Description of CPE
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a program in which seminarians, clergy, and some qualified lay-people provide spiritual care to patients, their families, and staff in an institution, as well as engage in an "action-reflection-new action" model of learning.
In CPE, each student engages in an educational process with a peer group of four to eight students and a CPE supervisor/educator, as well as in individual supervision with their supervisor/educator.
This educational offering is professional education for ministry and is clinical education that counts toward Master of Divinity degree programs at seminaries and divinity schools.
CPE at PMPH
Our CPE program is specifically focused on learning to provide person-centered, multi-faith care of the soul, which includes daily chapel services that represent a variety of faith traditions—Judaism, Islam, Protestant Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
Within Penn Medicine Princeton Health's CPE program, clinical placements are available at the Princeton Medical Center and Princeton House Behavioral Health (in-patient and out-patient). We currently have four CPE offerings:
- A 12-week, full-time summer unit (one unit of CPE)
- A part-time, academic year unit, typically ~35 weeks (one unit of CPE) typically beginning the last week of September and ending in the middle of May
- Certified Educator CPE (as available)
Each unit of CPE includes 300+ hours of patient care, 100+ educational hours, occasional worship leadership at the Princeton Medical Center and Princeton House Behavioral Health, and occasional on-call coverage. Each student will serve as the primary chaplain on one or two units and participate as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
Application Process, Tuition, and Benefits
To submit an application, first download a CPE application from the ACPE website. Then, email your completed application to: CPE.PMPH@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Internship
Applications are received throughout the year for the internships. An interview will be scheduled as space is available in the program. Admissions occur on a rolling basis. Our un-paid internship is one unit of CPE. Tuition fee for new interns is $750. A deposit of $150 is required at acceptance into the program.
Residency
Our residency consists of three units of CPE and offers a stipend of ~$39k in addition to Penn Medicine Princeton Health employee benefits. There is no tuition for the residency.
Applications for the residency are typically received from January through early March. Initial screenings typically occur as they are received with final interviews occurring between March and April.
The residency application involves two parts:
The residency program is paused for Fall 2025 through Fall 2026. We are currently accepting applications for the Fall 2026 to Fall 2027 residency cohort. Our residency offers learning opportunities in a Level 2 Trauma Center with year-long clinical specializations in the diverse neighborhoods of Plainsboro. Our on-call rotations are home-based, with residents only reporting on-site when called in.
Certified Educator CPE
You may inquire on its availability at CPE.PMPH@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. When employed Certified Educator CPE positions are open, they will be advertised. Sometimes volunteer opportunities in this program may be available. This program requires an application with the ACPE national office, as well.
Penn Medicine Princeton Health's CPE program is an ACPE Accredited Center. We offer Level 1, Level 2, and Certified Educator CPE.
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education
1 Concourse Pkwy, Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30328
404-320-1472
www.acpe.edu