Starting a Chaplaincy Department

APC is committed to offering resources to assist in planning and implementing effective chaplaincy care programs in specialized ministry settings. You are invited to utilize the following resources that provide valuable research and guidelines. If you have feedback about the kind of resources you would like to see available on the website, contact us with your suggestions.


Standards for Chaplaincy Departments

The Commission on Accreditation of Pastoral Services (CCAPS) has established complete standards for the effective delivery of chaplaincy services in institutional settings. CCAPS provides national consultation, evaluation and accreditation of institutions for their delivery of chaplaincy services. Review of these standards will help establish goals for new departments as well as help established departments learn where they might strengthen their service. Visit the CCAPS website to learn about the process of accreditation as well as review the complete standards.


Hiring Board Certified Chaplains

Chaplaincy care in health care settings has become a specialty to be delivered by persons who possess a solid theological perspective and are sensitive to the diverse spiritual needs of patients and their families. APC has a long and trusted history of providing a process of certification that ensures high standards of education, training, and personal and professional competence. Advertising through Job Opportunities offers you greater access to trained, chaplaincy professionals. Beyond their graduate degrees, board certified chaplains receive a minimum of one full year of clinical training, specializing in institutional chaplaincy and they are guided by a Code of Professional Ethics.


The Impact of Professional Spiritual Care

The Impact of Professional Spiritual Care, has been co-authored and co-published by our five associations to provide you the most current expressions of and research on the profession of chaplaincy and spiritual care in the United States and Canada in a very accessible and readable format so that you can utilize the materials for yourself, and for your staffs, associates, and executives to explain and advocate for our profession.

This flip book format, versus a typical pdf format of a white paper, will allow us to continue to update materials as they become relevant, as well as aid you in using them. 

View the complete version of The Impact of Professional Spiritual Care including graphics and photographs.