The Monarch CPE LLC Certified Educator Candidate (CEC) Program exists to prepare, form, and support spiritual care practitioners in becoming ACPE Certified Educators. The program provides a structured, competency‑based pathway that begins with discernment and admission and extends through advanced practice and certification. Monarch CPE LLC seeks to integrate its own mission and values with ACPE’s standards so that candidates develop robust spiritual care practice, sound educational theory, and competent supervision.

What is Monarch Certified Educator Canidate (CEC) Program?

Two Models for Monarch CEC

Students will select their model of choice during the interview process.

Hybrid Model #1: CEC On-Site, Educator Primarily Online

In Monarch’s Hybrid Model #1, the Certified Educator Candidate (CEC) is physically present with the CPE student group at the clinical site, while the ACPE Certified Educator (CE) serves as educator of record and participates mainly through secure online platforms. Monarch designs and uses this model in alignment with ACPE’s expectations for Hybrid Model #1 for Certified Educator CPE.

• The CEC is on-site with students for day-to-day group work, clinical engagement, and educational leadership.

• The CE meets regularly with the CEC and student group online for supervision, seminars, and key teaching moments, and supplements this with planned in-person visits.

• The CE continues to hold ultimate responsibility for curriculum design, learning outcomes, and evaluations, while the CEC’s scope of responsibility increases over time in line with Monarch’s Progressive Autonomy in Educating Under Supervision framework.

In this model, Monarch expects the CE to be physically present at the site at several points during each unit. The timing and length of these visits are determined by the CE with attention to the CEC’s developmental phase (e.g., more in-person contact in Phase IA, with a gradual shift to fewer but still meaningful visits as the CEC progresses through Phase IB and Phase II). Program documents (such as the CEC’s learning contract and supervision plan) describe how on-site and online contact are balanced and how the CEC’s responsibilities expand as readiness is demonstrated.

This approach allows Monarch to combine the CEC’s consistent local presence with ongoing, substantive online guidance and periodic in-person engagement from the CE.

Hybrid Model #2: Primarily Online with Planned In-Person Experiences

In Monarch’s Hybrid Model #2, the CEC, CPE students, and ACPE Certified Educator (CE) relate primarily through secure, synchronous online platforms, with in-person experiences intentionally woven into each unit. Monarch designs and uses this model in alignment with ACPE’s expectations for Hybrid Model #2 for Certified Educator CPE.

• Most teaching, group process, and supervisory interactions occur online, with the CEC and CE collaborating to lead seminars and supervise students in a virtual environment.

• Each unit includes planned face-to-face opportunities—such as on-site seminars, intensives, retreats, or visits where the CE directly observes the CEC’s group leadership or supervision—when travel and context make this feasible.

• The CE remains clearly identified as educator of record, and the CEC’s teaching and supervisory responsibilities are calibrated to the CEC’s phase in the ACPE process and Monarch’s progressive autonomy expectations.

Within this model, Monarch designs in-person elements so that:

• CECs have multiple occasions in each unit to engage face-to-face with the CE, students, and preceptors.

• Relationships between CEs and CECs are nurtured in both online and in-person settings, giving CECs experience leading and supervising effectively in each environment.

• The mix of online and in-person contact supports the CEC’s gradual movement toward independent practice as an ACPE Certified Educator, while maintaining strong supervisory oversight.

This approach enables Monarch to offer a primarily online structure that still incorporates targeted in-person encounters, deepening formation, and strengthening the supervisory relationship.

For more detailed information about ACPE’s definitions of hybrid models, please see the ACPE website

See Monarch CPE Ethics Page for Online Student Confidentiality Agreement

Monarch’s Online Learning Commitment

Monarch is committed to providing a high-quality, safe, and confidential online space for students to explore their nuclear family system, deepen their pastoral identity, engage with peers, and give or receive feedback. Students are seen as archaeologists of their stories—discovering and honoring their sacred stories, cultivating their God-given gifts, and exploring their embedded and deliberate theology and pastoral skills. This transformative journey prepares them to serve as compassionate chaplains or ministers, called and equipped for the work of ministry.

Monarch CEC Pathway:

The Monarch Certified Educator Program is comprised of two phases as well as an Integration Interview and Certification process. Students must complete these phases in sequence; each unit is a prerequisite for the next.

  • The Admissions Phase is designed to determine whether an aspirant demonstrates excellent spiritual care practice and possesses the potential and readiness to become an ACPE Certified Educator. During this phase, Monarch CPE LLC evaluates the aspirant’s spiritual and professional identity, reflective capacity, intercultural humility, ethical practice, use of power and authority, engagement with feedback, and motivation for educator training. The focus remains on the aspirant’s current functioning as a spiritual care provider and their capacity to engage a rigorous, reflective, and justice‑oriented educational pathway.

    Monarch CPE LLC adopts the ACPE Admissions competencies and accompanying guiding questions. These competencies ask the aspirant to evaluate the impact of narrative history, socio‑cultural identity, and spiritual or values‑based orienting systems on their identity and practice as a spiritual care provider; to describe a philosophy of spiritual care grounded in both theology and behavioral sciences; and to articulate rootedness and belonging within communities of faith or value. Additional competencies invite the aspirant to demonstrate self‑awareness, self‑reflection, self‑supervision, self‑care, resiliency, intercultural and interreligious humility, and a capacity to address bias and seek justice.

    The admissions competencies also examine the aspirant’s ability to form and conclude spiritual care relationships, maintain relational boundaries, function within group processes, assess and document spiritual care, use power and authority appropriately, engage interpersonal conflict, reflect on their CPE journey, mentor or teach others, utilize spiritual assessments, and evaluate the strengths and limitations of their spiritual care contexts. Finally, the aspirant is asked to demonstrate integration of ACPE values, accountability to ethics and professionalism, use of consultation, openness to feedback, and the ability to offer constructive feedback to others. Each competency is accompanied by a guiding question that the aspirant addresses through essays, verbatims, vignettes, and supporting documents.

    Click the link below to begin the application process
    https://acpe.edu/education/cpe-students/cpe-application/docs/default-source/default-document-library/cpe-applications/2023cecapplication

  • The primary goals of Phase 1 at Monarch CPE LLC are to support the formation of an educator identity distinct from chaplain identity; to develop basic competence in supervision, teaching, and group facilitation; and to complete the Theory Integration Project and Presentation. During this phase, the CEC continues to provide spiritual care while gradually assuming educational responsibilities under the close guidance of a Training Educator. Phase 1 emphasizes experimentation, reflection, feedback, and the early integration of theory and practice.

  • Phase 2 is devoted to deepening and consolidating the CEC’s competence as an educator, supervisor, and leader. The goals of Phase 2 at Monarch CPE LLC are to support the formation of a mature, integrated educator identity; to demonstrate advanced skill in curriculum design, teaching, supervision, assessment, and consultation; to develop leadership capacities in program administration and organizational development; and to prepare for and successfully complete the ACPE Integration Interview. Phase 2 assumes that foundational competencies are in place and focuses on refinement, complexity, and long‑term sustainability.

  • The Integration Interview is the culminating assessment in the Monarch CEC Program and in the ACPE certification process. Its purpose is to determine whether the CEC demonstrates the integration, competence, and maturity necessary to function as an ACPE Certified Educator. The interview examines the CEC’s theological, theoretical, and practical integration; their supervisory and educational practice; their use of power and authority; their engagement with ethics, diversity, and justice; and their leadership and organizational understanding. While evaluative in nature, the interview also serves as a capstone conversation that honors the CEC’s journey and marks a transition into a new professional role.

    The Integration Interview typically lasts between ninety minutes and two hours. During this time, the team engages the CEC in dialogue about their identity and practice as an educator. Questions explore the CEC’s theological and theoretical framework and how it has evolved since the theory integration presentation; the ways in which the CEC uses theory in real supervisory and educational situations; their understanding of power, authority, and boundaries; their approach to conflict, justice, and intercultural humility; and their design and assessment of curriculum and learning environments. The team also inquires about the CEC’s leadership experience, involvement in accreditation and organizational leadership training, and plans for ongoing professional development and self‑care.

    Following the interview, the team deliberates and reaches a recommendation. If the CEC has demonstrated the competencies at the level expected of an ACPE Certified Educator, the team recommends recognition for certification, often suggesting a professional development plan to guide early years of practice. If the team identifies significant gaps or concerns, it may recommend additional work and defer certification, specifying clear next steps and time frames. The outcome of the Integration Interview is communicated through ACPE’s certification processes and is also shared with Monarch CPE LLC, which continues to support the CEC’s growth regardless of the outcome.

  • For CECs who are recommended and recognized as ACPE Certified Educators, Monarch CPE LLC supports a thoughtful transition into independent educator practice. Newly certified educators are invited to assume increasing responsibility in teaching, supervising, curriculum design, and program leadership within Monarch’s CPE offerings or in partnering institutions. They continue to participate in supervisory peer groups, consultation circles, and institutional committees as appropriate. Monarch encourages newly certified educators to maintain a reflective stance toward their work, using processes similar to those cultivated during the CEC pathway to review their practice and attend to their ongoing formation.

    Monarch CPE LLC affirms that educator formation is a lifelong process. Newly certified educators are encouraged to pursue continuing education in spiritual care, supervision, pedagogy, leadership, and research. Participation in ACPE and other professional organizations is strongly supported, as are opportunities for conference presentations, publications, and collaborative educational projects. Monarch invites newly certified educators to contribute to program planning, evaluation, and innovation, helping to shape future iterations of the CEC Program and to mentor the next generation of aspirants and CECs.

Monarch CEC Annual Continuation Fee

In addition to per-unit training fees, Monarch CPE LLC charges an annual continuation fee to support infrastructure, portfolio access, and administrative services.

  • Amount: $600 per year.

  • When Due: Billed once per year for each year the individual is enrolled as a CEC with Monarch CPE LLC.

What It Covers:

  • Ongoing access to and maintenance of the electronic portfolio platform.

  • Administrative tracking of progress, records, and documentation.

  • Access to Monarch CPE LLC meetings, seminars, and institutional resources that are not tied to any single CPE unit.

This fee is in addition to the per‑unit supervision and training fee.

Fees and Financial Responsibilities

In addition to Monarch CPE LLC fees, all CECs are responsible for ACPE CEC and related fees as published by ACPE. These fees are paid directly to ACPE and are separate from Monarch fees. Credit for unit completion will not be provided if all payments are not made. Payments after 21 days of unit completion will incur additional fees, which the student is required to pay in full prior to unit completion credit. All Monarch CPE LLC fees will be made through the Monarch CPE Website for secure processing.

CEC Admission Application Fee

The CEC Admission Application Fee covers the review and processing of applications and the initial setup of portfolios.

  • Amount: $225 (non-refundable)

  • When Due: At the time the applicant submits a complete Monarch CPE LLC CEC/ACPE application.

What It Covers:

  • Initial review of application materials.

  • Establishment of the applicant’s portfolio account.

  • Administrative processing of the admission file and interview scheduling.

Other Monarch Fees:

Late Payment Fee

• Amount: $50 per late installment.

• Description: Assessed when a scheduled payment (for any fee) is more than ten (10) days past due, unless a written exception has been granted in advance.

Extension Fee

• Amount: $300 per approved extension.

• Description: Assessed when a CEC requests and is granted an official extension of a unit, phase, or major requirement beyond the originally agreed timeline.

Re‑admission / Re‑activation Fee

• Amount: $200.

• Description: Assessed when a CEC who has withdrawn or been inactive for twelve (12) months or more is re‑admitted to active status at Monarch CPE LLC.

Official Transcript / Documentation Fee

• Amount: $20 per official document.

• Description: Assessed for the preparation and mailing of official transcripts, letters, or completion statements beyond those normally issued in the course of training.

CEC Supervision and Training Fee (Per CPE Unit)

Monarch CPE LLC uses a per‑unit model for CEC supervision and training fees. This reflects the individualized, high‑touch nature of supervision in a very small‑cohort setting.

  • Amount: $2,800 per CPE unit.

  • When Due: Normally billed prior to the start of each CPE unit in which the CEC is actively engaged. Payment schedules (for example, full payment or approved installments) are established in advance.

What It Covers:

  • Individual and small‑group supervision with the Training Educator.

  • Seminars, didactics, and case conferences related to educator formation.

  • Ongoing review and feedback on the CEC’s portfolio.

  • Coordination and documentation required for ACPE processes.

CEC training typically spans multiple CPE units. The total financial investment will therefore depend on the number of units completed and the pace of progression toward meeting ACPE educator competencies.

ACPE / CPE CEC Fees (Separate from Monarch Fees)

Monarch CPE LLC fees are distinct from the fees charged by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and/or the sponsoring CPE program. ACPE sets its own fee schedule, which may include initial CEC enrollment fees and annual CEC fees.

Responsibility: All CECs are responsible for paying ACPE fees directly to ACPE and for remaining in good financial standing with ACPE as a condition of ongoing enrollment at Monarch CPE LLC.

Reference: For current ACPE CEC and related fees, see: https://acpe.edu/programs/cpe-educator-certification/certification-fee-structure