Meeting the Educational Requirements

1
Obtain your bachelor’s degree. Many institutions and organizations will not view you as a suitable potential chaplain until you have earned at least a Bachelor’s Degree.^[3] When seeking to become a chaplain, the most helpful and relevant educational focuses will be theology and counseling.

◦   Some colleges, universities and seminaries may offer specialized chaplain training with the goal of producing chaplains. However, getting an undergraduate degree in religion or a related field is also sufficient.

◦   If you aspire to become a chaplain in a particular institution, like a hospital or prison, supplement your undergraduate education with volunteer experience. This will be looked upon favorably when it comes to applying for jobs.

2
Consider getting a master’s degree. Many institutions require that chaplains have at least a master’s level education (and some prefer candidates with PhDs). This is especially necessary if you seek to become a hospital or military chaplain. Pursue your master’s in divinity or a related field, and consider advancing to a doctoral program if the job you desire requires it.

◦   Such degrees are available at seminaries and accredited universities.

◦   A focus on biblical counseling or pastoral care will give you the right tools to become a chaplain.

3
Determine if you need to receive Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). Hospital chaplains are often required to receive this training, which provides experience in the field as a supplement to educational coursework.^[4] You will have the opportunity to work with people in need in a healthcare facility or prison. CPE brings together chaplains of all different faiths and provides them with real-world, invaluable experience that will be applied on the job later on. It’s a requirement for many certification programs.

◦   Look into CPE centers at the type of facility where you want to work, so you’ll gain experience working with that particular population.

◦   The CPE program is divided into units. One unit typically takes about 3 months to complete. Some certification programs require that you complete up to 4 units.

4
Get ordained by your religious organization. Because the chaplain occupation is rooted in religion, training in religious education and practice is a necessity. In some cases you may be required to be ordained and endorsed by your religious organization before you’re hired as a chaplain. For example, the US Army requires that you be a clergy person in your denomination or faith group in order to apply.^[5] Many religious groups and organizations have their own standards and qualifications that you must meet before you can be officially endorsed as an eligible chaplain. Determine what steps you need to take to become a clergy person in your congregation.

◦   In many cases, a graduate-level degree from a seminary will be required in order to become a clergy person.

◦   In addition to ordination, your faith group must give you an endorsement, stating that you have the ecclesiastical qualifications to adequately represent your faith group and be a competent chaplain.^[6]