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ACPE Chaplaincy
Training
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We are delighted that you’re exploring ACPE chaplaincy training at UCSF!

 

UCSF Medical Center is accredited by the ACPE (The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education) to offer Level I, Level II, and Certified Educator CPE. More information about CPE can be found here: Frequently Asked Questions (acpe.edu).

ACPE Level I/Level II Programs:

We run active CPE programs at two campuses, Mission Bay and Parnassus Heights: https://www.ucsf.edu/about/locations

There are 5 Residency placements at our Hospitals at Mission Bay with primarily Pediatric, Women’s Services (Mother and Baby), Pediatric Emergency Care and Adult Oncology.

At our Parnassus Heights Campus we have 10 Residency placements in Acute and Intensive Adult Medical Care, and Adult Emergency Care.

Application review for the 2025-2026 CPE residency is open on a rolling basis until all learner positions are filled. CPE Application (acpe.edu) Applicants must indicate their preference for Mission Bay or Parnassus on application.

The 2025-2026 Residency year begins on August 25, 2025, and ends on September 4, 2026.

Submit your ACPE Application or Ask Program Questions: cpe@ucsf.edu

ACPE Certified Educator Training Program:

For Certified Educator CPE training, applicants must have completed at least four (4) ACPE-accredited CPE units that document fulfillment of Level 2 CPE outcomes; hold a M.Div. degree or its equivalent; be ordained or commissioned to function as a clergyperson or spiritual leader by an appropriate authority in one’s faith group; and be endorsed or recognized in an official relationship of accountability with one’s faith group. Persons interested in Clinical Educator CPE must use the appropriate ACPE application form, available at https://acpe.edu/education/cpe-students/cpe-application, and submit that form directly to our center and the ACPE national office. Our Program advertises Certified Educator Student/Certified Educator Candidate openings on ACPE’s national website when we are accepting applications. For inquiries: cpe@ucsf.edu

Program Strengths

Some distinctive features of UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals and our CPE programs:

  • Our CPE trainees learn to offer collaborative care in a fast-paced environment that prepares them for today’s complex spiritual care needs, including exposure to cutting edge medical technology, and ethical and existential concerns.
  • The UCSF Division of Palliative Medicine has been named by the American Hospital Association as one of the top three programs nationwide for its innovative efforts in end-of-life care.  Year-long CPE residents participate in a curriculum that introduces them to topics related to palliative care and end-of-life issues, and offers them mentoring opportunities on these topics.
  • Trauma-informed care and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism principles are integrated into the CPE curriculum.
  • CPE learners at UCSF are trained in crisis debriefing and decompression skills, to help people mitigate the stressful effects of traumatic events that they have experienced.  
  • UCSF is a teaching hospital, and chaplain trainees learn alongside students from the schools of medicine, nursing, and pharmacy, which are all part of the UCSF campus. Year-long residents participate in an Interprofessional Standardized Patient Exercise that supports excellence in collaboration.
  • Our entire Spiritual Care staff is invested in and committed to our CPE program, providing ongoing clinical mentoring to our trainees. 
  • A variety of resources at UCSF support student and staff diversity, such as the LGBTQ Resource Center, the Multicultural Resource Center, and the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Diversity.
  • Sustainability and support matters to us! We offer a robust Student Health and Counseling Benefit for our year-long CPE residents, through UCSHIP: https://studenthealth.ucsf.edu/insurance as well as 15 paid personal leave days, in addition to 15 paid UCSF holidays, for our year-long residents.

Tuition and Pay Rate

The tuition fee for a single unit of CPE (Summer or Extended) is $600.00. 

The tuition fee for a year-long residency (4 CPE units) is $1800.00.  There is a non-refundable deposit of $250.00 which is payable upon acceptance into the program and applied toward tuition costs. The balance of the tuition cost is due on the first day of the CPE unit or year.  The fees which are paid are used solely for the ongoing costs of the CPE program, which includes quarterly and annual accreditation fees.

CPE residents are paid $1,128.00 (before taxes and deductions) per week, for the duration of the program.

In addition, the UCSF CPE program offers a variety of benefits, such as

  • a comprehensive health care package, including individual counseling and therapy sessions; see more at Student Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • access to state-of-the-art fitness and recreation centers, available for a monthly fee at the Staff rate
  • a per diem allowance to defray cost of meals during on-call shifts
  • 15 days of personal leave time and 15 UCSF holidays; and
  • access to computer lab, library, and on-line educational resources.

Financial Policy

PURPOSE

To provide clear financial information for the Clinical Pastoral Education programs at UCSF Medical Center that addresses fees, payment schedule, refunds, stipends and benefits.

POLICY

UCSF Medical Center shall provide potential CPE students with information about the tuition and fee schedule upon request of program information. Tuition and fees may be reviewed and/or changed annually. Registration of credit of the CPE unit and the individual educator’s final evaluation may be withheld pending payment of all fees.

PROCEDURE

Fees are used solely for the ongoing costs of the CPE program, which includes ACPE quarterly and annual accreditation and certification fees.

 

A. Application Fee: There is no application fee required for CPE programs at UCSF Medical Center.

B. Deposit: Applicants accepted for training are required to submit a deposit of $250.00 (checks or money orders made payable to UC Regents), within 14 days of their letter of acceptance. Exceptions may be made for international students. The deposit is applied toward the tuition and is non-refundable.  The student may coordinate a deposit payment plan with the Department Manager or Director by submitting the plan with payment dates and amounts in writing.

C.Tuition

1. The tuition for a single unit of training in CPE at UCSF Medical Center is $600.00, which includes the deposit of $250. The full tuition is due and payable to the UC Regents on the first day of the unit.

2. The total tuition for a year-long CPE residency at UCSF Medical Center is $1800.00, which includes the deposit (see point B above). The full tuition is due and payable to the UC Regents on the first day of the residency, unless another agreement is made, per #3 below.

3. The student may coordinate a tuition payment plan with the Director and Manager by submitting the plan with payment dates and amounts in writing. The Manager will monitor the installment payments for the program.

4. Certified Educator Students/Candidates are not assessed a deposit or tuition.

5. No written faculty final evaluation will be given and no credit for the unit will be registered with the ACPE National Office without confirmation of tuition payment in full, unless other arrangements are made with the Manager and Director per #3 above.

D. Stipends and Benefits

1. The Chaplain Resident will be paid a gross amount (prior to taxes and deductions) of $1,128.00/week, paid by Winston Resources, LLC, which subcontracts with UCSF. The Chaplain Resident will be an employee (not independent contractor) of Winston Resources, LLC, for the duration of the residency program. For international students, payment of stipends will be dependent upon obtaining a U.S. Social Security Number. Weekly stipend amounts are approved annually as part of the Spiritual Care departmental budget in July each year.

2. Chaplain Residents and Certified Educator Students/Candidates are automatically enrolled in a comprehensive health insurance plan through UCSHIP (University of California Student Health Insurance Plan) with no premium charge to themselves, beginning the first day of the program. They may enroll dependents for an additional fee. Residents are enrolled for four quarters, ending at 11:59 PM on the last Friday of the program. Full details of the UCSF plan may be obtained at UCSHIP Website.

3. Any Certified Educator Students/Candidates enrolled for 2024-2025 will receive a gross amount of $1,730.77/week (prior to taxes and deductions), also paid as employees of Winston Staffing, LLC.

4. As employees of Winston Resources, LLC, Chaplain Residents will have taxes and FICA deducted from their stipend payments, so the net weekly stipend amount will reflect this. They will receive a W2 form for tax purposes at the end of the calendar year.

5. If a student who is receiving a stipend should withdraw or be dismissed from the program, the stipend will end on the deposit date of the last week of their service.

E. Unit Registration: Completed CPE units are registered with ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education at no additional cost to students. 

F. Replacement Costs: Students will be required to pay the replacement cost for materials or equipment they have misplaced or damaged during their tenure as CPE students. If a student damages or misplaces one of these items, the replacement cost schedule is as follows (cash/money order payment only):

UCSF Laptop: $1,500.00

UCSF iPhone: $75.00

UCSF badge: $25.00

FastPay card: $5.00

Metal binder/census: $25.00

Books/educ. resources: At cost [Note: Students may be required to read certain books during their CPE training, and are notified of those books in advance of each unit’s start date. Students are responsible for obtaining copies of those books, either through purchase or borrowing.  Most readings will be made available electronically, and a limited lending library is also available on each site.]

F. Refunds

1. Tuition is not refunded if a student withdraws from a CPE unit or internship, or if a student is dismissed from the CPE program.

2. In the event of illness, serious accident, or comparable unforeseen and extenuating circumstances, a refund of tuition on a prorated basis will be considered by the Director and/or Manager of Spiritual Care Services.

Application Process

Application Requirements:

1)  Completed ACPE application with essay responses at https://acpe.edu/education/cpe-students/cpe-application
At the top of your ACPE, Inc. application face sheet, you must indicate which campus you are interested in applying for - Mission Bay or Parnassus. If you are interested in both campuses, please include both; however you must indicate a first preference.
2) No application/processing fee is required.
3) Once we receive your application and have reviewed your materials, we will notify you if we are moving forward with a Zoom interview, or not. Interviews are with two Faculty members. For our Residency, there is a second half hour interview with two Department Staff members as well.
4) Completed reference forms.  Regardless of the program for which you apply, these will be solicited by the Department from the persons you list as references on your application.

Due Dates: Our CPE programs operate on a rolling admissions basis. We switch to interviewing for Alternates for our programs when group space is filled.

UCSF CPE Admissions Policy 2025

PURPOSE

To provide a clear and effective admission process to any UCSF Medical Center CPE program that does not permit any discrimination against persons because of race, ethnicity, religious/spiritual tradition, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, or disability.

 

POLICY

UCSF Medical Center, UCSF Health, and the ACPE Accredited Centers of UCSF Medical Center-Parnassus and UCSF Medical Center-Mission Bay do not discriminate against persons because of race, ethnicity, religious/spiritual tradition, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, or disability. Equal access to educational opportunities is extended to all qualified persons. All members of the CPE faculty, professional advisory group, and consultants are expected to adhere to this policy.

CPE learners are expected to sustain sufficient physical, emotional and spiritual health to deliver spiritual care. The students we seek will demonstrate an openness to clinical learning; a readiness to use the clinical setting for personal and professional learning; an ability to provide effective spiritual care in our clinical settings; and the potential to make a contribution to the field of spiritual care.

 

PROCEDURE

To be considered for admission into the CPE Programs at UCSF Medical Center, the following procedure is followed.

1. Applications are received throughout the year, and ideally should be submitted six to eight months before the unit in which an applicant wishes to enroll. Applicants use the standard ACPE application form, and no application fee is required.

2. When the CPE Center receives the application and has determined that the application materials are sufficient for consideration, the applicant will be notified to set up an appointment for an admissions interview.

3. An admissions interview will be held to determine the applicant’s readiness for clinical learning. It is preferred that this interview is done by at least two members of the CPE faculty. For residency applicants, the interview process involves two separate sessions: the first with members of the CPE faculty, and a second with other members of the Spiritual Care Department staff. Department Staff only have access to applicant’s ACPE Cover Sheets and Resumes. At the discretion of the faculty, applicants may be interviewed by means of a UCSF secure Zoom meeting.

4. The applicant must have graduated from high school or earned a GED, hold a baccalaureate degree and present documentation of academic credentials (exceptions to this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis), and be in good standing with their faith affiliation, spiritual association or other ethical/philosophical association.

5. Participating in UCSF Medical Center CPE programs can be a challenging experience because of the acuity of the illnesses of the patients being served. We seek mature applicants who demonstrate self-assertiveness, a sense of personal and professional identity, exceptional communication skills, intra- and interpersonal awareness and an inner motivation to learn and serve, as evidenced in the admissions interview.

6. The CPE programs and almost all clinical communications at UCSF Medical Center are conducted in the English language, and therefore it is important that the applicant fluently speaks, reads, and writes in English.

7. When a decision has been made whether the applicant has been selected to participate in the CPE program, a letter may be emailed and also will be sent via the U.S. Postal Service. A decision will be made within thirty (30) days after the admission interview.

8. Once an admissions decision has been made and the applicant has been informed, the applicant’s written materials are disposed in the following manner:

a) If the applicant is not accepted to the program, or if an applicant is accepted, but later decides not to enroll in one of UCSF Medical Center’s CPE programs, that applicant’s materials will be destroyed in a confidential manner.

b) For policy regarding the records of accepted students, please see the “Student Records Policy" in the CPE Student Handbook.

9. It is this Center’s policy not to offer explanations or reasons to an applicant if they have not been admitted to the CPE program.

10. Any applicant who is invited to participate in a UCSF Medical Center CPE program must successfully pass a background check and hold U.S. citizenship or a valid U.S. visa before they can enroll in the program. All offers of admission are contingent upon successful completion of background checks, health clearances, and all other on-boarding requirements. If an applicant is an international student, it is that student’s responsibility to maintain proof of current lawful immigration status (and authorization to work, if the student is receiving a stipend) in the U.S., throughout the duration of their program.

11. In the unusual event that the Center cannot recruit at least three (3) students for a training unit, that unit will not begin, and the admitted persons will be invited to enroll in a future scheduled unit of training that matches their level (Level I or Level II). If they need to enroll in a CPE unit immediately, the Center will negotiate with ACPE certified educators at other accredited centers to assist the students in finding appropriate placements.

12. Applications will be accepted for Certified Educator CPE as openings become available. Normally a certified educator student’s contract is extended for successive years, if it is determined that the CEC has made adequate progress.

13. Certified Educator CPE applicants should refer to the Student Handbook Chapter Five regarding requirements for admission into the program.

14. CPE students must successfully complete all requirements requested by UCSF Medical Center CPE programs and its contractors to begin the CPE program.

CPE students shall be required to complete or sign additional forms as requested by ACPE and by the CPE center, including but not limited to the ACPE Use of Clinical Materials Consent Form, which shall be completed at the beginning of each CPE unit in which they are enrolled.

Inquiries regarding UCSF Health’s equal opportunity policies may be directed to: UCSF Human Resources at hr.ucsf.edu/contact. This policy notwithstanding, all students accepted in the program shall be able, with reasonable accommodation, to physically perform the essential duties contained in the Duties and Minimum Requirements for CPE Students and Certified Educator Students/Candidates, respectively, which can be found in chapters 4 and 5 of the Student Handbook.

Bay Area Housing Possibilities

UCSF On-Campus Housing

Chaplain Residents are eligible for Campus Housing as Allied Health Learners and under Campus Housing Policy, as listed under “Other Eligible Student & Trainee Groups – ‘Resident ministers’”” Housing Eligibility - UCSF Campus Life Services

This link below outlines prices for shared housing on-campus and for efficiencies (and 1-2 bedrooms, which are more expensive). There is NO Deposit for campus housing. Most of the efficiencies can be furnished too, at no cost, which helps if you are just here for the year. There is a FREE shuttle system connecting all UCSF’s campuses on Weekdays. Check out the link below for many options including single efficiencies or shared apartments with your own bedroom. Housing is primarily available near Mission Bay or Mount Zion.

Campus Life Services: New Applicants

Off Campus Housing

Many Chaplain Residents have found off campus Bay Area Housing through the following:

Craigslist online website, Housing tab, for renting a single room or studio apartment. These opportunities only come up the month before or the month of your move, as housing turns so quickly in the Bay Area. https://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/sfc/hhh

Networking through your spiritual, religious or organizational affiliations (on your own). Sometimes local spiritual communities you are affiliated with have some ideas or resources. Check with your connections.

UCSF Off Campus Website for open housing. This Off-Campus Rental listing service (hosted by UCSF Housing Services), called Places4Students, connects landlords and apartment seekers who are looking for long-term off-campus housing accommodations.  Many neighbors to the UCSF Campuses post their rentals here:

(Apartment seekers / sublets / shared living space)

Places4Students.com - Helping Students Find a Home Away from Home

Short-Term Lodging Guide - UCSF Campus Life Services

Off-Campus Housing - UCSF Campus Life Services

UCSF Off-Campus Housing | Facebook

Housing and Commuting | Graduate Division (ucsf.edu)

The Academe at 198 | World-Class Student Housing in SF (academe198sf.com)

Bay Area Public and UCSF Transportation

There is no free parking at UCSF Health for anyone except some patients/families via Social Work. Daily parking is $26. Please note that as a CPE learner you are not an enrolled student with the University, so you do not qualify for the Student Parking rate. You also are not an Employee receiving a check directly from UCSF, so you are not eligible for pre-tax deduction. You are Allied Health Learners with UCSF Medical Center and the ACPE Program – receiving 1099 student stipend weekly and full UCSHIP healthcare during your enrollment in the program.

Additional Transportation Resources:

Plan Your Shuttle Trip - UCSF Campus Life Services

Park with Us - UCSF Campus Life Services

bart.gov | Bay Area Rapid Transit | Bay Area Rapid Transit

Muni | SFMTA

AC Transit Bus Routes - SF Bay Transit

Bicycle Transit Resources: 

https://campuslifeserviceshome.ucsf.edu/transportation/bike