The WVU Medicine Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) internship is a 24-week, part-time, volunteer program open to seminarians, clergy seeking continuing education, and qualified laypersons. The program follows the standards and guidelines of the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and is available for ACPE Levels IA-IIB students.

The CPE internship consists of 144 educational hours and 256 clinical hours:

  • The 144 educational hours are achieved through a hybrid of online and in-person cohort meetings that take place each Monday from 8 am-3 pm throughout the unit. Students will also meet individually with their ACPE certified educator biweekly throughout the unit.
  • The 256 clinical hours consist of providing spiritual care to patients as assigned at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital (Morgantown, West Virginia), WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center (Parkersburg, West Virginia), WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (Bridgeport, West Virginia), or WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital. These hours may be achieved through a combination of regular weekday and overnight/weekend on-call shifts.
  • Credit for the unit is contingent on successful completion of the required educational and clinical hours and the demonstration of competence of the appropriate ACPE outcomes and indicators.

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to the CPE Level I internship program, applicants must:

  • Be a high school graduate or possess a GED.
  • Be invited to participate in an admissions screening interview. Proxy interviews with a qualified ACPE Certified Educator will be considered for internships.
  • Complete the application for Clinical Pastoral Education.
  • Submit a check or money order for $35, payable to WVU Hospitals.

Mail completed documents to:
Matthew Johnson
WVU Medicine Spiritual Care and Education
PO Box 8008
Morgantown, WV 26506

For questions or more information, contact Matthew Johnson at 304-598-4000, ext. 73060, or [email protected].

Note: Ordination by a faith community or commission to function in ministry by an appropriate religious authority is preferable for admission.

Internship costs

  • Non-refundable application fee: $35
  • Per-unit tuition: $500
    • $100 non-refundable deposit at acceptance
    • $400 balance due on first day of program

Make checks payable to WVU Hospitals.

Additional resources