Certification Resources
Certification Forms
At the 2018 meeting of the CPSP Governing Council, it was agreed by consensus that Board Certified Clinical Chaplain and Board Certified Pastoral Counselor certificates would be combined into one certificate. This means that candidates seeking certification under this category will now receive duel certifications upon approval. This also holds true for Board Certified Associate Clinical Chaplains and Board Certified Associate Pastoral Counselor candidates.
Certification Review Panel Fees
Certification review panel fees are due before deadline for the scheduled review panel, typically, 60 days before the review panel date.
Review panel fees are non-refundable, but if a candidate cannot attend a scheduled review panel, the fees may be transferred to another scheduled review panel.
The $250 review panel fee is due each time a candidate sits for a review, if their certification requires that they have a review panel.
Certifications requiring a review panel are:
Clinical Chaplain/Pastoral Counselor
Associate Clinical Chaplain/Pastoral Counselor
Pastoral Psychotherapist
Diplomates
Certifications that do not require a review panel:
Clinical Fellow/Associate in Hospice and Palliative Care
Clinical Fellow/Associate in Substance Use and Addiction
Clinically Trained Minister
The certificate fee covers the cost of the certificate, shipping, tracking, and replacement if the certificate is lost or arrives to the candidate damaged.
Replacement certificates may be ordered if a certified member loses or damages a certificate or has a name change. The cost of the replacement certificate is half the current cost of the certificate, and that cost covers shipping and tracking.
Schedule of Certification Fees - Effective January 1, 2019
Diplomate (DS, DPP): $250 Review panel fee / $150 Certificate
Clinicians (CC/PC, ACC/APC, PP): $250 Review panel fee / $100 Certificate
Hospice and Palliative Care (HPC, AHPC)*: $100 Certificate / No review panel required
Substance Use and Addiction (SUA)*: $100 Certificate / No review panel required
Clinically Trained Minister (CTM): $100 Certificate / No review panel required
*HPC, AHPC, and SUA certifications require that a candidate
is first CC/PC, ACC/APC, or PP certified.
Certification Manual
The Certification Manual is a dynamic document tethered to The Standards. Candidates and chapters are encouraged to review these resources well before a candidate enters the certification process. It is the candidate's responsibility to know the steps involved in the process. The chapter's role is to assist the candidate with ongoing consultation regarding the candidate's preparation for certification.
The Certification Manual is on the Key Documents page.
Rubric for Certification for Clinicians
A rubric for certification ensures standardization and objectivity in evaluating candidates by providing consistent criteria. It enhances transparency by clearly outlining expectations, offers detailed feedback for improvement, and maintains high quality standards. Additionally, it demonstrates compliance with legal and ethical requirements, ensuring a rigorous and fair certification process.
Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organizations
Ecclesiastical endorsement is verification by an Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organization that an authorized minister or practitioner is in good standing, has gained the necessary qualifying education and experience, as well as being willing and capable of working collegially in a religiously and culturally pluralistic setting without prejudice.
For members of faith communities that do not endorse, the functional equivalent within their tradition will be required to meet this standard for certification.
This is the complete list of Ecclesiastical Organizations that the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes as Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organizations..