Clinical Pastoral Education

MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, WA is accredited by Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) to offer Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). A CPE program is designed for individuals who wish to improve spiritual care skills and develop spiritual identity through a deeper understanding of themselves and those they care for. It is practical learning about how to recognize and address the spiritual concerns of others.

Under the supervision of an Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Certified Educator, students reflect on patient encounters with a peer group to discover how their personal history, culture, social context and personal theology impact their pastoral care. In addition, students learn concepts in pastoral care and apply their learning to future encounters. This process of action-reflection has proven to be a very effective means of learning pastoral care.

About the program

The Clinical Pastoral Education program consists of 400 hours of supervised education. A minimum of 100 hours is dedicated to classroom time while the remaining 300 hours are allotted for patient visitation, charting, staff care and on-call duties.

MultiCare’s Clinical Pastoral Education program is accredited to offer Clinical Pastoral Education Level I and Level II. We accept both interns and residents.

How the program works

Residents join as employees for a year and accrue three semesters of Clinical Pastoral Education. MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital retains full and sole authority of the residency program.

Student placement is negotiated to balance institutional and student needs. Placement is available one of the following groups of locations:

1. Auburn Medical Center and Covington Medical Center (for residents only)
2. Good Samaritan Hospital
3. Tacoma General Hospital, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Allenmore Hospital
4. Deaconess Hospital

*Please Note: For those interested in a Summer extended unit, it is possible to complete clinicals during your summer break. For example, if you have not finished your Spring semester requirements by May 11, 2026, you have the option to complete hours during the Summer extended unit. Please email MultiCare’s clinical pastoral education program coordinator to review your options.

As a participant in MultiCare’s clinical pastoral education program, you must hold or complete the following items:

• Hold a faith group identification or affiliation
• Complete and sign the application form, including essays (.docx)
• Attend a virtual admissions interview, and achieve acceptance into the program by the admissions committee
• Payment of a non-refundable $200 deposit
• Review and sign the student consent form (.docx)
• Complete student registration with the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE)
• Pass health and background checks
• Submit a payment of $600 tuition fee (Please note: This amount includes the non-refundable $200 deposit)

You may also download the full admission policy (.docx) for additional information.

In addition to the requirements outlined above, the following minimum criteria must be met for the Residency Program:

• Successful completion of at least one CPE unit at an accredited Association for Clinical Pastoral Education center
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent; a Master’s degree (completed or in progress), or equivalent is preferred
• Have final evaluations complete from each prior CPE unit

How to apply

Please submit your completed application by email to: [email protected]

If you have additional questions about the Clinical Pastoral Education program, call 917-656-8622.