ACPE Manuals
2025
2025
Table of Contents
ACPE Manuals
2025
ACPE Manuals — 2025
Cover Page
Using The Manuals
Updates to the Manuals
Definition of Terms
ACPE By-Laws
Article 1: Definitions and Abbreviations
Article 2: Identification and Purpose
Article 3: Members
Article 4: Meeting of Members
Article 5: Board of Directors
Article 6: Commissions and Committees
Article 7: Officers and Executive Director
Article 8: Notices
Article 9: Books and Records
Article 10: Corporate Seal
Article 11: Fiscal Year
Article 12: Indemnification
Article 13: Conflict
Article 14: Conduct of Meetings
Article 15: Amendments
Governance Manual
Opening Statement
Article 1: Definitions and Abbreviations
Article 2: Identification and Purpose
Article 3: Members
Article 4: Meetings of Members
Article 5: Board of Directors
Article 6: Commissions and Committees
Standing Commissions
Standing Committees
Board Appointed Committees
Article 7: Officers and Executive Director
Article 8: Notices
Article 9: Books and Records
Article 10: Corporate Seal
Article 11: Fiscal Year
Article 12: Indemnification
Article 13: Conflict
Article 14: Conduct of Meetings
Article 15: Amendments
2025 Accreditation Manual
Quick Links
Introduction to the Accreditation Process
Substantive Updates to the Accreditation Manual
Using the Manual
The Accreditation Process
Accreditation Portfolio
Program Feasibility/Self-Study Requirements
Pathways for Accreditation
Applying for Provisional Accreditation
Provisional Accreditation to a Fully Accredited Member
Certified Educator CPE
Maintenance and Renewal of Accreditation
6 Year Site Visit Plan
Program Achievement
Monitoring and Annual Reporting
Headcount
Requests for Review Postponement
Transitions in Programs
Fees
Program Closure
ACPE Standards and Portfolio Expectations
Standard 1 – Educational Environment
Standard 2 – Curriculum
Standard 3 – Educational Resources
Standard 4 – Management of CPE Programs
Standard 5 – Infrastructure and Financial Resources
Standard 6 – Continuous Improvement of Operations and Program Management
Standard 7 – ACPE Values, Ethical Integrity, and Cultural Responsiveness
Required Program Policies
Policy and Procedure Development for Programs
Requirements for Admission
Guide for Student Records
Clinical Placements and Agreements
Changes in Programs
Student Enrollment During Orientation
Data Collection
Using Video Conferencing in a Unit of CPE
End of Unit Evaluations
Program Length
Student Achievement for Level I/Level II Programs
Student Achievement for CEC Programs
Supporting Documents
Code of Professional Ethics for Members of ACPE
ACPE Outcomes and Indicators
Category A: Spiritual Formation and Integration
Category B: Awareness of Self and Others
Category C: Relational Dynamics
Category D: Spiritual Care Interventions
Category E: Professional Development
Crosswalk for Revised ACPE Outcomes and Indicators
Brief Definitions of Terms Used in the Revised Outcomes
Competencies for Certified Educator CPE
Compliance with Standards
Commission Actions
Periodic Reviews
Identified Areas of Non-Compliance
Called Review
Adverse Actions
Notifications of Commission Actions
Appeal of Adverse Decisions of the Commission
Defining a Unit of CPE
Educator Workload
Program Certificates
Additional Resources for Programs and Educators
The Accreditation Commission
Complaints Alleging Violations of ACPE Education Standards in Educational Programs
Complaints Against the ACPE Accreditation Commission
Qualifications and Credentials of Persons Involved in Accreditation Evaluation
Bias and Conflict of Interest
Accreditation Commission Conflict of Interest Declaration
Site Team Member Conflict of Interest Declaration
Review of Procedures and Accreditation Criteria
Records of Accreditation Decisions
Public Information
Accreditation Commission Forms
ACPE Organizational Structure
Definition of Terms for the Accreditation Process
ACPE Related Terms
Educational Terms
Certification Manual
Certification Preface
Part I: Introduction
A. Mission, Vision, and Values
B. ACPE Certification and the Certification Commission
C. Certification Process Overview
Structure for Fees and Units
Understanding the Phases of the Certification Process
Progressive Autonomy in Educating Under Supervision
D. Introduction to the Certified Educator Competencies
Certified Educator CPE Competencies
Crosswalk for Revised Competencies
Phase II CEC Requisites
E. Portfolio Materials and Evaluations
F. Hybrid CEC Programs
Part II: Admissions Process
Overview
Part One: The Local ACPE Accredited Program
Part Two: The ACPE Certification Process
Part III: The Certification Process
Phase I
Core Curriculum
Theory Integration Project and Presentation Overview
Theory Integration Project Rubric
Persons Involved in the Theory Integration Project and Presentation Process
The Process, The Project and The Presentation
The Presentation
End of Phase I Assessment of Competencies
Phase II
Core Curriculum
End of Phase II Assessment of Competencies
Integration Interview
Certification
Part IV: Post Certification
Becoming a Member of the National Faculty
Peer Review
Documents and Other Processes
Academic Qualifications and Equivalency Standards
Annual Accountability for Ethical Conduct Report
Code of Professional Ethics for Members of ACPE
Maintaining Your ACPE Certified Educator Credential
CPE-Related Educational Activities
Review of Supervisory/Educational Competence
Appeal of Certification Commission Decisions
Continuation in the Certification Process
Restoration to Active Status
Reciprocity
International Guest Educator
Permission for the Use of a Student’s Clinical Materials
Professional Ethics Manual
Professional Ethics Commission Preface
Part I- Introduction
Mission, Vision and Values of ACPE
Professional Ethics Commission (the “Commission” or PEC)
Part II--Processing Complaints of Ethics Code
I. Where to Begin
II. Complaint Basics
III. Time Limits for Filing Complaints
IV. Particular Reporting Implications for ACPE Members
V. Complaints Against Former ACPE Members
VI. Member Who Defaults on Process
VII. Bias or Conflict of Interest
VIII. Confidentiality
IX. The ACPE/APC Ethics Collaboration
X. The Initial Review Panel
XI. Processing Complaints Through Mediation
XII. The Investigative Phase
XIII. Hearing Panel – Fact Finding and Determination of Findings
XIV. Notification of Findings and Action for Hearing & Appeals Process
XV. Appeal Process
XVI. Sanction Review
XVII. Emergency Suspension of Credentials
XVIII. Release of Information During a Process
XIX. Records Retention
PEC Appendices
Accounting and Financial Procedures Manual
Introduction
Purpose of the Manual
Finance and Accounting Responsibilities
Budget
Reserves
Annual Dues and Other Fees
Financial Statement Presentation and Distribution
Bank Reconciliation
Audit
Accounts Payable
Cash Disbursements
Corporate Credit Cards
Expenditure Approvals
Traveler’s Responsibilities – Volunteers, Speakers and ACPE Staff
Driving for ACPE Policy
Travel Advances
Expense Reimbursement – Volunteers and ACPE Staff
Contracts and Purchase Orders
Bids and Purchase Orders
Sensitive Data Security
Records Retention and Destruction
Appendices
Appendix A: Financial Standing Policy
Appendix B: Certification Fees
Appendix C: Conference Accounting Policies
Appendix D: Records Retention Schedule
Community of Practice Development Guide
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Introduction
What is a Community of Practice?
Core Purpose Statement
The Architecture of a Community of Practice
Communities of Practice in ACPE
ACPE’s Definition for Community of Practice
Fundamental Elements of an ACPE Community of Practice
Goals and Operating Principles of an ACPE Community of Practice
Leadership Roles within an ACPE Community of Practice
Maintenance of an ACPE Community of Practice
Evaluating the Health of an ACPE Community of Practice
Participation
Sharing Knowledge with ACPE
Roles and Support Within ACPE
ACPE Professional Well-Being Committee
What is the charge of the Professional Well Being Committee of ACPE?
How Does the Professional Well Being Committee Oversee the CoP Process?
Registration as an ACPE Community of Practice
Funding Requests for Communities of Practice
Ongoing Support and Annual Reporting
ACPE Office Team
Designing the ACPE Community of Practice
Maintaining the ACPE Community of Practice
Closing of an ACPE Community of Practice
ACPE By-Laws
Table of Contents
ARTICLE 1. Definitions and Abbreviations
ARTICLE 2. Identification and Purpose
ARTICLE 3. Members
ARTICLE 4. Meeting of Members
ARTICLE 5. Board of Directors
ARTICLE 6. Commissions and Committees
ARTICLE 7. Officers and Executive Director
ARTICLE 8. Notices
ARTICLE 9. Books and Records
ARTICLE 10. Corporate Seal
ARTICLE 11. Fiscal Year
ARTICLE 12. Indemnification
ARTICLE 13. Conflict
ARTICLE 14. Conduct of Meetings
ARTICLE 15. Amendments
Definition of Terms
Article 1: Definitions and Abbreviations
