STH: Chaplaincy

Overview

Chaplaincy and spiritual care is provided in healthcare organizations ranging from hospitals to nursing facilities, retirement centers, and hospices and palliative care facilities. 

Training & Qualifications

What is certification? 

Increasingly spiritual care and chaplaincy positions in healthcare organizations require people to be board certified chaplains. To become board certified, you must have a master’s degree with graduate-level theological education, clinical pastoral education, endorsement/support from a recognized faith group and demonstrated competency in functioning as a chaplain. This is detailed in the document, Qualifications for Board Certified and Associate Certified Chaplains. A wide range of spiritual and religious groups are recognized as endorsers for healthcare chaplains. A wide range of spiritual and religious groups are recognized as endorsers for healthcare chaplains.

 In recent years, endorsement has been extended to more Buddhist and Humanist organizations. The Unitarian Universalist Society for Community Ministry has also recently been recognized as an endorser for healthcare chaplains. 

The Veterans Administration (VA) also requires candidates for their chaplaincy position be endorsed by a recognized VA endorser. Federal prisons and the VA recognizes a wider range of endorsers than does the military. 

The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, based at Brandeis University, supports research, teaching, and the provision of spiritual care in a range of settings.