UnityPoint Health - Des Moines
Clinical Pastoral Education
UnityPoint Health - Des Moines enjoys a rich history as a faith-based, not-for-profit health care organization where spiritual care is valued as a vital component of the care of patients and their families. Our Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs provide a clinical ministry immersion experience that sets the stage for profound learning, personal growth, meaning-making and wholeness. CPE provides clinical education for clergy, theological students, members of religious orders and laypersons.
CPE Programs
The UnityPoint Health - Des Moines CPE Center is accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc (
ACPE). We have been offering CPE for over 51 years. Our program and Spiritual Care are well integrated into the hospitals and are a valued part of patient, visitor and team care.
Each unit of CPE is a minimum 400 clock hours, consisting of 100 hours of structured education and 300 hours of supervised clinical education. All CPE units are taught by an ACPE Certified Educator and are based on the 2020 ACPE Objectives and Outcomes.
Extended CPE Internships
Fall Extended 2021
October 18, 2021 - February 28, 2022 (subject to adjustment)
This CPE program is a part-time extended unit. It is designed for working clergy people who may not want a full-time education program. It is open to seminarians, ordained clergy, qualified laypeople and others needing a unit of CPE. The unit will be a hybrid style with seminar time occurring virtually and clinical time occurring in person in the hospital.
To apply
- Complete UnityPoint Health site-specific ACPE application
- No application fee required
Tuition is $1,000.
Click here for the ACPE UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Application
Click here for the ACPE Application Writing Guide
Email completed application to Robert Petite, D.Min., ACPE-CE, BCC, LMFT(IL) at Petite.Robert@gmail.com.
UnityPoint Health - Des Moines is accredited to offer Level I, Level II and Certified Education CPE by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. 55 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, Suite 835, Atlanta, GA 30308. (404)320-1472; www.acpe.edu.
UnityPoint Health - Des Moines does not discriminate based on age, race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status.