Clinical Pastoral Education at Sutter Roseville
Sutter Roseville's Extended Clinical Pastoral Education Program
ACPE CPE at Sutter Roseville
ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is interfaith professional training for those called to spiritual care or ministry. It brings students into supervised, real-life encounters with patients and families in the hospital setting. Through these experiences and guided reflection with peers and educators in a supportive environment, students grow in self-awareness, develop professional identity and build strong spiritual care skills.
This hands-on learning process helps students integrate intercultural, interpersonal and interfaith competencies. The CPE experience emphasizes relational learning built on mutual trust, respect, openness and honest dialogue. Along the way, students gain insight, spiritual formation and practical tools for providing compassionate, thoughtful care.
CPE at Sutter Roseville Medical Center
At Sutter Roseville, we offer extended unit ACPE Certified CPE™ programs where students can complete one or two units per year, depending on the track. Our program is open to those who have completed an undergraduate degree and some theological education. It offers a deep, immersive experience that combines learning and real-world spiritual care.
Using an action-reflection-action model, the program focuses on personal growth, small group formation, and developing the ability to reflect on one’s experiences while building skills as a spiritual caregiver.
Students can complete either an internship (1–2 units) or a residency (4 units). This training supports preparation for a wide range of spiritual care roles, including chaplaincy, community ministry, lay ministry, pastoral counseling, teaching and spiritual leadership in any faith tradition.
Many theological schools require at least one unit of CPE for graduation, and some accept a full year of CPE to meet their internship requirements. Some ordaining bodies also require a unit of CPE for ordination or licensure. Those seeking employment as healthcare chaplains or board certification through the Association of Professional Chaplains typically need four completed units of ACPE CPE and a master’s degree in a theological field.
About Sutter Roseville Medical Center
Sutter Roseville is a 382-bed hospital (expanding to 418 beds in 2025) and a Level II Trauma Center. The medical center includes three ICU units, three trauma-neuro ICU units and a neonatal ICU. In 2025, a cardiovascular ICU unit will also open. As a teaching hospital, Sutter Roseville is home to several physician and nurse residency programs, offering students a rich and dynamic learning environment.
One unit of CPE at Sutter Roseville Medical Center requires a minimum of 400 clinical and educational hours. You must have a minimum of 100 hours of individual and group education and 250 hours of clinical work within the hospital setting for each unit of education.
CPE Programs at Sutter Roseville Medical Center
Sutter Roseville Medical Center offers three Extended CPE programs:
18-Hour Week
- 2 CPE units per year
- September 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026
- Meets Monday afternoons and Wednesday mornings
- 7 instructional hours and 11 clinical hours each week
12-Hour Week
- 1 CPE unit per year
- October 13, 2025 to June 30, 2026
- Meets Wednesday afternoons
- 4 instructional hours and 8 clinical hours each week
Online Program
- 1 CPE unit per year
- October 13, 2025 to June 30, 2026
- Meets Wednesday evenings
- Can be a placement site or for external placement sites
- 3 instructional hours and 8 clinical hours each week