It can, if that is your desire and you meet the other requirements for membership as a Pastoral Care Specialist. While there are several requirements that must be met for acceptance at this level of AAPC membership, this course of study does meet the small group consultation requiement. For more information about what is involved in becoming a Pastoral Care Specialist member of AAPC, contact the American Association of Pastoral Counselors at 703.385.6967 or by email: info@aapc.org.

No. The Pastoral Care Specialist Certificate is a course of study developed for clergy and laity who are responsible for meeting pastoral care needs within their congregations. It is designed to strengthen the individual’s pastoral identity and to enhance his or her pastoral care skills. While it does provide a good first step toward professional certification, it is only an initial step in the longer pastoral counselor’s clinical study and certification process and does not by itself provide certification.  Therefore, it would not be recognized for certification or licensure by any state or commonwealth.

For more information about what is involved in becoming a certified pastoral counselor, contact the American Association of Pastoral Counselors at 703.385.6967 or by email: info@aapc.org.

The Peer Group Practicum combines six weeks of online peer group interaction concurrent with each participant’s field placement in the pastoral care ministry context of his or her choice.   The online peer group interaction will utilize case study and personal reflection from each participant's ministry context.

In addition to the hands-on ministry, participants should expect to spend 4 hours per week for peer group reading, writing, and reflection.  Participants will continue to have the benefit of email discussion and schedule flexibility in the peer group experience.

As part of the Individualized Learning Contract participants will be expected to write a description of their ministry context, to identify 2-3 personal learning objectives on which they agree to focus throughout the practicum, and to identify 2-3 additional readings related to their learning objectives and agree to complete those readings during the practicum.  Participants will also be required to present a minimum of 3 case studies over the course of the Practicum.

The Peer Group Practicum is a separate experience that follows the participant’s completion of the core seminars.   The core seminars provide fertile background information and a frame of reference that enriches the Practicum experience.

Each participant is responsible for identifying a ministry placement in which to serve for the duration of the practicum. The placement may be in a variety of congregational roles or clinical settings.  Examples of a placement setting include: a hospital, nursing home, hospice, within a congregation or an outreach program of a congregation.  Participants will have the opportunity to discuss options with the program facilitator; however, the identification of a placement will ultimately be the responsibility of each participant.

Participants will need to identify an on-site Advisory/Covenant Group composed of 3-5 individuals from their ministry context.  Each member of the Advisory Group needs to sign an agreement indicating that they are willing to support the participant in this process. (This group will help the participants evaluate their progress in light of their personal learning objectives.)

No, ordination is not a requirement of this program.

For more information of what is involved in becoming a certified pastoral counselor, you can contact the American Association of Pastoral Counselors at 703.385.6967 or by email: info@aapc.org.

The four core seminars are:

1. Introduction to the Ministry of Pastoral Care and Counseling
2. Crisis Intervention and Pastoral Care
3. Pastoral Care and Counseling with Grief and Loss
4. Pastoral Assessment, Referral, and Supportive Counseling

In addition, each participant is required to do an individualized Practicum in his/her own ministry context.  Each person will present case studies based on his or her ministry needs and these will be reviewed online with the peer group.

The faculty for this certificate will vary from peer group to peer group.  Each seminar is facilitated by a member of the Oates Institute’s faculty who is also a Fellow or Diplomate with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. 

We occasionally have scholarship funds available for this program. Please let us know if there is an issue of financial need in order to participate in this program.