Extended and full-time units. CPE students only. Classes at hospital with CPE supervisor.
Program Description:
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is training designed to help develop the skills required to provide care which is centered around issues of faith, meaning, values and connection. Learning occurs through direct clinical experience, use of reflective tools, didactic input, conversations around cases within a diverse group of peers, and individual supervision. As a member of an inter-professional team each student’s educational experience involves providing care and support to staff as well as to clients, residents or patients and their families/intimate others.
The action/reflection/integration process is utilized to assist students to develop their identity as professional providers of spiritual and religious care, critique their styles of ministry, and enrich their relationship with the Holy whom they meet in the lived experience.
The CPE curriculum is designed to develop learning of the competencies identified by the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) as core skills required for anyone who wishes to provide care in this field.
CPE units are available on a part-time basis (15 hours/week from September – April), or full-time (35-40 hours/week over a period of 3-4 months) at one of several hospitals in the Greater Vancouver Area.
Academic and Professional Credit:
All students earn credit with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) and each unit is registered and paid for through Vancouver School of Theology (VST). Academic Credit may also be granted for a CPE unit, and is determined by the school in which a student is studying. Vancouver School of Theology grants 3 credit hours plus a unit of theological education to those who successfully complete a unit of CPE.
Tuition and Student Fees:
Tuition for CPE units is set by the Health Authority. The cost is currently $2000/unit, plus a $250 CASC registration fee (Canadian Association of Spiritual Care). All CPE students must also become student members of CASC for a yearly fee of $60 (Basic) and $200 (Advanced). Tuition is paid through VST.
Application and Admission:
Application and admission to a CPE unit must be made directly to the Supervisor of the CPE Unit, prior to registration through Vancouver School of Theology.
Requests for an Admission interview or for a more detailed discussion of the program should be made to:
Doug Longstaffe, Vancouver General Hospital
Email: [email protected]; Phone: 604-875-4643
Anne Tuppurainen, St. Paul’s Hospital
Email: [email protected]; Phone: Tel: 604-682-2344 Ext. 63439