Clinical Pastoral Education

Children’s Health℠ applies its role as a leading teaching hospital in North Texas to its Spiritual Care and Education Department as well. Just as we train future medical leaders, our program prepares divinity students for a variety of ministries including institutional chaplaincy, pastoral ministry in a congregational setting, volunteer ministries, non-profit ministry and pastoral counseling.

Our program offers a dynamic and challenging learning environment for students interested in professional and personal growth through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) and is accredited by ACPE to offer Level I, Level II and Educator Candidacy Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Children’s Medical Center Plano.

At the Dallas campus we offer five to six resident positions in CPE each year, from August to August, which include a stipend with benefits. Supervisory CPE fellowships (a minimum of three years) for those interested in pursuing supervisory education are available on a rolling basis.

Please contact us regarding openings in our Educator Candidacy CPE program before submitting your application.

We also offer single units of CPE, Levels I and II, throughout the year:

Dallas campus

Extended unit: September - April
Summer intensive unit: June - August

For specific dates of current and upcoming programs please call 214-456-2822.

Plano campus

Continuous extended units: September - April and April - September

For specific dates of current and upcoming programs please call 469-303-2822.

Our programs

Our extended unit programs on both campuses offer students the possibility of incorporating their current ministry experiences (in congregations, parishes, hospices, other hospitals, skilled nursing or continuum of care facilities) as part of their required clinical hours.

Students admitted to either location of the CPE program at Children’s Health assist in providing regular on-call coverage at the Dallas campus.

Residents and single unit students in the CPE program have the opportunity to:

Learn about childhood spirituality and development, Godly Play®, and how to incorporate an appreciation for the spirituality of children into one’s spiritual care for the whole family.
Develop perspective and skill in a family-systems approach to spiritual ministry.
Explore and develop theoretical stances that assist in assessing and responding spiritually to complex theological and ethical issues that accompany the serious illness of an infant, child or adolescent.
Learn to provide spiritual care to members of the staff and to understand spiritual and theological issues at the organizational level, as part of developing one’s spiritual leadership capacities.
Develop greater awareness of and appreciation for the cultural, spiritual, and religious diversity that surrounds the greater Dallas - Fort Worth area and beyond, and learn to function as an intercultural team member and spiritual guide.

Although pastoral education in the pediatric setting equips the resident with specialized skills in working with children and families, the overall program focus is transferable to any ministry placement.

Applicants for residencies at the Dallas campus should have completed graduate-level coursework in theology or related fields. A Master of Divinity degree or equivalent and one previous unit of CPE are preferred.
Applicants for Educator Candidacy education should have completed a Master of Divinity degree equivalent and no fewer than four units of CPE.
Applicants for single units (extended or summer programs) should have a bachelor’s degree from a nationally accredited institution or its equivalent

English language proficiency that is adequate to function pastorally in the clinical and educational settings is necessary.

Tuition per unit is $500 for residency programs. All interviews are held on-site at the applicant’s expense. Completed applications should be sent to the Spiritual Care and Education Department:

Children's Medical Center
Witek Nowosiad, Chaplain
ACPE Certified Educator
7601 Preston Rd
Plano, TX 75024
469-303-2822
Witek Nowosiad

Applicants may contact Spiritual Care and Education at 214-456-2822 or email Witek Nowosiad at witek.nowosiad@childrens.com.

Spiritual Care and Education

When a child is hospitalized, that child’s world is changed forever. We are honored to provide a hopeful, spiritual presence for children and their families at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. Learn more.