Jewish Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy Board Certification requires 72 academic credits, plus 4 units of CPE (or 1 unit and a residency, which is the equivalent of 3 CPE units). The academic credits must be in Graduate-level religious studies, ordination, or the equivalent. In tandem, there are standard core competencies that chaplains must demonstrate. Our Master's plus Advanced Certificate program (CPE units included) total 72 credits and is designed from the outset to prepare students in the required content and competencies needed to apply for Board Certification.

Once you apply, we will review your transcripts.  

If your Master’s meets all the NAJC Jewish requirements/equivalencies, you will be eligible to apply directly for our Advanced Certificate and CPE.  

Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) outlines the following as the educational requirements for board certification:  

• “Bachelor’s Degree from an institution of higher education whose accreditation is recognized by the Council of Higher Education [CHEA]; 

• Graduate Theological Education Degree, through participation in a program of ordination or investiture through a seminary whose accreditation is recognized by the Council of Higher Education [CHEA]; 

• 4 units of clinical training in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) from an ACPE accredited training center 

NAJC also recognizes graduate degrees in Jewish Studies, Rabbinics, Talmudic Studies, Jewish Education, Jewish Communal Service, Masters of Hebrew Letters, Jewish Sacred Music, and Hebrew Bible as meeting the requirement for a graduate degree in a Jewish subject matter, when granted by an academic institution whose accreditation is recognized by CHEA.  

Graduate degrees from institutions of higher education whose accreditation is recognized by the Council of Higher Education [CHEA] that are in a related subject not specified herein may be approved at the discretion of the NAJC Certification Commission or their appointed representative. Examples of related subjects include counseling, psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, and nursing.” 

Gratz is working closely with NAJC to support each applicant in confirming their NAJC-accepted incoming credits and remaining required credits. Tailored guidance will be provided once all application materials are received by Gratz. 

If you have non-academic Master’s-level training that you would like to be considered for equivalency credits, please include that in your application. We will evaluate this on an individual basis.

Our chaplaincy program is tailored to each student, which means the exact cost will vary based on a student’s prior credits and experience. If you are coming in with previous credits, that will lower the cost of the program.

The total program cost will vary depending on current tuition and fees. Of the 72 required credits, 21 are Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) credits, which are priced separately through the individual CPE program and are not billed at the standard per-credit rate.

To give you the best cost estimate based on your transcripts and training, we ask that you apply. Cost will vary significantly between someone coming in for the entire MA plus Advanced Certificate, plus 4 units of CPE (or 1 and a residency) or coming in with an MA and/or prior equivalencies, credits, and CPE units. 

Additionally, there is a difference in cost depending on whether the CPE units are taken virtually or in-person. All clinical hours will be in-person, local to wherever you live. It is possible for the CPE classroom hours to also be virtual if needed. Virtual programs are generally more expensive than in-person programs. 

*All Orthodox women are eligible to apply for the 60% Micah Fellowship funding. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2027.  
*Applicants may apply for additional scholarships from Gratz. Students living in the US can apply for financial aid. 

Just like with academic credits, we may count your CPE units. (They must be ACPE certified, as that is the required standard for NAJC certification.)

We are working with an online ACPE certified program that will accept any of our students who choose to enroll in CPE virtually. This means CPE students who opt into this model will be part of an online cohort that has classroom time online. Clinical hours will still be local to wherever the student lives. The ACPE educator will work with Gratz and the student on local CPE placement for clinical hours. The CPE cohort will not be limited to Gratz students and thus will offer the standard diversity of a CPE unit. We are also able to recommend other virtual programs if needed.

Here is a sample list of chaplaincy courses: 

• Spiritual Care A: "A Part Of and Apart From": Jewish Chaplaincy in a Multifaith and Interdisciplinary Context  (3 credits) 
• Spiritual Care B: "The Wounded Healer": The Role of the Chaplain in Mental Health, Crisis, and Trauma-Informed Care (3 credits) 
• "How We Die": Jewish Pastoral Methods in Palliative, Hospice, and Bereavement Care  (3 credits) 
• "Prophet, Priest, or Person?": The Unique Leadership and Clinical Interventions of Spiritual Care Providers (3 credits) 
• Medical Ethics (3 credits)* 

*Students who demonstrate an equivalency in Medical Ethics in their prior Master’s level studies (in consultation with the program director) may be exempt from this course.

In addition, the Master’s includes course options in our wider Gratz College Jewish Studies Department in Human Development and Group Dynamics, History/Sociology/Anthropology of the Jewish Community, Jewish Studies Methods, Medical Ethics, Ritual, Lifecycles, and other electives. A final project and the class time of the four CPE units will also be included. 

Chaplains work in diverse settings! The traditional role is as a hospital chaplain. There are also opportunities in hospice, long term care, nursing homes, college campuses, education, the military, prisons, and community chaplaincy. Community chaplaincy may be in a Jewish Federation, Jewish nonprofit, synagogue, school, private practice, and many more forms.

Yes. Full-time chaplaincy is a career. There are opportunities for growth, including merit increases, cost of living, and upward mobility in management and education. There are also part-time and per diem positions available. Chaplaincy is a helping profession, and salary will vary by location.

This is the first program to include all of the training requirements in one package. It provides a path to board certification that is designed to meet the NAJC board competencies and equivalencies from the outset. Since the program does this within 72 credits, ordination is not required.

Additionally, the program offers tailored support in CPE placement. We will screen to provide students with safe and supportive learning environments, especially amidst the rise in antisemitism over the past few years. This will also translate into clinical training that fits each student’s interests and needs.