The Extended CPE program at Sutter Roseville Medical Center is a satellite program of Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, which is accredited for Levels I and II CPE and Educator CPE by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE).
Who should apply?
Extended CPE is designed for those unable to attend a full-time CPE program. These may include:
- Working adults
- Seminary students
- Lay ministers
- Clergy wishing to increase their skills
- Those exploring an interest in ministry
- Individuals seeking self growth
How long is the program?
Unlike full-time ACPE CPE, which is an 11 to 14 week intensive program, the Extended CPE program is one or two units spread out over eight or ten months respectively.
What is the time commitment?
We have two extended programs at Sutter Roseville. One is 12 hours per week and the other is 18 hours per week. One unit of ACPE CPE at Sutter includes 100 hours of individual and group supervision and 300 hours of ministry within the hospital setting.
The 12-hour extended program includes:
- Four hours for group meetings on Wednesdays from 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm.
- Eight hours of clinical time on the floors. These hours are flexible to better work with individual student schedules.
- Students will receive one unit of ACPE CPE at the completion of the nine-month program.
The 18-hour extended program includes:
- Seven hours of group meetings on Mondays from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm and Wednesdays from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
- Nine hours of clinical time on the floors. These hours are flexible to better work with individual student schedules.
- Students will receive two units of ACPE CPE at the completion of the nine-month program.
Is there a stipend?
Students in both programs are hired as limited term employees.
What will I learn?
ACPE CPE provides a relational learning environment, which involves mutual trust, respect, openness, challenge, conflict and confrontation. This training fosters growth in self-reflection, pastoral formation, and pastoral competence, which includes knowledge, perspective and the development of clinical skills.
ACPE CPE at Sutter is student focused and is based upon an adult model of education. Students assume responsibility for their ministry and learning, while working as professionals within the hospital. The educational approach relies upon group process, is clinically based, and is grounded in the dialogue between theology and the behavioral sciences.
What does CPE prepare a person to do?
ACPE CPE serves as a part of one's preparation for community ministry, chaplaincy, lay ministry, teaching, pastoral counseling and spiritual leadership in any faith tradition. Many theological schools require one unit of ACPE CPE as a part of a theological degree program. Other schools accept a year of ACPE CPE as the required intern year of ministry for a theological degree program.
Those seeking employment as a healthcare chaplains or Board Certification in the Association of Professional Chaplains are generally required to have complete four units of ACPE CPE in addition to a master’s degree in a theological field.