Chaplaincy Advance Professional Certificate

Total program length

18 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Six to nine months

General education

Not required

Professional application courses

3 credit hours

Academic unit

HBIU College of Chaplaincy

Total credits

24

Duration

1 years

• Analyze the historical and theological foundations of pastoral care and spiritual accompaniment.
• Evaluate ethical frameworks for professional conduct within diverse institutional settings.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills required for empathetic engagement and conflict resolution.
• Design comprehensive strategies for addressing spiritual and existential concerns in community populations.
• Integrate principles of servant leadership to improve the efficacy of organizational stewardship.
• Apply biblical and theological perspectives to contemporary issues in secular-adjacent public service.
• Course Outline
• Semester 1 — Year 1
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• CPE501
• Clinical Pastoral Education
• 3
• None
• COU510
• Foundation of Chaplaincy & Ethical Reasoning for Professionals
• 3
• None
• ROC521
• Roles and Responsibilities of an Ordained Chaplain
• 3
• None
• CPR532
• CPR & First Aid Assessment & Overview
• 3
• None
• CPE501 — Clinical Pastoral Education: This course explores the history and theological underpinnings of pastoral care within institutional contexts. Students examine effective methods for spiritual presence and active listening. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COU510 — Foundation of Chaplaincy & Ethical Reasoning for Professionals: Students analyze complex ethical dilemmas within secular and religious organizational frameworks. The course focuses on decision-making models rooted in integrity and responsibility. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• ROC521 — Roles and Responsibilities of an Ordained Chaplain: This course provides an overview of leadership theories emphasizing stewardship and service. Students develop skills for organizational management and stakeholder collaboration. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CPR532 — CPR & First Aid Assessment & Overview: This course examines the personal and collective function of CPR & first aid knowledge. Emphasis is placed on the integration of faith into professional practice. This course prepares students to support faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 2 — Year 1
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• RES601
• Applied Research in Chaplaincy
• 3
• None
• MHA610
• Mental Health Awareness
• 3
• None
• COM621
• Community Engagement Military, Public Safety, Red Cross.
• 3
• None
• CAP699
• Capstone Project
• 3
• All previous courses
• PCT698
• Professional Chaplain Advance Training (for Prior Learners)
• 3
• None
• RES601 — Applied Research in Chaplaincy: Students engage in research methodologies relevant to community and chaplaincy work. The course focuses on gathering and interpreting data to improve service delivery. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MHA610 — Mental Health Awareness : This course covers techniques for providing support during existential and situational crises. Students learn to navigate sensitive interpersonal interactions with empathy and wisdom. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COM621 — Community Engagement Military, Public Safety, Red Cross.: The course explores the methods of effective outreach and collaborative partnership building. Students analyze the impact of public service on institutional viability and volunteers in the military, public safety & the Red Cross. This course prepares students to support faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CAP699 — Capstone Project: This capstone experience requires students to design and implement a project reflecting their integration of learning. It serves as a final assessment of both academic and vocational competence. This course prepares students to support faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• PCT698 — Professional Chaplain Advance Training (for Prior Learners): This course supports faith-based, nonprofit, community, military, public safety, health care, and
• disaster service missions. It encourages Christian faith and ministry while teaching respect for
• people from every faith and for people who do not follow a faith. A professional chaplain does
• not use a person’s pain as a chance to pressure that person. A professional chaplain serves with
• humility.

Applicants must hold a minimum of a certificate and demonstrate a clear commitment to service-oriented ministry. Proficiency in academic writing and foundational knowledge in theology or related humanities is expected, as reflected in the submission of official transcripts and a personal statement articulating the applicant's vocational goals. Culminating Project The Capstone Project serves as the culminating academic experience for the Chaplaincy Advance Professional Certificate, requiring students to synthesize their learning through the completion of a substantive, research-based project. This project challenges students to identify a specific need within a community or institutional setting and design a faith-informed intervention that promotes spiritual well-being and organizational health. Worth 3 credit hours, the project must demonstrate both technical proficiency and a deep commitment to ethical reasoning and servant leadership. Students are expected to reflect on their own spiritual formation throughout the process, ensuring that the project aligns with a Christian worldview and the principles of stewardship. Deliverables include a comprehensive case study, a theoretical framework analysis, and a presentation detailing how the intervention addresses systemic challenges while maintaining institutional integrity. This work serves as an essential demonstration of the student’s ability to integrate academic scholarship with a commitment to faith-informed, community-centered service.

• Graduation requirements necessitate the successful completion of 24 credit hours of coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students must earn a passing grade on the Capstone Project, demonstrating mastery of the program’s core competencies. Furthermore, students are expected to exhibit spiritual maturity and ethical conduct throughout their tenure, as measured by active participation in community service initiatives and spiritual formation engagement.
• Beyond academic success, students must fulfill the institution’s requirements for character development and integrity. This includes demonstrating a consistent commitment to the values of stewardship, humility, and justice in all interactions. The institution maintains an environment where academic growth is inextricably linked to the cultivation of a life dedicated to faith-informed service and professional excellence.
• Career Opportunities
• Hospital Chaplaincy Associate
• Nonprofit Organization Program Director
• Community Outreach Coordinator
• Institutional Care Advisor
• Correctional Facility Chaplaincy Assistant
• Military Ministry Support Specialist
• Hospice Care Spiritual Consultant
• Important Notices
• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Credential abbreviation | Certificate in Chaplaincy Advance Professional
• Total program length | 18 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Six to nine months
• General education | Not required
• Foundational chaplaincy courses | 12 credit hours
• Professional application courses | 3 credit hours
• Final applied project | 3 credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CPE501 | Clinical Pastoral Education | 3 | None
• COU510 | Foundation of Chaplaincy & Ethical Reasoning for Professionals | 3 | None
• ROC521 | Roles and Responsibilities of an Ordained Chaplain | 3 | None
• CPR532 | CPR & First Aid Assessment & Overview | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES601 | Applied Research in Chaplaincy | 3 | None
• MHA610 | Mental Health Awareness | 3 | None
• COM621 | Community Engagement Military, Public Safety, Red Cross. | 3 | None
• CAP699 | Capstone Project | 3 | All previous courses
• PCT698 | Professional Chaplain Advance Training (for Prior Learners) | 3 | None