Recently, the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) decided to stop calling its training program Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and start calling it Clinical Pastoral Training (CPT). Why is that?

Well, there are at least three reasons— perhaps more.

#1. Clinical Pastoral Training was the original term of the process developed by Anton Boisen for theological students. Years letter, it became known as Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). However, CPSP seeks to embrace the Boisenian roots of the movement. As such, a return to the original nomenclature was deemed important.

#2. The process of the program is better understood in terms of Training than Education. While the terms overlap somewhat in meaning, “education” is more theoretical and knowledge-based in its orientation. Training is more oriented towards learning practical skills particularly related to a specific vocation. It tends to be more hands-on and than education, and less dependent on the classroom.

#3. The program (CPT) as it presently exists presumes a theological and ministerial education (particularly in terms of a Master of Divinity degree or similar). This educational foundation is what the training is built off of.

A couple of more bits of information on this issue are in the following:

FAQ from CPSP

A General Discussion of Differences between Training and Education

Does this mean that we at Bukal Life Care will throw away the term “Clinical Pastoral Education” (CPE) and replace it with “Clinical Pastoral Training” (CPT)? The short answer is “Not at this time.”

That being said, we intend to focus on the program as a TRAINING PROGRAM led by SUPERVISORS in a TRAINING ORGANIZATION, and NOT an EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM led by TEACHERS in an EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.

Our focus is to hone skills of ministerial professionals in the dual crafts of clinical chaplaincy and pastoral counseling. This process is primarily practical adult training that is built on the foundation of a theological education.

At the same time, we don’t seek to confuse people. Worldwide, the program we maintain is most commonly known as CPE. We don’t seek to make people think that the CPT program we have is different in substance. While there may be subtle differences, we are part of the same clinical pastoral movement that started in 2025 in the United States and 1965 in the Philippines.