempt, benefit eligible associates for one year. Residents serve five eight hour shifts a week (40 hours), one of those shifts being a night or weekend eight hour shift every 2-3 weeks. Three units of ACPE credit, starting at Level 1b.
One completed unit of CPE (ACPE Accredited Preferred) and a Graduate Theological Degree which meets requirements for Board Certification either complete or in process to be completed within two years of residency graduation is required as a pre-requisite.
Tuition of $150.00 per unit ($450 for the year)
Applications now being received will be reviewed beginning January 2025.
Diversity and Inclusion
Our CPE Program is committed to practicing the Ascension Core Value of Reverence: Honoring the Dignity and Diversity of Life.
We see diversity of all kinds as a strength and central to our vision that spiritual care leaders contribute to healthier communities, defining healthier communities as ones that "welcome diversity, practice inclusion at every level and have a holistic understanding of wellness."
We are inspired by the Ascension ABIDE Hallmarks and invite students to critically reflect on their own practice of spiritual care as well as our CPE program offerings in this light.