Johns Hopkins offers all three levels of CPE.  Level IA/B training offered during the intern programs. Every new student begins with Level IA training, even if they have completed other academic or related clinical education. 

Level IIA/B training is offered through subsequent CPE internships (after completing Level IA/B), as well as in the residency.  Most students in the CPE residency program will work on all levels of training outcomes.

Supervisory CPE is the third level of training offered. In this program, students learn the art of clinical supervision in the field of spiritual care. 

Please visit our How to Apply page to learn more.

You may check the dates for each of our programs on the Educational Calendar.  We have rolling admissions. Decisions are typically made months in advance of the start of a CPE unit.

Generally students can expect to receive a response within a few weeks.
 

The part-time programs at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center are designed to provide CPE training to those who choose to receive clinical training on a part-time basis.

Because groups meet once a week and students have specified, flexible clinical hours, many students continue their present employment or education while participating in the programs. Part-time CPE students participate in the on-call rotation, and one unit of accredited CPE training is granted after approximately six months.

All CPE programs follow the standards set forth by ACPE, Inc. which include the provision of 300 hours of spiritual care in the hospital and 100 hours of education per unit. A typical week will include five hours of group/educational meetings on a particular day of the work week.  

At Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, the provision of eight hours of spiritual care in the hospital is expected one day per week (M-F, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.), as well as two on-call weekend shifts a month.  At The Johns Hopkins Hospital, students are required to schedule eight hours of spiritual care in the hospital a week between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. 

General residents receive a $35,568.20 per year stipend.

A stipend is not available for students in intern programs.

Most applicants to our CPE Programs possess a Masters Degree in Theology, Divinity or an equivalent.  We have, on special occasion, accepted students who are in the process of attaining their advanced degrees.

There are no scholarship programs available to date. You can find tuition of our CPE programs on the Types of CPE Programs page.

If you are an international student and wish to do CPE at Johns Hopkins, consider our distance learning CPE program. If you are an international student and already have your VISA, you may be eligible to apply for the on-site learning CPE internship program.

Ordination is not required. However, many of the applicants accepted into residency are in good standing within their respective spiritualities, faith traditions or are ordained and/or endorsed.

Many theological schools and seminaries grant academic credit for CPE. Contact them directly for this information.

No. However, your previous work/ministry experience will be considered during your application process.

The Association of Professional Chaplains (www.apchaplains.org), the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (www.nacc.org), the National Association of Jewish Chaplains (www.najc.org) and other organizations certify chaplains. The American Association of Pastoral Counselors (www.aapc.org) trains and certifies pastoral counselors. Some CPE is required as a prerequisite. You should contact these organizations directly about their requirements.

Yes, distance learning CPE is on one of the CPE programs we offer. Visit our Types of CPE Programs page to learn more.

Clinical Pastoral Education is a prerequisite to volunteering in any capacity through the Department of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy. However, you are welcome to provide care for your parishioners and members of your religious community. We hope you will come by and introduce yourself to our department.

Learners are attracted to the prestige of our academic destination institution. The Johns Hopkins Hospital is renowned for its innovative and progressive medicine. The history of over 125 years of care has developed the hospital's reputation around the world as one of the premier places to come for medical care. The Johns Hopkins Hospital was the first teaching hospital in America and continues to be the most competitive and prestigious place for doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and others to train.

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center has transformed from Baltimore City Hospital into a vibrant academic medical center. Building on their rich history, which dates back to 174, with a commitment to better the health of the community through innovation, compassionate care, education and research. Housing Maryland's only regional burn center, a designated level II trauma center and a pediatric center for emergency care, Johns Hopkins Bayview provides the care necessary for the most complex cases, as well as quality routine and specialty care.

Both hospitals have interns and residents from around the world that operate out of a philosophy of education, excellence, and innovation. That same excellence is found in the Johns Hopkins Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program, which includes both The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. With close to 1,500 beds between campuses and with numerous areas of specialty, CPE students are consistently challenged to meet and provide spiritual care to a wide variety of patients, family members, and hospital staff. CPE students at Johns Hopkins can expect to:

• Respond to emergent situations each on-call
• Provide coverage for one of seven specialized Intensive Care Units
• Attend any number of lectures from world leading educators in their chosen fields.
• Have access to one of the largest medical libraries in the world.
• Elect to observe a surgery or autopsy, as part of their learning experience.
• Work alongside staff chaplains and other interdisciplinary team members in a fast-paced environment.
• Be challenged to examine spiritual care approaches, inter and intrapersonal postures, as well as meaning making within a large institution.

 

Each CPE Program includes the fundamental elements of visiting patients, families, and hospital staff, writing and presenting encounters within a peer group; rotating on the on-call roster; participating in didactic seminars and workshops; actively joining the small group process; pursuing questions and concerns in clinical supervision; and researching topics centered upon contemporary chaplaincy practice.

Part-Time Interns can expect the following responsibilities:

• Eight hours of scheduled clinical time, which may be divided in two four-hour time blocks
• Approximately 3-4 hours of written work each week
• Weekly group sessions of approximately five hours
• Up to twelve hour on-call shifts on some weekends
• One Supervisory session every two weeks

 

Full-Time Residents can expect the following responsibilities:

• 40+ hour weeks, providing spiritual care for patients on assigned clinical areas and responding to emergent needs throughout the hospital
• Approximately 4-5 hours written work each week
• 5-7 presentations per training unit
• On-call rotation that may include weekdays, weekends, or holidays
• Group sessions twice weekly
• Supervisory sessions once weekly

 

Certified Educator Candidates can expect a specialized education, in our destination academic learning environment, that is adapted to meet individual learning goals.

The Johns Hopkins Clinical Pastoral Education Program is not able to provide visa sponsorship for international applicants to our programs. Applicants must have authorization to work or study in the United States before applying.