How to Get Started
First, use the contact page to send an e-mail or call HCMA at (714) 572-3626. The HCMA Office would be happy to answer any questions that you might have. The HCMA Office can put you in touch with an Area Director near you to give you a better understanding of the ministry opportunities available. If you decide to apply, correspondence with the Area Director is the first step in the application process.
Second, you will be asked to fill out a Preliminary Application. You will be interviewed as a potential training candidate and your references will be contacted.
Third, if qualified, you will be sent a Final Application. HCMA will do a credential and background check. You will be asked to sign the HCMA Statement of Faith and Code of Ethics.
Finally, if approved as a Trainee, you will be assigned a Teaching Chaplain (Supervisor) to mentor you through the 1,600 hours of extensive and intensive clinical pastoral education in a healthcare facility near you.
Application, Training and Certification Fees
Application Fee. There is no charge for completing and submitting the Preliminary Application. If an applicant satisfactorily meets all qualifications after the Preliminary Application process, s/he is sent the Final Application for HCMA Clinical Pastoral Training (or Equivalency). There is a non-refundable Final Application Fee of $225 when the Final Application form is submitted to HCMA. This fee covers processing of the candidate, verification of credentials, doing a criminal background check, a credit check, and the cost of a personality test.
Training Equivalency Fee. Those applying for clinical pastoral education equivalency will be charged an equivalency processing fee of $50 per Unit of equivalency requested. This is in addition to the Final Application Fee.
Clinical Pastoral Training Fee. There is no charge for the actual training provided by the HCMA Teaching Chaplain. Each Teaching Chaplain willingly donates his/her time in mentoring a Chaplain-Trainee. The cost for each Unit of the HCMA Clinical Pastoral Training Curriculum is $150 (or a total of $600 for all four Units).
Certification Fee. An applicant for professional certification with HCMA must submit the professional certification fee of $200 along with the required documents for certification.