Recommended by the Certification Committee and Approved by the Executive Council on August 9, 2008, affirmed by our Certified Members, to be implemented January 1, 2009.
There shall be three categories: 1) Basic Certified Chaplain, 2) Certified Correctional Chaplain, and Certified Clinical Correctional Chaplain. All three categories require the following: At least 1 year or 2000 hours of experience as a correctional chaplain, ACCA membership, ordination or licensing for ministry, ecclesiastical endorsement by a recognized faith group for ministry in a specialized setting, agreement with the ACCA code of ethics, 350-500-word autobiography, a narrative statement of pastoral care and chaplaincy addressing the competencies specified, documentation of all requirements, certification fee, and an interview by a Certification Interview Committee. The three categories are:
(1) Basic Certified Correctional Chaplain. In addition to the requirements for all categories noted above, other requirements include: at least one unit of clinical pastoral education (CPE provided by the ACPE, CAPPE or NACC); at least 12 credits of counseling, psychology, or pastoral care courses, and at least three credits in religion at the bachelor’s or master’s level; two letters of recommendation, at least one of which will be from a facility supervisor; be willing to accept a Certified Correctional Chaplain “mentor” for consultation as needed and on a periodic basis; one dated verbatim representing the chaplain’s current level of functioning; a narrative statement on the chaplain’s pastoral care and chaplaincy work of approximately 1000 words demonstrating and citing the competencies listed below for a “Basic Certified Chaplain;” and other work as might be deemed needed to develop competencies to fulfill the role of a chaplain in a correctional setting as determined through the interview process.
(2) Certified Correctional Chaplain. In addition to the requirements for all categories noted above, other requirements include: at least two units of clinical pastoral education (CPE provided by the ACPE, CAPPE or NACC; one unit may be an equivalent unit, per ACCA guidelines); three letters, at least one of which will be from a facility supervisor; master’s degree in religion, social science or related field from an institution accredited by either the Association of Theological Schools or one of the regional Association of Colleges and Schools (www.chea.org) or equivalent; two dated verbatim representing the chaplain’s current level of functioning; a narrative statement of the chaplain’s pastoral care and chaplaincy work of approximately 2000 words demonstrating and citing the competencies listed below for a “Certified Correctional Chaplain;”
(3) Certified Clinical Correctional Chaplain. In addition to the requirements for all categories noted above, other requirements include: at least four units of clinical pastoral education (CPE provided by the ACPE, CAPPE or NACC; one unit may be an equivalent unit, per ACCA guidelines); four letters, at least one of which will be from a facility supervisor; master’s degree of a minimum of 72 semester hours or 108 quarter hours of credit in religion, social science or related field from an institution accredited by either the Association of Theological Schools or one of the regional Association of Colleges and Schools (www.chea.org) or equivalent; two dated verbatim representing the chaplain’s current level of functioning one of which must have been in the past year; a narrative statement of the chaplain’s pastoral care and chaplaincy work of approximately 2000 words demonstrating and citing the competencies listed below for a “ Certified Clinical Correctional Chaplain.”
Competencies
Competencies to be demonstrated for each of the above categories are paralleling the competencies required for certified chaplains by the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) as established by the Spiritual Care Collaborative.
Theory of Pastoral Care Competencies (TPC) Pastoral Competencies (PAS)
Identity and Conduct Competencies (IDC) Professional Competencies (PRO)
Basic Certified Chaplain
- TPC1: Articulate a theology of spiritual care that is integrated with a theory of pastoral practice.
- IDC1: Function pastorally in a manner that respects the physical, emotional and spiritual boundaries of others.
- IDC2: Use pastoral authority appropriately.
- IDC3: Identify one’s professional strengths and limitations in the provision of pastoral care.
- IDC6: Function within the ACCA and Common Code of Ethics for Chaplains, Pastoral Counselors, Pastoral Educators and Students.
- PAS1: Establish, deepen and end pastoral relationships with sensitivity, openness and respect.
- PAS2: Provide effective pastoral support that contributes to well-being of inmates, their families and staff.
- PAS3: Provide pastoral care that respects diversity and differences including, but not limited to culture, gender, sexual orientation and spiritual/religious practices.
- PAS5: Provide pastoral care to persons experiencing loss and grief.
- PAS7: Provide religious/spiritual resources appropriate to the care of inmates, families and staff.
- PAS8: Develop, coordinate and facilitate public worship/spiritual practices appropriate to diverse settings and needs.
- PRO2: Establish and maintain professional and interdisciplinary relationships.
- PRO5: Document one’s contribution of care effectively in the appropriate records.
- PRO6: Foster a collaborative relationship with community clergy and faith group leaders.Certified Correctional and Certified Clinical Correctional Chaplain
- TPC1: Articulate a theology of spiritual care that is integrated with a theory of pastoral practice.
- TPC2: Incorporate a working knowledge of psychological and sociological disciplines and religious beliefs and practices in the provision of pastoral care.
- TPC3: Incorporate the spiritual and emotional dimensions of human development into the practice of pastoral care.
- TPC4: Incorporate a working knowledge of ethics appropriate to the pastoral context.
- TPC5: Articulate a conceptual understanding of group dynamics and organizational behavior.
- IDC1: Function pastorally in a manner that respects the physical, emotional and spiritual boundaries of others.
- IDC2: Use pastoral authority appropriately.
- IDC3: Identify one’s professional strengths and limitations in the provision of pastoral care.
- IDC4: Articulate ways in which one’s feelings, attitudes, values and assumptions affect one’s pastoral care.
- IDC5: Advocate for the persons in one’s care.
- IDC6: Function within the ACCA and the Common Code of Ethics for Chaplains, Pastoral Counselors, Pastoral Educators and Students.
- IDC7: Attend to one’s own physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
- PAS1: Establish, deepen and end pastoral relationships with sensitivity, openness and respect.
- PAS2: Provide effective pastoral support that contributes to well-being of inmates, their families and staff.
- PAS3: Provide pastoral care that respects diversity and differences including, but not limited to culture, gender, sexual orientation and spiritual/religious practices.
- PAS4: Triage and manage crises in the practice of pastoral care.
- PAS5: Provide pastoral care to persons experiencing loss and grief.
- PAS6: Formulate and utilize spiritual assessments in order to contribute to plans of care.
- PAS7: Provide religious/spiritual resources appropriate to the care of inmates, families and staff.
- PAS8: Develop, coordinate and facilitate public worship/spiritual practices appropriate to diverse settings and needs.
- PAS9: Facilitate theological reflection in the practice of pastoral care.
- PRO1: Promote the integration of Pastoral/Spiritual Care into the life and service of the institution in which it resides.
- PRO2: Establish and maintain professional and interdisciplinary relationships.
- PRO3: Articulate an understanding of institutional culture and systems and systemic relationships.
- PRO4: Support, promote and encourage ethical decision-making and care.
- PRO5: Document one’s contribution of care effectively in the appropriate records.
- PRO6: Foster a collaborative relationship with community clergy and faith group leaders.