Interfaith Professional Education for Ministry
Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students, ordained clergy, and qualified laypersons into supervised encounters with people in crisis. Intense involvement with patients and family members plus feedback from peers and educators give CPE students a new awareness of themselves and those to whom they minister.
The CPE Program at Providence St. Peter Hospital is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. and offers credit for units of CPE. One unit includes a minimum of 400 hours of clinical supervision and education. CPE students gain new perspectives on their ministry through theological reflections on real-life situations, and they develop skills through interpersonal and inter-professional relationships.
The Rev. (Dr.) Betty (Beth) Echols is a retired U.S. Army Chaplain, Episcopal priest, Board Certified Chaplain and ACPE Certified Educator (National Faculty). Beth has served across the country as an ACPE Certified Educator at various locations including: Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma Washington, and the VA Puget Sound Seattle, WA.
The Providence St. Peter Hospital CPE Program is committed to providing an environment for learning that fosters human growth and dignity. The instructional curriculum embodies the mission of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. as well as the mission and core values of Providence St. Joseph Health. The educational philosophy is that the clinical method of learning is enriched by diversity and we strive to provide a relational learning environment that is participatory and collegial. This philosophy is congruent with the mission and core values of Providence St. Joseph Health. We are committed to being a workplace where diversity is honored, the spirit of caregivers and patients are nurtured, and the core values of compassion, dignity, justice, excellence, and integrity guide our caring service. CPE is a proven path where students can deepen their understanding of pastoral identity, learn to work with other disciplines in the clinical setting and embrace their role as a spiritual care provider.
We have three types of programs, Palliative Care Fellowship, Resident, Intensive and Extended. The Resident Program offers a stipend, $41,537.60 with 30 % towards benefits, total package $53,998.88. We offer Extended CPE Programs twice each calendar year from the last week of mid-September to late January and again from early January to late May for 17 weeks with 6 hours of class time a week and 15 hours of clinical hours per week. Intensive programs run during the summer months for 11 weeks, 40 hours/week. Students can participate in a wide range of clinical settings. The program includes 100 hours of formal didactic time that utilizes the broad array of education resources that make the Pacific Northwest a unique training site.
The application fee is $50.00; tuition is $100 for Intern Unit and $500 for Resident Year.
ACPE is the only CPE that is accredited through the National Education Organization.
Dates are tentative and subject to change. Each program offers credit for One Unit of Level I or II CPE.
2025 Summer Intensive 2025
June 2 – August 14, 2025
2025 Fall Extended
September 3, 2024– December 26, 2025
Resident
August 24, 2025 – August 23, 2026
2026 Spring Extended
January 7, 2026 – May 14, 2026
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