Clinical Pastoral Education

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Clinical Pastoral Education for Better Care

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is interfaith professional education for ministry. It is highly experiential and relationally based.

Students come to CPE from a variety of religious and professional backgrounds to learn spiritual care skills for serving others. CPE utilizes a process model of education where direct ministry encounters aid students in developing awareness of themselves and the needs of those to whom they provide care. Programs are offered in small groups (typically three to six people) within a supervised setting that has been accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.

If you would like to learn more about how to become a chaplain, visit ACPE's FAQ page.

CPE Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Andrea - Blessing of Hands Northwestern Memorial Hospital is a leading academic medical center located in Chicago, Illinois, with a 900-bed tertiary care medical and Level 1 trauma center.

Serving a diverse patient population within a lively urban setting offers students a dynamic, challenging and formational learning environment. Northwestern Memorial Hospital attracts patients from throughout the region and around the world due to its leading-edge treatments, breakthrough research and commitment to excellence.

Fostering a collaborative relationship between students and staff, the Spiritual Care Department aligns its values, professional practice and pedagogical approach with the mission of Northwestern Medicine.

View the Northwestern Medicine Spiritual Care Department’s mission, vision and attributes.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital Program Offerings

Programs	Begin Date	End Date	Tuition	Status
Year-Long Residency (Three Units)	August 21, 2024	August 30, 2025	$690 ($230 per unit)	Closed - Program Filled
Fall/Winter Extended	August 19, 2024	January 19, 2025	$500	Accepting Applications
Winter/Spring Extended	January 13, 2025	May 30, 2025	$500	Accepting Applications
Summer Intensive	June 3, 2024	August 18, 2024	$500	Closed - Program Filled

CPE Program at Central DuPage Hospital

Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital is a 400-bed acute care facility in Winfield, Illinois, that has been providing the DuPage County community with quality health care for more than 50 years. Central DuPage Hospital is a Level II Trauma Center with one of the most robust surgical programs in Illinois, and a regional destination for oncology, neurology, pediatric, orthopaedic, behavioral health and cardiovascular care. At Central DuPage Hospital, CPE students will encounter a wide range of clinical experiences from which to learn, grow and serve.

Central DuPage Hospital Program Offerings

Programs	Begin Date	End Date	Tuition	Status
Winter/Spring Extended (20 Weeks)	January 22, 2024	June 7, 2024	$500	Closed
Fall/Winter Extended (20 weeks)	September 3, 2024	January 17, 2025	$500	Accepting Applications

How to Apply

To apply to our year-long residency program, visit jobs.nm.org and complete the application online. Our Human Resources Department will contact you if they require additional information.

To apply to our extended or intensive internship programs, complete the ACPE application and email it to clinicalpastoral.education@nm.org. Please note your preferred learning site on the application.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital Mailing Address:
Spiritual Care and Education
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
211 East Ontario Street, Suite 550
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Central DuPage Hospital Mailing Address:
Gary Wilson, Spiritual Care and Education
Central DuPage Hospital
25 North Winfield Road
Winfield, Illinois 60189

If you are applying from outside the U.S., you can learn more about the International Student Visitor Program through the ACPE website.

Program Descriptions

Level-I CPE
Level-II CPE
Year-Long Residency
Certified Educator Training

Summer Intensive, Fall/Winter Extended, Winter/Spring Extended and Residency Unit No. 1 

Establishes the clinical method of learning (Action, Reflection and New Action) as a tool for deepening self-awareness and theological reflection, as well as improving upon foundational skills for spiritual care to diverse patient populations. 
Students identify personal learning goals and utilize the ACPE Level-I Outcomes to guide their development in areas of pastoral formation, pastoral competence and pastoral reflection.

Fall/Winter Extended, Winter/Spring Extended and CPE Residency Units  

Builds upon the foundational reflective work established in Level-I Outcomes by focusing upon the application of specific spiritual care skill sets with increasing levels of self-supervision. 
Students at this level are expected to assume greater pastoral authority as collaborative interprofessional team members and take on more responsibility within the department by providing staff support initiatives. 
Designed to meet the needs of year-long residents, but can be adjusted for students in extended programs whose schedules allow for them to be in the hospital only part time.

Three-unit experience consisting of Level-I and Level-II programs  

Pre-requisite: Completion of at least one unit of Level-I CPE.
One-year, stipend position with Northwestern Medicine employee benefits. (Note: We do not offer second-year residencies.)
Curriculum is characterized by a progressive learning experience where residents begin by focusing upon foundational chaplain competencies (supported by one-to-one staff mentoring) and conclude their year with preparation for board certification with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC).
The full-time nature of the residency provides students with the invaluable opportunity to establish themselves as the primary contact for Spiritual Care on their clinical unit.
Students strengthen their professional identity over the course of a year through sustained relationship-building within their CPE peer group, collegiality with other Spiritual Care professionals and collaborative interdisciplinary engagement within a challenging clinical environment.

Multi-year training to become an ACPE Certified Educator

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is accredited by ACPE for training Certified Educators.
Program includes two phases of theoretical and skill-based training through which students take on progressive autonomy in leading Level-I and Level-II CPE groups.
Please contact us directly for more information.

Curriculum Highlights

Learn about individualized learning plans and program objectives, the relational learning environment and our core curriculum.

learn more about our curriculum

Meet the Team

Our ACPE Certified educators come from a diverse range of religious and spiritual backgrounds, which allows them to deliver compassionate care to our patients and exceptional education for our students.

meet the team

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Accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education

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The CPE Program at Northwestern Medicine is accredited for Levels I/II and Certified Educator CPE by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.

learn more about the ACPE

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Northwestern Medicine Clinical Pastoral Education