Requirements for Admission

An applicant’s suitability for admission to any CPE program is a matter of professional judgment by the ACPE accredited program in accordance with its admission policies. Requirements for admission to CPE programs include but are not limited to:

a completed ACPE application
an admission interview with a qualified interviewer, for persons applying for an initial unit of CPE, to determine readiness for clinical learning
either graduation from high school/completion of a GED or ordination by a religious/spiritual tradition or commission to function in spiritual care by an appropriate religious/spiritual authority as determined by ACPE
fulfillment of education or experience requirements established by the ACPE accredited center
a signed Use of Clinical Materials Consent Form

Admission Process

All Programs
- Request inforrmation and fill out an application
- We may contact you via phone or email to answer questions. Feel free to reach out to us too.
- Once your application is received, we will send you acknowledgement along with a Clinical Materials Consent form for you to sign and return.
- Review the ACPE Code of Professional Ethics and the EMU Life Together Statement
For Intern (Summer or Extended) Level I, A & B and Level II, A & B CPE Units
- Within two weeks of the arrival of the requested reference letters, the unit Educator reviews the application and contacts the applicant and invites them to an Admission Interview, or informs the applicant of the selection timetable or communicates denial of admission. If the application material includes a report of an Admission Interview, this report may be accepted in lieu of an Admission Interview by an EMS CERTIFIED EDUCATOR. A brief summary report of Admission Interviews conducted at this center for applicants to this center will be written and placed in the student’s file.
- Each potential student may be asked to arrange an interview with the Clinical Coordinator of the institution where he/she would practice ministry as a CPE student. It is the privilege of the Clinical Coordinator, representing the interests of their institution, to deny any student the privilege of ministry practice in their setting. An institution denying a student the privilege of ministry practice in their setting does not constitute denial of admission to the program.
- Within two weeks of the Admission Interview the unit Educator reviews the completed application and results of the interview and informs the applicant of the decision to accept or not accept the applicant or to delay a final decision.
- Students invited to a position in a CPE unit will receive a letter of invitation to a position in the CPE unit that will include instructions about the next steps of the applicant—such as acceptance deadlines, tuition deposits, starting dates, etc.
- When the applicant sends a letter of acceptance, a permanent file is established for that person.
For ACPE Certified Educator Training
Applicants will complete the basic application form used for all CPE units. In addition, applicants will provide the following materials:
- In addition to the basic application materials, the applicant will be asked to complete several essays: A personal history paper including “My Vision for Ministry,” and “My Understanding of the Certified Educator Role, including a description of your CPE journey. In addition, the applicant will include a list of possible learning goals and a recent Pastoral Care Verbatim Case Study. Other papers may be required based on the individual needs of the applicant.
- Applicants will be expected to give evidence of pastoral experience and ecclesiastical endorsement for Certified Education.
The admissions process for Certified Educator CPE will be the same as for other CPE programs with the following additions:
- An Admissions Interview Committee will review the application and participate in the interview process along with the CPE Program Director.
- The Admissions Interview Committee will consist of CPE Professional Advisory Committee Members and the EMS Dean or Associate Dean.
- Applicants will be expected to identify their own resources for completing the supervisory education process. Applicants will also be informed of the resources that the department will provide.
- The process for notifying applicants of acceptance or rejection will be the same as the procedures for other CPE positions.

Admissions Policies

Eastern Mennonite Seminary and the Eastern Mennonite CPE program, shall not discriminate against any individual for reasons of race, gender, age, faith group, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical disability. Equal access to educational opportunities is extended to all qualified persons who are prepared to commit themselves to abide by the EMS CPE program policies and procedures and the standards of ethical conduct as identified by the institutions in which they would serve as a participant in the CPE Program. However, if a student becomes a member of ACPE, Inc. they would then also be expected to abide by the ACPE Code of Professional Ethics.

EMS also intends to ensure that inquirers regarding the CPE program are informed of the policies and procedures that govern the admission process.

All members of the faculty and consultation group are expected to cooperate in making this policy valid in fact.

This policy notwithstanding, all students accepted in the program shall be able, with reasonable accommodation, to physically perform the duties as contained in the position description for Chaplain/Pastoral Intern.

Financial Policy

EMS intends to ensure that the Clinical Pastoral Education program is timely and clear in its communication regarding fees, tuition, payment schedule, refunds, stipends and benefits.

The EMS CPE program shall provide each potential CPE student with a copy of the tuition and fee schedule upon request of program information. Tuition and fees may be reviewed and/or changed annually. Registration of credit for the CPE unit or the Educator’s written evaluation may be withheld pending payment of all fees.

Tuition and Fees
Check the Finances page for current tuition and fees.
- The tuition expense for units of CPE is communicated in the Financial Policy and this Financial Policy is provided to each inquirer requesting application information.
- Tuition for a Unit of CPE or Certified Education CPE, is due on the first day of the unit unless, the student submits in writing an alternate payment plan seven (7) days before the beginning of the unit; and the Educator agrees to the plan, and the plan is submitted to the CPE Program Director for approval with signatures of student and Educator.
- All tuition must be paid by the last day of a unit. The Educator’s Final Written Evaluation of the student is not to be issued without confirmation of tuition payment.
- No credit is to be registered for the unit until tuition is paid.
- Collection costs or charges along with all attorney fees necessary for the collection of any debt to Eastern Mennonite University will be charged and paid by the debtor. All accounts in collection are reported to three major credit bureaus. (EMU Student Handbook)
Deposit

A non-refundable deposit is required upon acceptance into any CPE unit to hold a place in that unit. This deposit will only be refunded if the CPE unit is canceled.
Refunds

If a student leaves the unit through mutual consent, personal choice, or by choice of the supervisor in the first fourth of the CPE unit, one half of the tuition is refunded. Students withdrawing during the first half of the unit will be refunded one-fourth of the tuition. No refund will be issued after the midpoint of the unit.
Stipend/Benefits

There are currently no stipends or employee benefits paid to students in any EMS CPE program.

Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s Clinical Pastoral Education Program is an accredited center of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. and offers CPE Levels I and II.