CPE Learning Opportunities
At Spiritual Health at Emory Healthcare (SHEH), we offer a unique and creative environment where trainees engage in diverse activities of spiritual care, education, and research. We offer units of CPE for Level IA, Level IB, Level IIA, and Level IIB. Also, we offer Certified Educator CPE. Trainees enrolled in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program will receive the most comprehensive and diverse CPE experience in the Southeast.
Our year-long residency program offers focused opportunities to increase awareness in developing individual theologies and provides the opportunity to participate in research. At SHEH, Residents are placed at a clinical site for the year.
The educational aspect of the program is structured in small groups and individual supervision. Small group and individual sessions are led by ACPE Certified Educators. In these settings, clinical cases are shared and discussed utilizing the action/reflection/action format. The use of written accounts of the visits (verbatims) is a key tool in this type of reflective education. Trainees also receive opportunities for mentorship with staff chaplains assigned to the various units.
The diverse, well-trained SHEH faculty and supervisory staff provide excellent instruction and curriculum, and the accredited program accepts candidates from all faiths.
3 Steps to Apply
Fill out Application Form
Complete the Appropriate Form Below
CPE Internship and Residency ApplicationCertified Educator Candidate CPE Application
Submit Application
Email your completed application to Spiritual Health at Emory Healthcare using the link below.
Email ApplicationPay Application Fee
Pay the $60 application fee online. Application fee is non-refundable.
Pay Application Fee OnlineFrequently Asked Questions
2024 Summer* Intensive Intern Unit (FULL)
June 3, 2024 - August 16, 2024 (11 weeks)
- Emory University Hospital - FULL
- Emory Johns Creek Hospital - FULL
- Winship Cancer Institute - FULL
- Emory University Hospital Midtown - FULL
2024 Fall* Extended Intern Unit
September 9, 2024 - May 2, 2025 (31 weeks)
- Emory Johns Creek Hospital - FULL
- Emory Decatur Hospital
- Winship Cancer Institute
- Emory University Hospital Midtown
2024 - 25 Resident* Year Long Program
June 10, 2024 - June 6, 2025
- Emory University Hospital
- Emory University Hospital Midtown
- Emory Dekalb Operating Unit (Emory Decatur Hospital, Emory LTAC, and Emory Hillandale)
- Emory Johns Creek Hospital - FULL
- Winship Cancer Institute
* Given the current times of COVID 19, there remains many unknown factors that continue to unfold related to this public health crisis. We are hopeful that we will be able to offer CPE as planned. Please feel free to be in touch with us about any questions.
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological trainees and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, trainees develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships.
For Internship Units of CPE: An individual who, through a written application and an admissions interview, has demonstrated the ability to participate in CPE, usually one who has or is successfully completing at least one year of theological school.
For Residency of CPE: An individual who has successfully completed at least one unit of CPE. And completed or will complete by the start of residency year a theological master’s degree (preferably a Master of Divinity degree).
The “CPE application” and “CPE Certified Educator Candidate application” can be printed from these links or you can download the application from the ACPE website. Please be sure to read the application instructions. Explain any items that may be missing from your application submission.
You may email your completed application to:
Email all applications to shcpe@emory.edu and inform us that your application fee will be paid online.
If you have any questions about submitting an application, please call Brenda Lopez at 404-686-2764 or email shcpe@emory.edu
The application fee is $60 and is non-refundable.
Emory University Hospital
Va' Nechia Rayford, Director of Spiritual Health
Emory University Hospital is a facility which serves nearly 20,000 patients from all over the world every year. It is an approximately 523-bed tertiary care facility which provides highly specialized emergency medical and surgical care. Emory offers expertise in over 100 specialties and sub-specialties with focuses on the following: Cardiac Care, Transplantation, Oncology,Diagnostic Technology and Neuroscience.
Emory Johns Creek Hospital
Timothy Park, Director of Spiritual Health
Emory Johns Creek Hospital is a 110-bed hospital featuring some of the most advanced medical technologies available. Serving the city of Johns Creek and the surrounding communities, EmoryJ ohns Creek Hospital offers a full range of services, including Emergency Services staffed with board-certified emergency physicians, surgery, cardiology, oncology, advanced imaging capabilities and intensive care.
Emory University Hospital Midtown
Bridget Piggue, Director of Spiritual Health
Emory Midtown is a 511-bed acute care teaching facility located in downtown Atlanta. The hospital offers a full range of services which includes general medicine, maternal and infant care, orthopedics, and surgery. The patient services include: four adult intensive care units; level III neonatal intensive care unit; The Carlyle Fraser Heart Center, a nationally recognized heart center; an acute pain service and a labor, delivery and recovery unit.
Emory Dekalb Operating Unit
Elizabeth Jackson-Jordan, Director of Spiritual Health
CG Gim, Manager of Spiritual Health Education
Founded in 1961, Emory Decatur Hospital offers a variety of premier services, including joint replacement, surgical weight loss, mammography, cancer treatment, heartburn solutions, a Medical Fitness Association Certified wellness center, and more. The Maternity Center is the first in Georgia to receive the international "Baby-Friendly" hospital designation. Emory Decatur Hospital is also a certified Primary Stroke Center. This operating unit has 627 licensed beds located on three campuses which include Emory Decatur Hospital (EDH), Emory Hillandale Hospital (EHH) and Emory Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC).
Emory Wesley Woods Center
Eugene Robinson, Director of Spiritual Health
Wesley Woods Geriatric Center is made up of facilities which serve geriatric patients who are in independent living, assisted living and nursing home levels of care. It includes a 100-bed specialty facility, an outpatient primary care clinic geared to geriatric patients, a 195-bed nursing care facility, a 201-unit residential retirement facility, and a 22 bed assisted living facility. Wesley Woods is well known for its care of depression, Alzheimer's disease, movement disorders, and rehabilitation.
Spiritual Health Online Program (Internship Only)
Maurice Appelbaum, ACPE Certified Educator
Spiritual Health Online Program is a program for trainees who are unable to complete a CPE unit from an ACPE accredited center in a traditional way. All trainees will be supervised by a preceptor at their participating clinical placement site and ACPE Certified Educator (Maurice Appelbaum) with weekly group sessions.
The Spiritual Health Online Program tuition is $1,200 for each unit of CPE. However, tuition is waived for the residency program and in-person internship units.
Tuition is not refundable after the first week. A refund of $250 is given if the withdrawal occurs during the first week of the unit.
International trainees should apply to the center of their choice. The ACPE office will work with you, but the following deadlines will assure you timely attention:
January 1: accepting international interns for summer and submission of all materials to ACPE
March 1: accepting international interns for August-September-October unit and submission of all materials to ACPE
ACPE is not authorized to process a change of visa status request for international trainees currently in the United States. All visa certificates that are issued must be approved at a U.S. Embassy in the trainee's home country. Additional considerations are discussed on the International Trainee information page.
If you have additional questions about ACPE's international student visitor program, contact Kimberly Yates in the ACPE office.
No, ACPE credit is not granted for previous work experience. However, your previous work/ministry experience will be considered during the interview/acceptance process.
We are required to hold your final evaluation for ten (10) years. For this reason, we encourage everyone coming through our program to maintain a copy of their evaluation.
- Competitive compensation including access to Emory health insurance benefits
- Paid vacation/sick leave and holidays
- Tuition waived
- Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) provided by Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics®
- Spiritual Health Research literacy opportunities
- Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health (CCSH™) training
There is a Student Affiliate level of membership with CPE. Membership with ACPE allows you the opportunity to participate in the National and Regional conferences and subscribe to The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling and the ACPE New, a quarterly newsletter. Log on to the ACPE website to retrieve the membership application