What Is Clinical Pastoral Education

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a highly recognized model of professional education for pastoral caregivers in clinical settings. Participants in CPE provide care and support to patients in medical settings, while also developing their own interpersonal and ministry skills.

All applicants, regardless of faith tradition and/or professional background, are welcome to apply.

CPE participants are typically theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, etc.). CPE is appropriate for current Master of Divinity students as well as practicing clergy. Students and professionals from other disciplines, such as social work, psychology, or medicine, will participate in a CPE unit.

Successful CPE participants are self-reflective, compassionate, and open to learning.

CPE Program Specifics

How long does CPE take?

One unit of CPE includes a total of 400 hours, 300 of which are spent providing pastoral care and support to patients. The remaining 100 hours are spent in small group discussion, individual supervision, and didactic sessions.

How do I complete a unit of CPE?

We offer two options for completing a unit of CPE, and the tuition for each option is $750.

• Extended unit.
• Summer intensive unit.

Summer intensive unit

This unit occurs on a full-time basis, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for 10 weeks. This unit includes both the 100 didactic and 300 clinical hours on-site at one of our participating hospitals. Trainees meet each morning as a group and visit patients for the remainder of the day. Each trainee will also have a weekly one-on-one supervision session with the CPE supervisor.

Extended unit

This unit occurs on a part-time basis over the course of 16 or more weeks. Trainees meet at least once a week as a group to complete 100 didactic hours. Trainees set their own weekly schedule to accumulate the required 300 clinical hours, providing pastoral care to patients, families, and staff on-site at one of our participating hospitals. Each trainee will have a weekly one-on-one supervision session with the CPE supervisor.

Current and upcoming units

• Ongoing 2025 - 2026 extended unit at UPMC Shadyside (October 2025 - March 2026)
• Extended unit at UPMC Presbyterian (January - April 2026)
• Intensive summer unit June - August 2026 at a participating UPMC hospital.
• Current CPE Supervisors:
  • UPMC Shadyside: Rev. Dr. Charlie Starr
  • UPMC Presbyterian: Rev. Gaea Thompson

Interested in participating in CPE?

Begin your application journey today.

Application journey

1. Review upcoming CPE unit dates and apply

• Interested candidates must complete and submit an application.
• As part of the application process, candidates must also submit one letter of recommendation from an academic, ecclesial, or professional reference.
• Please submit completed applications and letters to CPE.INFO@upmc.edu

2. Completed Applications — Submitted and Reviewed

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the CPE supervisor(s) and supervisors-in-training (SITs).

Please note: Successful applicants must demonstrate in their written application and during the interview:

• An ability to listen, be vulnerable, and be self-reflective.
• Awareness of how their life experiences have influenced them and how they relate to others.
• Openness to working with and learning from people of different faiths, backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, and more.

3. Invitation to Interview

• After submission of application documents, a candidate will be invited to interview with the CPE supervisor(s) and SITs.

4. Acceptance into CPE (pending additional documentation review)

Please note that once accepted, the trainee must complete the required onboarding process to begin the CPE unit.  

• If the accepted applicant is not a current UPMC employee, they must complete all required documentation, testing, and onboarding perquisites to participate in a UPMC Externship.
• If the accepted applicant is a current UPMC employee (i.e., a staff chaplain), most of these requirements will likely already be completed.

Welcome to CPE.