Eccl.
Endorser of Record
CPE
Training Layer
3.0
CEUs at Annual CTE
49 yrs
Continuous Standing
What Endorsement Covers
Ecclesiastical endorsement is one of the three layers behind board certification.
Every major chaplain board certification expects three things on file: ordination from a recognized faith body, ecclesiastical endorsement from that body, and Clinical Pastoral Education units appropriate to the certifying board. AEGA covers the first two layers. CPE is delivered by accredited CPE training centers; the certification itself is issued by the chaplain certifying boards.
An AEGA endorsement for a board certified chaplain candidate is the ecclesiastical document AEGA Ministries International issues confirming the candidate is an ordained AEGA minister in good standing whose Spirit-filled, Trinitarian Pentecostal doctrine has been examined by AEGA's Board of Examiners. The candidate then pairs the AEGA endorsement with the CPE units and certification process required by the chaplain certifying board.
Who AEGA Endorses
Six common board-certified chaplain pathways.
AEGA carries chaplains across the full sweep of board certification tracks. Every pathway shares the same endorsement letter and the same covenant fellowship.
Hospital chaplains pursuing board certification.
Staff and contract hospital chaplains pursuing certification because their employer requires or prefers it. AEGA endorsement is the ecclesiastical layer the certifying board reviews alongside the chaplain's CPE units.
Hospice and palliative care chaplains.
Many large medical, hospital, and hospice health care systems require or prefer CPE training. Chaplains pursuing certification in this track bring AEGA endorsement, CPE units, and the certification process together.
VA chaplains pursuing board certification.
VA chaplain roles often require or strongly prefer board certification in addition to the VA Endorsement Form. AEGA endorsement covers both layers in tandem.
Military and federal chaplains adding civilian certification.
Active-duty and federal chaplains pursuing civilian board certification for post-service career mobility. AEGA endorsement carries forward; the chaplain layers CPE units and certification on top.
Long-tenured chaplains certifying mid-career.
Chaplains who have served for years without formal certification and are now formalizing their training. AEGA endorsement names the candidate as an ordained minister in good standing; CPE and certification complete the picture.
Ordained AEGA ministers entering certified chaplain roles.
Pastors and vocational ministers stepping into certified chaplain roles from local-church ministry. Ordination is the credential; AEGA endorsement is the ecclesiastical document the certifying board reviews.
How Board Certification Works
Three layers: ordination, endorsement, CPE.
Board certification for chaplains is the industry shorthand for a chaplain who carries three credentials on file. Ordination is the first; a chaplain must be ordained by a recognized faith body. Ecclesiastical endorsement from that body is the second; this is what AEGA issues. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) units are the third; CPE is the structured, supervised clinical training that certifying boards require. The certification itself is issued by the chaplain certifying boards that review the chaplain's full file: ordination certificate, endorsement letter, CPE units, professional experience, and a board review. AEGA's role is not the certifying body. AEGA's role is the ecclesiastical endorser that names the chaplain as an ordained minister in good standing within a Spirit-filled fellowship. To begin, a candidate first completes the ministerial credential application and is approved as an Ordained Minister. Once approved, AEGA issues the endorsement letter the certifying board requires. The candidate then pursues CPE units through an accredited CPE training center and submits the full file to the certifying board.
Why AEGA
A covenant fellowship for the long career of certified chaplaincy.
AEGA carries chaplains across decades of clinical and federal service. The fellowship's four pillars hold through certification, recertification, and the long arc of professional chaplaincy.
Covering.
Biblical, spiritual accountability that protects chaplains and affirms their God-given assignment. Where there is no accountability, there is no responsibility. AEGA-endorsed certified chaplains carry covering that does not end at certification.
Community.
A relational fellowship where chaplains are known by name. The Grapevine monthly newsletter. The Annual Conference Retreat. A special seminar and reception for chaplain spouses each year.
Coaching.
Practical leadership development and continuing education. The Annual Conference Retreat carries CTE sessions on Saturday afternoon with special speakers on subjects relevant to chaplain ministry. Up to 3.0 CEUs per attendance.
Credibility.
An established ecclesiastical endorser since 1976. AEGA endorsement is the document chaplain certifying boards expect on file from a candidate's faith body.
CPE · Clinical Pastoral Education
CPE is the clinical training layer of board certification.
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a structured, supervised clinical training program in pastoral care, typically delivered in hospitals, hospices, and other clinical settings. Many large medical, hospital, and hospice health care systems require or prefer CPE training. CPE is delivered by accredited CPE training centers; AEGA does not deliver CPE directly. AEGA chaplains can pair their CPE units with continuing education through AEGA's educational branches: Omega Theological Seminary and Evangel Christian University of America. Both offer Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate degrees by distance learning. AEGA chaplains receive discounted tuition at Columbia International University as part of the AEGA chaplain program benefits.
From an AEGA-Endorsed Chaplain
"I went to the International Minister's Conference to see if I could sense the vision of AEGA. I not only sensed it, but I also wanted to be a part of it."
Jerry Hatfield · Chaplain & Professor · Texas
How to Apply
From AEGA ordination to certified chaplain endorsement.
01
Apply for AEGA Ordained Minister credentials
The first gate. Chaplain certifying boards require the candidate to be an ordained minister of a recognized faith body. AEGA's Board of Examiners reviews doctrine, references, and ministry experience for the Ordained Minister tier.
02
Complete the credential review
AEGA mails the Constitution and Bylaws for review before a thorough review by the Credential Committee covering doctrinal alignment, references, and ministry experience. Most credentials are issued within three to five weeks.
03
Request the endorsement letter for board certification
Once approved as an Ordained Minister, the candidate requests an AEGA endorsement letter for board certification. AEGA prepares the letter on AEGA letterhead.
04
Submit to the chaplain certifying board
The candidate submits the AEGA endorsement letter, ordination certificate, and CPE units to the chaplain certifying board. AEGA remains the chaplain's endorser through certification and recertification, with annual fellowship renewal and the Chaplain Annual Report Form filed each May 1.
Frequently Asked
Board certified chaplain, answered.
What is a board certified chaplain?
A board certified chaplain is a chaplain who has completed Clinical Pastoral Education, holds ordination from a recognized faith body, and carries ecclesiastical endorsement from that body, with all three reviewed by a chaplain certifying board that issues the certification.
Does AEGA issue board certification?
No. AEGA issues the ecclesiastical endorsement layer of the file the chaplain submits for board certification. The certification itself is issued by the chaplain certifying boards. AEGA endorsement is one of the three layers required for board certification, alongside ordination and CPE units.
What credentials must I have to be endorsed?
AEGA Ordained Minister credentials. AEGA's ordination credential is the prerequisite the endorsement is built on.
Does AEGA deliver CPE?
No. Clinical Pastoral Education is delivered by accredited CPE training centers. AEGA endorsement is the ecclesiastical layer that runs in parallel to the chaplain's CPE units.
Which chaplain settings typically require board certification?
Many large medical, hospital, and hospice health care systems require or prefer board-certified chaplains. VA, military, and federal chaplain tracks may also factor certification into hiring or advancement.
How long does the endorsement letter take?
Endorsement letters are prepared by the AEGA office once an applicant is approved as an Ordained Minister. The credential review itself is the long pole; most credentials are issued within three to five weeks. Once approved, the endorsement letter follows within days. The annual renewal cycle includes the Chaplain Annual Report Form, with a May 1 deadline each year.
Begin the board certification pathway.
Ordination, endorsement, and a Spirit-filled fellowship that carries certified chaplains across the long career of professional chaplaincy.