Training And CPE We evaluate your level of education, training and CPE. Educational Requirements PREREQUISITES NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION Certification
Be an active christian minister, priest deacon or a member of one of the churches. Ecclesiastical Endorsement is a requirement for certification and the OCB requests the Ecclesiastical Endorsement on your behalf after your application receives approval to move forward with an interview. Members \Clergy affiliated with other denominations are welcome to apply if the applicant agrees with policies and procedures. Roman Catholic Clergy may apply with the permission of their bishop.
Be a Full Member of the Celtic Order of Benedictine Chaplains. In order to receive a Certification Application, you must have completed a Full Membership application and be current on your payment of annual Full Membership fees of $275. For a membership application, please click this link . For further inquiries regarding membership, please contact our Membership council.
Have a completed graduate-level Theological Degree in theology, divinity, religious studies, pastoral ministry, pastoral studies, or spirituality from an accredited academic institution. For degrees in other related disciplines, please contact the Administrative Specialist, Certification at the National Office to confirm your degree meets the requirements of the AEC Standards, prior to entering the Certification Application process. The Certification Commission requires transcript analysis at the applicant’s expense for all degrees acquired outside the United States. Transcripts and analyses are to be sent directly from the institution(s) to the AICAC and must be postmarked by the September 15 or February 15 postmark deadline for certification applications.
Have completed a minimum of four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA), Association of Indepenent Catholic & Anglican Chaplains (AICAC) or the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC/ACSS).
Licensed Chaplain
Be a Full Member of the OCB. In order to receive a Licence Application, you must have completed a Full Membership application and be current on your payment of annual Full Membership fees of $275. For a membership application, please click this link . For further inquiries regarding membership, please contact our Membership council
Have completed a Bachelor’s degree from a college, university, or accredited theological school .
Have completed a minimum of 1 unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA), Association of Indepencent Catholic & Anglican Chaplains (AICAC) or the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC/ACSS).
Associtate Chaplain
The Associate Chaplain can be a lay person or clergy with a basic working knowlegde of chaplaincy and faith. There are no educational requirements for Associate Chaplaincy except that your chaplain work would be supervised by your sponsoring clergy. It is reccomended that Lay Chaplains have regular study and make use of chaplaincy training available.
CPE Equivalency Available
CPE Equivalency is a process by which an Applicant may be granted an Equivalency for one (1) unit of CPE providing the Applicant demonstrates that an educational program, acquired in a way other than through a traditional unit of CPE, successfully meets the AICAC Qualifications and Competencies. An equivalency must be attained through formal academic and/or accredited programs, which are educational, experiential, and supervised. The CPE Equivalency Panel of the Certification Commission decides whether a CPE equivalency request is granted or denied. CPE Equivalency may not be utilized by an Applicant seeking credentials as a licensed Chaplain.