CPE program types & requirements

Aurora Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs and requirements vary by region. Contact us for more information.

Full-time residency

General information
Aurora CPE offers year-long, full-time residencies at 2 levels. Both programs challenge students to integrate theological studies with hands-on spiritual care.

CPE Level I addresses the fundamentals of pastoral formation, competence and reflection through 1 or more program units focusing on these outcomes.
CPE Level II addresses the development and integration of pastoral formation, competence and reflection, with the goal of professional certification and/or admission to Supervisory CPE. The residency involves 2 or more program units leading to these outcomes.

Eligibility
This program currently accepts first-year residents.

Duration
Begins the first Tuesday after Labor Day and continues through the following August. Application review for each fall program begins in February of that year.

Compensation and benefits
Residents are paid a stipend, get paid time off and can purchase health and dental insurance.

Locations
Aurora Health Care Metro, Inc. offers CPE Level I/Level II residencies in the Milwaukee metro area at:

Year-long residencies are also available at Advocate Health hospital sites in Illinois.

Aurora program requirements

Completed ACPE application
Successful completion of 1 unit of CPE
Three letters of reference
Master of Theology degree or equivalent
Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
On-site interview with CPE screening committee

CPE tuition and fee schedule

See the tuition and fee schedule for Advocate CPE interns, residents and certified educators.

View tuition and fees

Certified educator fellowship

General information
Aurora CPE offers a multi-year, full-time, 2-level program (student and certified educator candidate) for students seeking certification by the ACPE as a CPE Certified Educator. The program provides students with demonstrated pastoral, professional and clinical competence the opportunity to learn the art, theory and practice of supervision of CPE. This program is subject to availability, based on position vacancy.

Compensation and benefits
Fellows are paid a stipend, get paid time off and can purchase health and dental insurance.

Locations
Aurora Health Care Metro, Inc. offers the Certified Educator Fellowship in the Milwaukee metro area at:

Certified Educator fellowships (Supervisory CPE) are also available at Advocate Health hospital sites in Illinois.

Aurora program requirements

Completed ACPE Certified Educator Candidate application
Successful completion of a minimum of 4 units of CPE
Three letters of reference
Graduate degree(s) transcript(s)
Master of Theology degree or equivalent (72 hours)
On-site interview with CPE screening committee

CPE tuition and fee schedule

See the tuition and fee schedule for Advocate CPE interns, residents and certified educators.

View tuition and fees

Extended internship

General information
Aurora CPE offers part-time, unpaid internships for students or ministers interested in continuing education and vocational enhancement. Interns serve a minimum of 300 hours visiting patients and families to provide emotional and spiritual support, as well as providing this same support to hospital staff.

Compensation and benefits
This is an unpaid internship.

Locations (programs vary by region)

Aurora Health Care Metro, Inc. offers a part-time (2 days per week) program at locations in the Milwaukee metro area, including:

Aurora Kettle Moraine CPE offers a winter unit (October through March, 16–18 clinical hours/week for 19 weeks). For students who work in full-time ministry it is possible to use some of those hours towards the clinical hours. This unit also meets all day Thursdays in Oshkosh. Students serve as Chaplain Interns at locations in central and northern Wisconsin, including:

Advocate Health hospital sites in Illinois also offer CPE Extended Internship programs.

Aurora program requirements

Completed ACPE application
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred
Three letters of reference (for Milwaukee Metro internships), or three names of references (for Aurora Kettle Moraine internships)
Open to faith leaders and/or other laypersons
On-site interview with CPE staff

CPE Tuition and Fee Schedule

See the tuition and fee schedule for Advocate CPE interns, residents and certified educators.

View tuition and fees

Summer internship

General information
Aurora CPE offers full-time, summer internships that provide an introduction to pastoral care, pastoral identity and hospital ministry.

Eligibility
This program is open to seminary students, local ministers and lay ministers.

Duration
Dates vary. Contact us for more information.

Compensation and benefits
This is an unpaid internship.

Locations
Aurora Health Care Metro, Inc. offers summer internships at various sites throughout the Milwaukee Metro area. Contact our program for more information.

Aurora Kettle Moraine CPE offers a summer unit (May through August, 20–22 clinical hours/week for 14 weeks). For students who work in full-time ministry, it is possible to use some of those hours towards the clinical hours. This unit also meets all day Thursdays in Oshkosh. Students serve as Chaplain Interns at locations in central and northern Wisconsin, including:

Aurora program requirements

Completed ACPE application
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred
Completion of at least 1 year of seminary or equivalent
Three letters of reference (for Milwaukee Metro internships), or three names of references (for Aurora Kettle Moraine internships)
Open to faith leaders and/or other laypersons
On-site interview with CPE staff

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.

View forms & documents

Advocate Health CPE programs

Aurora’s merger with Advocate Health offers even more opportunities.

Explore Illinois CPE programs