Spiritual care services and clinical pastoral education at University of Colorado Hospital

We offer the rich and stimulating environment of a teaching hospital and supporting out-patient clinics. Our world is one of diverse heritage, culture, faith expression, religious association, and socio-economic condition among patients and families, faculty, students, and hospital staff.

We believe that curiosity and questioning excite learning; and that listening, even to silence, brings about new knowledge. We believe you will be changed in some way perhaps through a new definition of self and understanding of professional behavior or manner.

We invite our students to join an atmosphere of learning that we hope is contagious and expect to be mutual. We will use an action/reflection model of learning in order to enhance your particular learning and assist your professional development.

The UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital Department of Spiritual Care Services is an accredited ACPE Center for clinical pastoral education (CPE). We offer Levels I, II, and the Certified Educator Levels of ACPE clinical pastoral education. We look forward to receiving your application.

Get admission criteria for all programs >

• Level I and Level II > go to application page
• Certified Educator CPE > go to application page

You may submit your completed application for our rolling admission process by email ([email protected]) or by mail:

Department of Spiritual Care Services, UCHealth
ACPE Center for Clinical Pastoral Education
12401 E. 17th Avenue, A-032
Aurora, CO  80045

tel: 720.848.4063

Level I Units

Summer Intensive Unit  |  May 28, 2024 – August 9, 2024
Tuition: $1,250
Application deadline: April 8, 2024

11 weeks/40 hours per week + on-call at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Anschutz Medical Campus. Share a balanced on-call rotation including overnights and weekends in this medical setting. Academic and group experience will take place in the UCH Spiritual Care Department on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

A $100 non-refundable deposit is due upon acceptance into the program. The balance is due when the session begins, before student enrollment with ACPE, Inc.

Fall/Winter Extended Unit  |  October 14, 2024 – March 21, 2025
Tuition: $1,250
Application deadline: August 23, 2024

23 weeks/~20 hours per week part-time + on-call at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Anschutz Medical Campus. Share a balanced on-call rotation including overnights and weekends in this medical setting. Academic and group experience will take place in the UCH Spiritual Care Department on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

A $100 non-refundable fee is due upon acceptance into the program. The balance is due when the unit begins, before student enrollment with ACPE, Inc.

Level II Residency

CPE Residency  |  August 19, 2024 – August 22, 2025
Tuition: Waived
Application deadline: March 4, 2024

Engages students in a program of education and clinical spiritual care service. Residencies are a full-time commitment, 40 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for one year. Three Level II ACPE units make up a residency year. Additionally, residents participate in an on-call rotation which includes some overnights and weekends. It is expected that applicants for residency have previously completed at least one ACPE Unit of clinical pastoral education. Acceptance in the program is contingent on satisfaction of Human Resources and health requirements of University of Colorado Hospital. Single units of Level II CPE are not offered.

2^nd Year CPE Palliative Care Fellowship  |  August 19, 2024 – August 22, 2025
Tuition: Waived
Application deadline: March 4, 2024

Engages students in a program of education and clinical spiritual care service. Fellowships are a full-time commitment, 40 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for one year. Three Level II ACPE units make up a residency year. Students in the Specialized Residency for Palliative Care primarily spend clinical time with the UCH accredited Palliative Care Service. The palliative care fellow also participates in on-call duties. It is expected that applicants for this CPE specialized residency have previously completed a Level II ACPE Residency. Acceptance in the program is contingent on satisfaction of Human Resources and health requirements of UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.

Certified Educator CPE

Certified Educator CPE  |  August 19, 2024 – August 22, 2025
Tuition: Waived
Application deadline: March 4, 2024

40 hours per week + on-call at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Anschutz Medical Campus. Share a balanced on-call rotation including overnights and weekends in this medical setting. Education and peer groups will consist of Certified Educator students in other ACPE-accredited programs. Competitive salary and benefits are included.

All ACPE clinical pastoral education with these programs will take place at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Anschutz Medical Campus.

Single Units: Level I ACPE

Extended Unit

Engages students in a part-time program of education and clinical spiritual care service. The weekly time commitment is arranged with supervisors and peers. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 100 hours of educational time and 300 hours of clinical service time during the course of the unit. In addition to the 400 hours required to complete one extended unit of CPE, students participate in the on-call rotation which includes some overnights and weekends. Acceptance in the program is contingent upon satisfaction of Volunteer Services and health requirements of University of Colorado Hospital.

Summer Intensive Unit

Engages students in a full-time program of education and clinical spiritual care service, 40 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a total of 400 hours/unit. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 100 hours of educational time and 300 hours of clinical service time during the course of the unit. In addition to the 400 hours required to complete one unit of CPE, students participate in the on-call rotation which includes some overnights and weekends. Acceptance in the program is contingent upon satisfaction of Volunteer Services and health requirements of the University of Colorado Hospital.

Yearlong Residencies: Level II ACPE

CPE Residency

Engages students in a program of education and clinical spiritual care service. Residencies are a full-time commitment, 40 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for one year for a total of 1600 hours of supervised learning per year. Four Level II ACPE units make up a residency year. Additionally, residents participate in an on-call rotation which includes some overnights and weekends. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 400 hours of educational time and 1200 hours of clinical service time during the course of the year. It is expected that applicants for residency have previously completed at least one ACPE Unit of clinical pastoral education. Acceptance in the program is contingent on satisfaction of Human Resources and health requirements of University of Colorado Hospital. Single units of Level II CPE are not offered.

2^nd Year CPE Palliative Care Fellowship

Engages students in a program of education and clinical spiritual care service. Residencies are a full-time commitment, 40 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for one year for a total of 1600 hours of supervised learning per year. Four Level II ACPE units make up a residency year. Students in the Specialized Residency for Palliative Care will primarily spend clinical time with the UCH accredited Palliative Care Service. The palliative care resident will participate in on-call duties. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 400 hours of educational time and 1200 hours of clinical service time during the course of the year. It is expected that applicants for this CPE specialized residency have completed one ACPE Unit of Level I clinical pastoral education and one year (4 units) of a Level II ACPE Residency. Acceptance in the program is contingent on satisfaction of Human Resources and health requirements of UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.

Certified Educator CPE

Certified Educator CPE

Engages students in a program of continued clinical pastoral education and service. Education will focus on the practice of clinical pastoral education with this center’s Certified Educators and other Certified Educators and peers throughout ACPE. Residents in the ACPE Certification process are accepted for three years and reviewed annually for continued participation. Certified Educator CPE is a full-time commitment, 40 hours per week, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a total of 1600 hours of supervised learning per year. Additionally, Certified Educator residents participate in the on-call rotation which includes some overnights and weekends. This on-call commitment may be active primary call or on-call support for Level I students. Certified Educator Students are expected to complete a minimum of 1600 combined educational and clinical service hours per year. Single units of Certified Educator CPE are not offered. It is required that applicants for Certified Educator CPE have completed prerequisite Levels of ACPE clinical pastoral education. Acceptance in the program is contingent upon satisfaction of Human Resources and health requirements of UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.

The Rev. Julie R. Swaney
ACPE Certified Educator
[email protected]

The Rev. Dustin Frye
ACPE Certified Educator
[email protected]
720.848.3036

Accrediting Agency
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
One West Court Square, Suite 325
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404.320.1472 | www.acpe.edu