Certification Application Portal Instructions
Online Application System Now Available
Before beginning your application, please make sure you have an account (existing or new) on the APC/BCCI website at www.apchaplains.org and you’ve logged into your account. The login link will be in the upper left-hand corner of the purple header bar. You’ll have the option to login or create a new account.
Once you’ve added or verified your account, please return to the application site to begin your application. Links to the application site can be found on the BCCI Application page. Click the Begin or Continue an application button. A new window will open, and you’ll be logged into the application site.
When you access the application page, click on “My Cycle”, then on “Applications”. Click the orange “Begin” button to start your application.
Step 1 – Selecting Your Application Path
Click on the orange “Select a Pathway” button, then click the drop-down menu and select the certification type that you’re applying for, then click the “Next” button.
If you wish to request an Equivalency, select yes from the drop-down menu, otherwise, select “no” and click the “Confirm Pathway” button to move on to the next step.
Step 2 – Entering Your Graduate Information
Fill in the requested fields, then click the “upload” button to attach a copy of your transcript(s). Please make sure the transcript file(s) include the front and back of your transcript. Once you have loaded your file(s), please click the orange “Submit” button.
If you are submitting more than one transcript, please click the “add education” button, then fill in the information requested. Once you have finished, please click the orange “Submit” button.
Step 3 – Entering Your Professional Competency Courses
In this section you will fill in the competency information for each of the four required subject areas. Click the orange “Submit” button when you have finished.
Step 4 – Entering Your Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
Please enter the information, then click the “upload” button to upload your transcript from ACPE. Once you have finished, please click the orange “Submit” button to continue.
Step 5 – Adding Your Work Experience
In this section, you will fill in the requested information, then click the orange “Send Employment Verification Request” button.
Once you do that, you will receive a confirmation screen. If you click “ok” a work employment verification email will be sent to the person you listed in the previous window. Click “cancel” if you wish to go back and change any information.
If you need more than one employment verification letter, please click the “Add Employment Verification” button and repeat the steps.
Step 6 – Clinical Contact Narratives
For the clinical contacts, you must demonstrate at least these three competencies ITP2, PPS10, and PPS11. The primary narrative must be from your current work setting and within the last twelve (12) months.
The secondary narrative must be from within the last twenty-four (24) months.
Step 7 – Letter of Endorsement
Please fill in the information for your faith group endorser. Once you have filled in the information, please click the “Send Request to Endorser” button. The endorser will receive a request to complete/send the endorsement letter.
Step 8 – Letters of Recommendation
You are required to submit three letters of recommendation, the first one is from your Administrator or Employer. Please fill out the requested information in the details window. If you already have a letter, please click the “Add Letter Manually” button to attach the letter, then click the “Submit” button. Otherwise, click the “Send Request to Reference” button to send an email to the person you’re requesting a letter from.
The second one is from a current Board Certified Chaplain. Please fill out the requested information in the details window. If you already have a letter, please click the “Add Letter Manually” button to attach the letter, then click the “Submit” button. Otherwise, click the “Send Request to Reference” button to send an email to the person you’re requesting a letter from.
The third one is from a certified/licensed peer professional (in a discipline other than chaplaincy, e.g., doctor, nurse, social worker with whom the applicant has a working relationship). Please fill out the requested information in the details window. If you already have a letter, please click the “Add Letter Manually” button to attach the letter, then click the “Submit” button. Otherwise, click the “Send Request to Reference” button to send an email to the person you’re requesting a letter from.
Step 9 – Autobiography
Please type your autobiography in the autobiography box, then click the “Submit” button. Please note that your autobiography must be between 9600 and 16000 characters long.
Step 10 – Competencies
In section 1 you will provide a brief essay for each of the six (6) Integration of Theory and Practice (ITP) competencies. Click the “Provide Reflection” button to fill out the first competency, then click the orange “Submit” button. You will repeat the process for the remaining competencies.
In section 2 you will provide a brief essay for seven (7) of the nine (9) Professional Identity and Conduct (PIC) competencies. Click the “Provide Reflection” button to fill out the first competency, then click the orange “Submit” button. You will repeat the process for the remaining competencies.
In section 3 you will provide a brief essay for each of the eleven (11) Professional Practice Skills (PPS) competencies. Click the “Provide Reflection” button to fill out the first competency, then click the orange “Submit” button. You will repeat the process for the remaining competencies.
In section 4 you will provide a brief essay for each of the five (5) Organizational Leadership (OL) competencies. Click the “Provide Reflection” button to fill out the first competency, then click the orange “Submit” button. You will repeat the process for the remaining competencies.
Step 11 – Submitting Your Application
Once you have completed your application, you will see an orange “Ready to Submit” button at the top or bottom of your application. This button will not appear until all the required information has been added to your application. Click the button, then fill in the accountability statement, then click the next button.
Fill in the consent form, then click the “Submit” button.
After you’ve clicked the “Submit” button, you’ll be taken back to the main application page. Click on the “Pay Fees” button to process your application fee. Once the fee has been processed, your application will be reviewed in the order it was received. The BCCI office will contact you with any questions regarding your application.
