ABSTRACT
Clinical pastoral education (CPE) is a dynamic and experiential training program that is requisite to becoming a professional chaplain. Under professional supervision and peer review, the CPE student learns through personal reflection, pastoral formation, and professional competence as he or she moves toward a given specialty. The purpose of American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) is to certify pastoral counselors, accredit pastoral counseling centers, and approve training programs. The typical education and training for the AAPC Pastoral Counselor at the membership level of Fellow consists of a Bachelor’s Degree from a college or university, a 3 year professional degree from a seminary, and a specialized masters or doctoral degree in the field. Educational programs are offered on a structured and informal basis, and consultation is provided in timely fashion on such issues as current trends in mental health, the dynamics of domestic violence, and the expected consequences of a third DUI offense.
