Graduate Certificate in CPE – Level I
Start Building Your Foundation in Christ-Centered Chaplaincy
Are you ready to begin your training in Clinical Pastoral Education? Liberty University’s Graduate Certificate in Level I Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is designed to help you lay a strong biblical and practical foundation for chaplaincy ministry. This 12-credit-hour program introduces you to the principles of spiritual care grounded in Scripture and can help equip you to minister in both faith-based and secular environments.
Throughout this residential program, you’ll explore the biblical foundations of pastoral care, grow through supervised ministry experiences, and work to develop the skills to serve in hospitals, hospices, correctional facilities, the military, and beyond. Whether you are called to chaplaincy or seeking to deepen your pastoral outreach, this certificate can help you take your next steps with clarity and purpose.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
Highlights
Highlights of Our Graduate Certificate in Level I Clinical Pastoral Education
Build a Biblical Foundation for Ministry
Gain a deeper understanding of how to care for others through a thoroughly Christ-centered approach to pastoral care. You’ll study how to integrate biblical truth with real-world ministry practice in diverse and sometimes challenging chaplaincy environments.
Grow Professionally
This certificate includes structured supervision and group development that allows you to practice and refine your spiritual care approach. You’ll receive meaningful feedback that can help you grow in self-awareness, communication, and theological reflection.
Serve in a Variety of Chaplaincy Contexts
Prepare to minister in hospitals, hospices, prisons, and other settings where compassionate, biblically grounded care is needed. As you complete your Level I units, you can begin developing the pastoral presence and spiritual insight essential to effective chaplaincy.
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our Graduate CPE Certificate?
In this program, you’ll complete 2 sequential units of Level I Clinical Pastoral Education. These units focus on a biblical approach to chaplain training, emphasizing care that is grounded in the authority of God’s Word and guided by the Holy Spirit. You’ll explore key themes such as interpersonal development, group dynamics, and spiritual leadership in ministry environments that are often pluralistic or secular.
Supervision, reflective practice, and direct ministry experience will play a central role as you begin your journey toward mastery of clinical pastoral care. This certificate is ideal for students seeking foundational CPE credit and a deeper understanding of how to minister with clarity and conviction.
Required Level I CPE Courses
- CPED 631 – Clinical Pastoral Education Unit 1
- CPED 632 – Clinical Pastoral Education Unit 2
Certificate Information
- This program falls under the Liberty Theological Seminary
- View the Degree Completion Plan (coming soon)
- Check out our course catalog
- Transfer in up to 50% of the certificate total
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Graduate Certificate in Level I Clinical Pastoral Education?
Start Your CPE Journey with Purpose
This program is designed to help you take your first steps into CPE. You can develop essential ministry skills and build a foundation for future chaplaincy roles or further CPE units.
Experience Christ-Centered Training
At Liberty, we believe ministry begins with Scripture and is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our approach to CPE reflects our evangelical mission, helping you serve others with compassion while remaining rooted in biblical truth.
Learn in a Supportive Campus Environment
Study at our beautiful Lynchburg campus, where you’ll have access to academic resources like the Jerry Falwell Library and opportunities to connect with fellow ministry-minded students. Your residential intensive can also provide valuable face-to-face engagement with faculty and peers.
Prepare for a Range of Ministry Roles
Whether your goal is to become a hospital chaplain, hospice spiritual care coordinator, associate chaplain, or local pastor, this certificate can serve as a foundational step. Your training here can help you discern your calling and begin preparing for long-term ministry.
Admissions
How Do You Become a CPE Certificate – Level I Student?
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official transcripts showing a regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.0 GPA for admission in good standing
- John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Questionnaire
- Pastoral recommender contact information
Have Questions?
We’ll make sure you have the information you need to take your next step.