New Program — August 2026
Hindu Clinical Pastoral Education
A 400-hour Hindu-centric CPE program built in partnership with CPEI — the critical step toward Board Certification as a chaplain in hospitals, hospices, universities, and military settings.
(100 academic + 300 practicum)
(individual extension possible)
(2 supervisory + 3-4 CPE)
(HSCI Fellowship on completion)
Program Objectives
The HSCI Hindu CPE program is built to:
- Establish Hindu bona fides for HSCI to support worldwide chaplaincy Board Certification
- Build a deep partnership with CPEI, the international accreditation body for CPE
- Develop capacity for 6 CPE candidates per session with Hindu tradition specialization
- Train a deep bench of supervisory chaplains for sustained program quality
- Provide direct guidance toward Board Certification through BCCI and APC pathways
Program Leadership
The Hindu CPE program is led by Neeti Soota and Ashok Chandrasekhar with Kailash Joshi, with 2 additional faculty members joining as the program expands. Cohort-1 supervision is provided by CPEI (most likely Dr. Burgos); from Cohort-2 onward, NS and AC assume direct supervisory responsibility under a 2-year agreement with a documented succession plan.
Who Should Apply
- Individuals with decided interest in Hindu interreligious chaplaincy as vocation or sustained practice
- Candidates pursuing Board Certification as a professional chaplain
- Those interested in serving at HSCI as a supervisory chaplain or staff chaplain
What You Should Know
- 1st, 2nd, or 3rd CPE: HSCI Hindu CPE is open to all qualified candidates — not restricted to the first CPE unit.
- Concurrent enrollment possible: Well-prepared candidates may take Hindu CPE concurrently with the CHT or the GTU MA in Interreligious Chaplaincy.
- Tuition deposit refunded on completion: The $1,375 deposit is returned as an HSCI Fellowship upon successful completion. Incomplete candidates forfeit the deposit.
- Completion flexibility: Negotiated with CPEI on a case-by-case basis.
- Hindu-integrated academic segment: The 100-hour academic component includes Hindu tradition–related content alongside standard CPE curriculum.
- Hindu-integrated practicum: The 300-hour practicum incorporates Hindu community settings — temples, community centers, senior homes, festivals — alongside hospital/hospice placements.
- Local practicum support: Candidates establish their own local practicum with help from CPEI and HSCI.
Timeline — Cohort 1
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Cohort-1 selection and sign-up | By June 15, 2026 |
| Orientation sessions | Late July / early August 2026 |
| Cohort-1 begins | August 2026 |
| Duration | 12 weeks or 16 weeks (extension possible) |
| Subsequent cohorts | In line with CPEI calendar |
How This Fits the Hindu Chaplaincy Pathway
CPE is the critical step in the HSCI Credential Pathway:
- CHT (Counselor of Hindu Tradition) — 200 hours, 9 months
- GTU MA in Interreligious Chaplaincy — 12 CHT credits transfer
- CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) — 400 hours (this program)
- 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.
Who to Contact
Neeti Soota
About the CPE Program
(408) 712-7183
Usha Narasimhan
CHT, GTU & Fellowships
(909) 994-0301
Kailash Joshi
About HSCI
(408) 464-5172
CPEI (Clinical Pastoral Education International) provides clinical pastoral education globally through online and hybrid formats. Founded in 2018, it develops pastoral clinicians and supervisory educators serving all faiths. Learn more at cpei.edu.