Clinical Pastoral Education Program

Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry that utilizes an action/reflection model of learning.

Clinical Pastoral Education Program Main Content

A drop of water falling from a leaf in to a pond

The Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program at Baptist Medical Center combines experiential clinical practice with structured weekly didactics (teaching sessions), spiritual and theoretical reflection, mentoring, overnight on-call clinical experience, and individual consultation. Students can expect a rich learning experience to prepare them for professional ministry in their spiritual faith community, pastoral care/congregational settings, parachurch/non-profit careers, and chaplaincy in healthcare or other specialized settings.

An Accredited Program

The Baptist Health Clinical Pastoral Education program is accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (“ACPE”). The ACPE is recognized as an accrediting organization for CPE programs by the US Department of Education.

Why Baptist Health?

Baptist Health is Northeast Florida’s only fully accredited hospital-based ACPE program. Our 6 hospital health system provides comprehensive care for every stage of life. As a student in our program, you will become part of an interdisciplinary team that serves patients, families and team members.

Our continuum includes primary care, specialty care, behavioral health, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, AgeWell Center for Senior Health and many thriving community programs and partnerships. Through clinical work, students are challenged to integrate learned theory, personal experience and spiritual care skills as they serve patients, families and staff.

Clinical Pastoral Education Program Additional Content Section 1

Program Details

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Clinical Pastoral Education Faculty

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Certification Preparation for Professional Chaplains

Training can be tailored to prepare you for various chaplaincy certifications, including those recognized by the Association for Professional Chaplains, the National Association for Catholic Chaplains, Nehama: Association of Jewish Chaplains and the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.

ACPE Accredited Programs to Choose From:

Residency

Program locations include Baptist Health South (4 resident positions) and Baptist Health Downtown (5 resident positions). Peer groups will meet separately but will have some joint educational opportunities. While trainees may indicate a site preference, final placements are determined by Baptist Health according to program needs, trainee capacity and organizational priorities.

  • September 3, 2025 - August 30, 2026
  • $65,582.40 stipend, plus employee benefits
  • Full-time with paid time off
  • 3 full units of ACPE-accredited CPE
  • Participation in hospital overnight on-call
  • A Master of Divinity, Master of Counseling, or equivalent degree from an accredited institution and one prior unit of CPE are required
  • $500 CPE tuition
  • Application deadline - July 8, 2025

Unique educational experiences provided by Baptist include:

  • Grief Symposium with Dr. Alan Wolfelt
  • "Resolve Through Sharing" Perinatal Bereavement Training
  • "Six Steps for Surviving Loss" Grief Support Training
  • "First Aid for Broken Hearts" Training
  • Opportunity to Co-Facilitate Bereavement Groups with Staff Chaplain
  • Spirit of Caregiving
  • Monthly Spiritual Care Grand Rounds
  • Monthly All Department Case Consultation

We encourage early submission of your applications for all CPE Programs. Applications are processed in the order received and early submission increases your opportunity for consideration.

We are accepting applications from international students who have an ACPE-sponsored J-1 Visa in the Trainee category. For more information see https://acpe.edu/education/cpe-students/the-international-student-visitor-program.

Program Overview

Internships

2026 Five Month Part-Time Internship
Program location is Baptist Clay.

  • March 14, 2026 - August 18, 2026
  • Application Deadline: January 16, 2026
  • Orientation: March 14, 2026
  • 12 hours per week of in-person clinical coverage through patient and family visitation in the hospital setting
  • Weekly overnight remote on-call shifts from home (any time spent responding to calls will count toward the required 12 weekly clinical hours)
  • 4.5 hours weekly educational requirements, including clinical presentations, didactics and supervision
  • $500 tuition

2026 Summer Intensive Internship
Program locations include Baptist Health South and Baptist Health Downtown. While trainees may indicate a site preference, final placements are determined by Baptist Health according to program needs, trainee capacity and organizational priorities.

  • May 26, 2026 - August 7, 2026
  • Offered for 11 weeks each summer
  • Accepting applications beginning January 5, 2026
  • Application deadline: April 1, 2026
  • Orientation: May 26-29, 2026 (all day)
  • CPE group meets 8 hours per week
  • Full-time weekday hours schedule
  • Participation in hospital overnight on-call
  • $1,500 stipend
  • $500 tuition

2026 CPE Online Program
Baptist Health offers a Virtual Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program for individuals who live outside of Duval, Clay, St. Johns, and Nassau counties. This online program meets ACPE accreditation standards and counts as one ACPE CPE unit. Applicants from areas in Florida and Georgia without nearby CPE programs are especially encouraged to apply.

  • March 2026 - August 2026
  • Clinical Placement: Participants complete required clinical hours at approved locations convenient to them, which may include their place of employment or volunteer site. Approved settings include hospitals, hospice programs, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, youth ministries and other environments where spiritual care is provided.
  • One unit of ACPE accredited CPE
  • Tuition: $2,500 per unit (costs are subsidized by Baptist)
  • For more information, please call 904-202-2829

We encourage early submission of your applications for all CPE Programs. Applications are processed in the order received and early submission increases your opportunity for consideration.

We are accepting applications from international students who have an ACPE-sponsored J-1 Visa in the Trainee category. For more information see https://acpe.edu/education/cpe-students/the-international-student-visitor-program.

Program Overview

Certified Educator

  • Full time
  • 12 Month contract negotiated annually
  • Employee Benefits
  • Salary - $79,726.40
Program Overview