Graduate Certificate in Level I Clinical Pastoral Education
Develop Foundational Skills for Chaplaincy Through Level I Clinical Pastoral Education
Liberty University’s Graduate Certificate in Level I Clinical Pastoral Education is designed to introduce you to the core principles of professional chaplaincy through a Christ-centered lens. This program combines theological study with hands-on ministry experience to help you begin developing the skills needed for pastoral care in clinical, institutional, and community settings. Liberty offers training that aligns with national standards for Clinical Pastoral Education, helping prepare you to engage meaningfully with people facing crisis, loss, or spiritual need.
Each course in this certificate incorporates both academic engagement and hours of supervised clinical ministry. Whether you are preparing for a future in chaplaincy, expanding your ministry role, or pursuing personal growth in pastoral care, this certificate can provide a structured, reflective, and spiritually grounded foundation for the next step in your vocational journey.
What Will You Study in Liberty University’s Clinical Pastoral Education Online Program?
- Ethical and professional standards in pastoral care
- Foundations of Clinical Pastoral Education and chaplaincy
- Interpersonal and group dynamics in ministry
- Supervised clinical training in real-world settings
- Theological reflection and spiritual assessment
In this program, you’ll take part in both academic coursework and hands-on ministry, completing hours of supervised clinical training in an approved setting for CPE. Classroom components allow you to engage deeply with faculty and peers. Throughout your studies, you’ll have opportunities to explore how faith, psychology, and interpersonal skills intersect in spiritual care. By engaging in structured feedback, case presentations, and theological reflection, you can begin to develop the awareness and tools needed for ministry in a range of chaplaincy or pastoral contexts.
Benefits of Pursuing Your Clinical Pastoral Education Graduate Certificate with Liberty University
As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your online certificate from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- Most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors. As a nonprofit university, Liberty continues to strive to keep costs low for our students!
- Each course in the program awards 1 unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
- You will complete hours of supervised clinical ministry in a real-world ministry setting, allowing for immediate application of classroom learning.
Military Benefits
Service is important to us, so whether you’re currently serving in the Armed Forces, have served, or are married to someone who serves, we’re here to serve you. Liberty’s military benefits are available to:
- Active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/retirees
- Spouses of service members and veterans/retirees
- Current Department of Defense employees
We are proud to support you in your pursuit of a flexible and affordable online education by offering you the following benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for postgraduate courses
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
Potential Careers for Level I Clinical Pastoral Education Program Graduates
- Associate chaplain
- Chaplain assistant
- Chaplain resident
- Hospice chaplain
- Hospital chaplain (may require 4 units of CPE and Board Certification)
- Pastor
- Spiritual care coordinator
These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Credit Hours

Transfer Credits
Up to 50% can be transferred
Next Start Date
Aug 18, 2025
Accreditation
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC










600+ Online Degrees
With over 600 online degrees, we have something that will accommodate your dreams and calling.
Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus
Our residential campus ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America. That commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well.
Top 35% for Affordability
Most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.
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Hear from our Graduates
“The best part of my LU experience has been my growing faith formation through my developing educational understanding, as an aspiring school administrator.”
Megan Schultz, EdD School Administration & Supervision
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Morgan Schlesselman, Master’s in Public Policy
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James, Master of Divinity