Certified spiritual care professionals practice within an institution or community-based program. They are theologically and clinically educated and certified as professionals by the
Canadian Association for Spiritual Care/ Association Canadienne des Soins Spirituels (CASC/ACSS). They maintain active membership in CASC/ACSS, participate in regional and national activities and receive endorsements for spiritual care and counselling from their specific faith community.
Certified spiritual care practitioners possess the knowledge, skills, judgment, and experience to facilitate a spiritual care program, as well as program quality assurance, spiritual care provision, and ongoing professional development. Those certified as Supervisor-Educators train future professionals in the context of accredited CASC/ACSS clinical programs in established spiritual care settings. Both certified spiritual care practitioners and certified supervisor-educators are also registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario (CRPO).
The word "client" may include patients, residents, family members and significant others, members of faith, religious and cultural communities, inmates, peers, colleagues, students and staff members – individually, in groups or in a whole organization. The practice context may include but is not limited to pastoral counselling centres, social service agencies, community health centres, private settings, health care institutions, correctional centres, educational settings, or religious/faith community settings.
Qualifications Required to be a Spiritual Care Provider
- Master's degree recognized by the CRPO incorporating the field of spirituality or theology from an accredited university with the Council for Higher Education and Accreditation (CHEA)
- Completion of four units of Clinical Psychospiritual Education (CPE) under the auspices of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC/ACSS)
- Certification as a specialist with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC/ACSS)
- Endorsement by a faith group or a demonstrated connection to a recognized religious community
- Registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario (CRPO)
- Demonstrated clinical competency
- Completing annual continuing education requirements of both CASC/ACSS and CRPO
- Adherence to a code of professional ethics for Spiritual Care Practitioners (CASC/ACSS) and College of Registered Psychotherapist of Ontario (CRPO)
- Professional growth in competencies demonstrated in peer review (CASC/ACSS) and Quality Assurance Program with the CRPO
