Training and Education

Being an ordained priest, transitional deacon, or permanent deacon and having having a “call within a call” to Chaplaincy is on the beginning of your path. 

Depending on the type of Chaplaincy you wish to pursue, there will be education beyond seminary which will be required, especially if the type of Chaplaincy you choose requires any type of Credentialing or Certification.

The types of Chaplaincy will dictate (for the most part) what type of additional training and education will be required of you to serve the role of Chaplain well.

Here you will find the type of Chaplaincy listed followed by the link or links ot the professional organization for that particular type of Chaplaincy.  The professional organizations for your particular type of Chaplaincy you choose, will largely dictate the type of training required of you to become a chaplain.

Chaplains interested in Healthcare Chaplaincy (Hospital, Palliative Care, Nursing Home Care), First Responder Chaplaincy (Police, Fire, EMS, Disaster), Nursing (Nursing School and Chaplaincy); Social Work (Social Work and Chaplaincy); Military (Military Chaplaincy of any Armed Services or State Defense Force) will find recommended training requirements and/or Certification requirements at the following Professional Chaplain Organization:

SCA – Spiritual Care Association
SCAHCCD – Spiritual Care Association Health Care Chaplaincy Division
SCAFRCD – Spiritual Care Association First Responder Chaplain Division
SCAND – Spiritual Care Association Nursing Division
SCAHD – Spiritual Care Association Hospice Division
SCACCD – Spiritual Care Association Corporate Chaplain Division
SCAMCD – Spiritual Care Association Military Chaplain Division
SCASWD – Spiritual Care Association Social Work Division

Chaplains interested in Hospital Chaplaincy, Palliative Care Chaplaincy, Trauma Center Chaplaincy will find recommended training requirements and/or Certification requirements at one or more of the following Professional Chaplain Organizations:






Chaplains interested in Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, Fire Department Chaplaincy, Crisis Intervention Chaplaincy, State and Federal Correctional Facility Chaplains Disaster Response Chaplaincy will find recommended training requirements and/or Certification requirements at one of the following Professional Chaplain Organizations:


Chaplains interested in Corporate Chaplaincy should consider joining one or more of the following Professional Chaplain Organizations:

Interested in serving as a Chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol or Civil Aviation (such as Airports), then consider joining