Clinical Pastoral Education
Explore life, learning, ministry
Learn spiritual care in a multi-faith setting through our hospital-based ministry and reflection in seminars and didactics. We welcome people of all faiths and spiritual traditions who want to develop their knowledge and skills as spiritual care providers.
What is Clinical Pastoral Education?
For many people, hospitalizations can be a time of stress, worry and fear of the unknown. Hospital chaplains offer a compassionate listening presence for patients, families and staff to express how they’re feeling and safely name their hopes and fears, regardless of their religious or spiritual beliefs.
Clinical Pastoral Education is an intensive, small-group learning program for lay or ordained religious leaders seeking to develop clinical skills and the ability to provide spiritual care in a health care setting. Our programs are open to people of any faith or spiritual background who have a vocational desire to support the spiritual needs of others and a passion to learn.
Aurora is an accredited center for Clinical Pastoral Education and the units are registered with the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. Units can be used for Board certification as a chaplain, parish ministry, ordination/seminary requirements, and pastoral counseling.
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Aurora Health is a component site of Aurora Health CPE, accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) for Level I, Level II and Certified Educator CPE.
Program types
Aurora offers a variety of CPE programs in diverse health care settings. Under the guidance of Certified Educators and peers, you’ll participate in patient care and group seminars to develop greater self-awareness and foster personal and professional growth.
Programs vary by location and include:
- Residency
- Certified Educator Program
- Summer Internship (as Certified Educator staffing allows, please email yonason.meadows@aah.org)
- Extended Internship (as Certified Educator staffing allows, please email yonason.meadows@aah.org)
Learn about Aurora CPE program types
Program locations
Aurora Health CPE offers Clinical Pastoral Education programs at Aurora component hospital sites in:
- Southeastern Wisconsin (the Greater Milwaukee area)
- Central and northern Wisconsin (from Marinette County to Waukesha County, including Green Bay, Sheboygan, Oshkosh and Grafton)
- Illinois (at various Advocate hospital sites)
Programs vary by location.
Accreditation
Aurora Health Care Metro, Inc. CPE and Aurora Kettle Moraine programs offer Clinical Pastoral Education as component sites of Aurora Health CPE, which has been accredited by the:
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education
1 Concourse Pkwy, Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30328
404-320-1472
The ACPE Accreditation Commission is recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE).
Educators
An experienced and dynamic faculty team supervises patient care, facilitates group seminars and provides education and emotional support.
Meet our faculty and certified educators
Diversity
Diversity and inclusion are core values of Aurora Health Care and the CPE Center. Our patients, volunteers and caregivers come from all walks of life and many different backgrounds.
Whether you experience CPE in an urban or community hospital, a medical center or an outpatient clinic, you’ll be touched, shaped and changed by your interactions.
Read the Aurora Health Diversity & Inclusion Impact Report [PDF]
Apply to the program
Learn how to apply to an Aurora Clinical Pastoral Education program.
Apply to Clinical Pastoral Education at Aurora
Forms documents
Find privacy policies and required forms for the Aurora CPE program.
Advocate Health CPE programs
Aurora’s merger with Advocate Health offers even more opportunities.
Welcome to the neighborhood
Aurora’s broad and integrated system affords you new educational opportunities and new places to explore all over eastern Wisconsin.