Clinical Pastoral Education
Interfaith Professional Education
Clinical Pastoral Education students work in an interdisciplinary, collaborative environment that places value on learning through interaction with patients, family, and support staff at the region's only academic medical center and Level I Trauma Center.
The diverse patient populations and medical conditions served at Albany Medical Center allow students a broad range challenging and enriching experiences.
Albany Medical Center is fully accredited to provide Level I and Level II CPE by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) in Atlanta. ACPE is recognized as an accredited agency in the field of clinical pastoral education by the US Secretary of Education, through the US Department of Education.
Application to the program is through ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education.
Completed applications, as found at the ACPE Application form link, and the application fee of $30 should be mailed to:
Albany Medical Center
Department of Pastoral Care
Albany Medical Center
43 New Scotland Ave., MC-19
Albany, NY 12208
- Seminary students fulfilling CPE course requirements
- Ordained ministers of all faiths looking to improve pastoral care skills or explore an alternate career
- Chaplains who want to increase, improve and certify their experience
- Lay people interested in preparing themselves for ministry, or enhancing their nursing, counseling, or teaching careers
- People training to be board-certified chaplains
- Direct patient involvement
- Ministry with different faith groups
- Individual learning goals
- Dynamic interfaith dialogue with peers
- Individual supervision
- Peer group relationships and support
- Didactic learning in a classroom-like setting
- Experience in crisis intervention and end of life ministry
- Verbatim reports of patient interaction
- Spiritual reflection
The extended unit of CPE meets one day a week (generally Mondays) from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for 23 weeks for training and group process. Students are required to provide clinical on call coverage in the hospital approximately four times per month: these are typically overnight shifts. Tuition for the Extended Unit is $750. At the successful completion of these requirements (totaling at least 100 hours of education and 300 contact hours with patients, families, and staff support), a student is granted one unit of credit from ACPE. Interns accepted into the program may apply for partial scholarship funds towards the program.
A CPE Residency provides an extensive training experience in pastoral ministry. CPE residents are employed by the hospital for the duration of their one-year experience, beginning in September. The Residency includes a stipend of approximately $32,000 with options for a full benefits package. At the successful completion of the program (that includes at least 300 hours of education and 1200 hours of ministry), a student is granted three units of CPE.
The prerequisites include: At least one unit of Level I CPE, a master’s degree or equivalent experience, spiritual community endorsement preferred, a completed CPE application form, an on-site admissions interview, and eligibility to be a hospital employee at Albany Medical Center.
Contact Us
If you are interested in discussing how CPE might fit into your ministry plans, feel free to reach out with questions:
518-262-3176
Joseph Mali
Program Director
[email protected]
The Rev. Jacob Marvel
Certified Educator
[email protected]
Andrew Tobias Nelson
[email protected]
Completed applications, as found at the ACPE Application form link, and the application fee of $30 should be mailed to:
Albany Medical Center, Department of Pastoral Care
43 New Scotland Ave., MC-19
Albany, NY 12208
Medical and gradate students can complete certificates in both pastoral care and bioethics during a one-year period. Students interested in working toward this certificate must make their intention clear during the application process for CPE Residency so that the departments can coordinate starting dates.
Hospital Pastoral Care
Learn more about Pastoral Care in the Albany Med Health System.