Admissions Policy

The following procedures provide the structure and process by which students are admitted into the CPE program at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. This policy is meant to guide the process for admissions. Particular students’ situations may cause some changes of the process.

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center’s ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education Program does not discriminate against persons because of race, gender, age, faith group, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, physical disability, marital status, citizenship, or any other status protected by law.

CPE students are expected to sustain sufficient physical, emotional, and spiritual health to deliver spiritual care and to demonstrate a capacity to endure at least moderate amounts of stress that are a normal part of institutional culture. Persons applying to the CPE program must demonstrate: a capacity to establish and maintain professional and pastoral relationships, openness to clinical learning, readiness to use the clinical setting for personal and professional learning, and the potential to make a contribution to the spiritual care team.

This center utilizes and rolling admissions process. Acceptance into any given program is done on an “as-we-go” basis. If a student is considered ready for CPE, a decision to accept the student may be made well in advance of the start date of the program. Admission requirements and procedures shall be in compliance with ACPE standards and may vary according to CPE level. 

The CPE Application process for interns is as follows:

1) Students may contact the center via mail, telephone, or email. This begins an informal process of information gathering on the part of the student and the program. It is not unusual for us to mail a student a letter, brochure, and application, in response to this initial inquiry. 

2) The center receives an application electronically, by posted mail, or in person. This should include the completed application form and the appropriate non-refundable application fee ($50.00). This begins the formal relationship between the center and the prospective student.
a) In the event that the application is incomplete, the CPE Program Coordinator works with the applicant via email to ensure the application is complete before moving forward in the process.
b) If the program being applied for is full, the CPE Program Coordinator responds to the application via email to notify the applicant that the desired unit is full. The applicant is offered the option to apply for another upcoming program that is still open. If they choose to apply for a different program, they are also offered the opportunity to apply for a waitlist position for the program they initially applied for. If the applicant chooses at this stage to withdraw their application entirely, their application fee will be voided/refunded and their application materials will be shredded.

3) Materials are placed into the prospective student’s confidential file. The applicant is sent an email confirming the receipt of their application and fee within two weeks of remittance. 

4) The CPE Program Coordinator gives the applicant’s file to the CPE Certified Educator, and the Certified Educator Candidate when applicable, who is supervising that unit. The CPE Certified Educator may choose to bring the applicant to the full CPE faculty. After the materials have been reviewed, the person supervising the unit will note on the Application Checklist whether they would like to continue the application process with this prospective student.
a) If they do not wish to continue the application process, the CPE Program Coordinator sends an email to the applicant informing them that their application is denied. In some cases, the applicant is given the opportunity to apply for future programs if they desire.
b) If they wish to continue the application process with an interview:
i) The CPE Program Coordinator sends an email to the applicant to arrange a CPE interview. The interview can be either an in-person interview with the CPE Certified Educator who is supervising that unit, or the applicant may choose to interview at a CPE center near them and have an Admissions Interview Report sent to our center.
ii) The CPE Program Coordinator sends request for reference emails to those people the applicant lists as references.

5) After the applicant has completed the interview, the CPE Certified Educator will note on the Application Checklist whether they would like to offer the applicant position in the program.
a) If the CPE Certified Educator does not wish to continue the application process, the CPE Program Coordinator sends an email to the applicant informing them that their application is denied. In some cases, the applicant is given the opportunity to apply for future programs if they desire.
b) If the CPE Certified Educator chooses to offer the applicant a position in the program:
i) The CPE Program Coordinator emails the applicant an acceptance letter. The letter instructs the applicant to fill out an application with Emanuel Volunteer Services, and to send a formal acceptance letter, along with a $200 non-refundable deposit, within two weeks of receipt of the letter. The deposit will be credited toward the student’s tuition. The remaining balance of tuition is due at the start of the program.
ii) The CPE Program Coordinator sends the name of the accepted student to Emanuel Volunteer Services.

6) Emanuel Volunteer Services informs the CPE program when the student has completed the Volunteer application process and all related screenings. This notification completes the admissions process.

The CPE Application process for residents is as follows:

1) Students may contact the center via mail, telephone, or email. This begins an informal process of information gathering on the part of the student and the program. It is not unusual for us to mail a student a letter, brochure, and application, in response to this initial inquiry. 

 

2) The center receives an application electronically, by posted mail, or in person. This should include the completed application form and the appropriate non-refundable application fee ($50.00). This begins the formal relationship between the center and the prospective student.
a) In the event that the application is incomplete, the CPE Program Coordinator works with the applicant via email to ensure the application is complete before moving forward in the process.
b) If the program being applied for is full, the CPE Program Coordinator responds to the application via email to notify the applicant that the desired unit is full. The applicant is offered the option to apply for another upcoming program that is still open. If they choose to apply for a different program, they are also offered the opportunity to apply for a waitlist position for the program they initially applied for. If the applicant chooses at this stage to withdraw their application entirely, their application fee will be voided/refunded and their application materials will be shredded.

3) Materials are placed into the prospective student’s confidential file. The applicant is sent an email confirming the receipt of their application and fee within two weeks of remittance. 

4) The CPE Program Coordinator gives the applicant’s file to the CPE Certified Educators. After the materials have been reviewed by the CPE Faculty, they note on the Application Checklist whether they would like to continue the application process with this prospective student.
a) If the faculty does not wish to continue the application process, the CPE Program Coordinator sends an email to the applicant informing them that their application is denied. In some cases, the applicant is given the opportunity to apply for future programs if they desire.
b) If the faculty wishes to continue the application process with an interview:
i) The CPE Program Coordinator sends an email to the applicant to arrange an in-person interview with the resident interview committee (sub-group of PAG).
ii) The CPE Program Coordinator sends request for reference emails to those people the applicant lists as references.
iii) The CPE Program Coordinator sends a copy of the applicant’s file to all members of the resident interview committee.

5) After the applicant has completed the interview, the resident interview committee will note on the Application Checklist whether they would like to offer the applicant a residency position.
a) If the faculty does not wish to continue the application process, the CPE Program Coordinator sends an email to the applicant informing them that their application is denied. In some cases, the applicant is given the opportunity to apply for future programs if they desire.
b) If the faculty chooses to offer the applicant a residency position:
i) The CPE Program Coordinator emails the applicant a preliminary acceptance letter. Final acceptance is pending Legacy Human Resources approval (after background checks, etc.). The letter instructs the applicant to apply for the position on the Legacy employment website, and to send a formal acceptance letter, along with a $200 non-refundable deposit to hold their position, within two weeks of receipt of the letter.
ii) The CPE Program Coordinator sends the name of the accepted resident to our assigned Legacy HR Recruiter.

6) The Legacy HR Recruiter informs the CPE program when the student has completed the Human Resources hiring process, HR has made a formal offer of employment, and the student has formally accepted the offer. This notification completes the admissions process.

The CPE Admissions process for Certified Educator Candidates is as follows (304.1)

Persons applying for admission to Legacy Health Certified Educator CPE programs will be considered regardless of age, color, faith group, gender, national origin, race or sexual orientation.

1. Prerequisites for Admission:

Education: A Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent, and at least four units of ACPE Certified CPE™. Completion of a residency is preferred, with affirmation that the applicant has completed the outcomes of both Level I and Level II CPE.

Ecclesiastical: Ordination or commissioning to function in ministry or the granting of authority by a faith group to practice ministry in a clinical situation. Endorsement by an appropriate religious authority.

Experience: Pastoral experience beyond that of an internship or residency is preferred.

Professional: Board Certification as a Chaplain in the APC, NACC or its equivalent (if not certified, able to pursue certification prior to Certified Educator CPE program). Demonstration of the competencies for Readiness for Entry into a Certified Educator Program (Professionalism P1-P9; Relationships & Identity RI-1-RI-12; Education E1-E10; Conceptualization & Theories CT1-CT7; Application & Integration AI-1-AI-5; Leadership & Organizational Development LOD1-LOD8).

2. Admission process

There are two parts to the ACPE Certified Educator CPE admissions process.

Part One: Application and acceptance to a local ACPE Accredited Center

Applicants begin the process by downloading and completing the Application for Certified Educator Programs from the ACPE website. The first page of the form should be completed and emailed to the local center and to the national office. Upon receipt, the national office will send the applicant information about setting up the portfolio to upload their responses to the questions on page two of the application.

Admission to Legacy Health’s ACPE Certified Educator CPE program includes the following criteria:

 

• A completed Application for Certified Educator Programs
• College graduation
• Graduate theological degree or its equivalent
• Ordination or commissioning to function as a spiritual care provider by an appropriate religious/spiritual authority as determined by ACPE. Individuals whose spiritual or religious community do not have ordination should email certification@acpe.edu for more information.
• Endorsement/statement of accountability from an appropriate religious/spiritual authority as determined by ACPE
• Successful completion of a minimum of four units of Level I/Level II ACPE Certified CPE™
• Demonstration of spiritual care and conceptual competence as evidenced by the attainment/completion of Level I/Level II Outcomes
• Evaluation of the competencies for admission to a Certified Educator Program
• Application fee of $50.00

Using the application materials that applicants have uploaded to their portfolio, Legacy Health’s ACPE Certified Educator faculty will conduct an initial assessment of each applicant’s suitability for admission and potential for becoming an educator. Applicants will be informed in writing of the faculty’s decision to interview or not.

When an applicant is invited to interview, this will be arranged by the Director of Spiritual Care and Clinical Pastoral Education. The goals of the interview will be to establish:

• The applicant’s professional competence as a practicing Chaplain.
• The applicant’s self-awareness and ability to use self in relating to others.
• The applicant’s openness to use of consultation as well as the ability to be a self-directed learner.
• The applicant’s demonstration of the competencies for Readiness for Entry into a Certified Educator Program
• That the applicant and training staff will make a good match for the applicant’s learning and professional growth.

After the interview, the applicant will be informed in writing of the faculty’s decision to accept them into Legacy Health’s ACPE Certified Educator CPE program. If the faculty determines that the applicant meets the competencies for admission to the ACPE Certification Process, they will arrange for Part Two of the process to take place.

Part Two: Application and acceptance to become a Certified Educator Candidate with ACPE

Once chosen by Legacy Health, and prior to the ACPE interview, the applicant must view the following videos located on the New Certification Process webpage:

• Understanding Competencies
• Competencies for Admission

The applicant will write a brief reflection on each of the videos, demonstrating their understanding of the major ideas of each and include these reflections in their portfolio.

The training ACPE Certified Educator from Legacy Health will arrange for the applicant’s interview. The interview committee will be comprised of three persons. The interview can be arranged in person or via video conference and will include the following persons:

• The training ACPE Certified Educator from Legacy Health

• A representative of the Certification Commission who will be assigned by the Chair of the Commission or Certification Coordinator in the national office

• Another ACPE Certified Educator who is part of the National Faculty, selected by the training ACPE Certified Educator from Legacy Health

The Certification Commission representative and the ACPE Certified Educator from Legacy Health shall be given access to the applicant’s portfolio no less than 30 days prior to the interview. Each will review the materials and evaluate the applicant in accordance with the competencies for admission.

If either the Commission Representative or the ACPE Certified Educator from Legacy Health determines that an applicant has not met the required competencies, they shall request a conference call to discuss their concerns. The group must reach a consensus as to how to proceed with the process, seeking consultation from the Chair of the Commission as needed.

Upon completion of the assessment of the applicant’s materials and the interview process, the committee shall determine the applicant’s level of competence and suitability for the certification process. The decision shall require a minimum of two votes for acceptance. Following the committee’s deliberation, feedback will be provided to the applicant.

• Applicants who are accepted into the process will then enroll in their first unit of Certified Educator CPE through the ACPE website and are granted the title Certified Educator Candidate (CEC).
  
  
• If an applicant is not accepted, it is possible for the local center to continue to work with the student on the areas outlined by the committee, and then arrange for another interview at a later date. Aspirants who choose this path will enroll in Level I/Level II CPE during this time period.

A copy of the Admissions Policy is a part of the Student Handbook for all Programs.