Hindu CPE — Clinical Pastoral Education

About the HSCI CPE Program

In August 2026, HSCI will launch a new Hindu-centric CPE course to enhance the training of Hindu chaplains worldwide. This course will be offered under an affiliate agreement with CPEI, an international online accreditation body for CPE certification.

CPEI provides clinical pastoral education globally through online and hybrid formats to develop pastoral clinicians and supervisory educators. Founded in 2018, it serves all faiths. This agreement enables HSCI to deliver customized CPE training with integrated Hindu community and tradition-based content.

Course Structure

The HSCI CPE course will include:

• 100-hour academic component covering approximately 50% Hindu theology, philosophy, ethics, and spiritual care practices
• 300 hours of practical experience emphasizing supervised experiences in Hindu and interreligious spiritual care within community settings

The course will be supervised by HSCI-designated, qualified supervisory chaplains.

Cohort 1 — August to December 2026

The first CPE cohort is planned to run from August to December 2026. We are currently assessing interest to determine the size of Cohort 1.

If you are interested in enrolling, please complete our survey of interest by Friday, April 17, 2026.

Express Interest View Credential Pathway

How This Fits the Hindu Chaplaincy Pathway

The CPE course is a critical step in the HSCI Credential Pathway:

1. CHT (Counselor of Hindu Tradition) — 200 hours, 9 months
2. GTU MA in Interreligious Chaplaincy — 12 CHT credits transfer
3. CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) — 400 hours (this course)
4. Board Certification (BCCI/APC)

With this CPE offering, HSCI now provides or enables every step of the pathway from community volunteer to board-certified Hindu chaplain.