named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Certification and Credentialing Program
Offers board certification for chaplains through standardized clinical knowledge tests and simulated patient exams to objectively assess competency based on evidence-based quality indicators and scope of practice.
Common Core Content Areas for Education
Establishes standardized curriculum domains for chaplain training aligned with evidence-based competencies to ensure consistent, high-quality education across programs.
Evidence-Based Quality Indicators and Scope of Practice
Developed by international expert panels, these foundational documents define standards for spiritual care practice and serve as the basis for education, certification, and research.
Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing
A program of SCA since 2020 that supports Faith Community Nurses through education, resources, and professional development to integrate spiritual care into community health settings.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Services 4 activities
- Accredits and supports chaplain education and training programsAccredits learning centers that provide clinical pastoral education (CPE) and educates professional chaplains through an evidence-based curriculum. Maintains affiliated chaplaincy programs in 15 countries and supports professional development through the Center for Spiritual Care & Pastoral Formation (CSCPF).
- Advocates for the spiritual care professionAdvocates for the recognition and professionalization of spiritual care as a vocation within health care, promoting standards, ethics, and best practices across diverse religious and philosophical backgrounds.
- Conducts and disseminates research on spiritual careDevelops and publishes evidence-based quality indicators and scope of practice for spiritual care, revised in 2021. Catalyzes and supports research funded by the John Templeton Foundation, producing foundational studies on the effectiveness of spiritual care in health care settings.
- Provides direct education and digital tools for chaplainsOperates an online Learning Center with evidence-based curriculum and offers the most extensive online chaplain education program globally. Developed the first mobile application for chaplains to access best practices in spiritual care across health care, hospice, palliative care, and first responder settings.
-
-
Professional Certification in Healthcare 1 activity
- Develops and administers chaplain certification programsOffers nationally recognized chaplain certifications including Credentialed Chaplain (CC), Board Certified Chaplain (BCC), and Advanced Practice Board Certified Chaplain (APBCC), with specialty certification in Hospice and Palliative Care (APBCC-HPC). Certification requires documented clinical hours, training, standardized knowledge testing, and simulated patient exams to assess competency.
-
-
Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Hosts professional conferences and educational eventsOrganizes the annual Caring for the Human Spirit Conference and Westberg Symposium, with the 2024 event held April 15–17. Also made the 2024 Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Curriculum available for pre-sale.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Offers specialized certificates and pathways for chaplain recognitionProvides a Spiritual Care Generalist Certificate for non-chaplain professionals and grants "Retired Chaplain" status to certified chaplains in good standing who work less than 50% in compensated chaplaincy. Offers provisional and reciprocal certification pathways to expand access to professional recognition.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$610K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$576K94%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$34K
expenses
Total expenses$399K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$51K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$971K
Cash$20K
Investments$0
Liabilities$937K
Net assets$34K
Liquid reserves0.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -21.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rev Eric J Hall | President & CEO | 5 | $429K |
| Jose A Hernandez | COO | 5 | $348K |
board members · 4
- Brian Buttigieg — Secretary
- Michael H Schoen — Chair
- Richard Edward Powers — Vice Chair
- Steven C Moersdorf — Treasurer
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. Network — HCCN, an accredited CPE center under this association, offers a new CPE model aligned with SCA standards
- Association for Spiritual Caregivers in the Netherlands (ASCN) Network — Recognized as a qualifying organization for reciprocal board certification.
- Association of Certified Christian Chaplains Partner — Strategic partner organization supporting board certified chaplains in multiple sectors.
- Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) Network — Recognized as a qualifying organization for reciprocal board certification.
- Canadian Association for Spiritual Care Network — Recognized as a qualifying organization for reciprocal board certification and accredited clinical training.
- Center for Spiritual Care & Pastoral Formation Partner — Branch of SCA that accredits learning centers and offers Practitioner Communities for professional chaplains and pastoral educators.
- Clinical Pastoral Education International (CPEI) Network — Recognized as a qualifying organization for reciprocal board certification and accredited clinical training.
- College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) Network — Recognized as a qualifying organization for reciprocal board certification and accredited clinical training.
- George Handzo Partner — Director of Credentialing and Certification at SCA, responsible for handling inquiries about certification requirements.
- HCC, Inc. Partner — Spiritual Care Association is an affiliate of HCC, Inc.
- HealthCare Chaplaincy Network Network — SCA is an affiliate of the HealthCare Chaplaincy Network, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
- HealthCare Chaplaincy Network Partner — Nonprofit affiliate that founded SCA and previously released key evidence-based documents for the field
- HealthCare Chaplaincy Network Partner — SCA is an affiliate of HealthCare Chaplaincy Network (HCCN), which founded SCA in 2016 and has provided financial and resource support.
- HealthCare Chaplaincy Network Partner — Spiritual Care Association is an affiliate of HealthCare Chaplaincy Network
- HealthCare Chaplaincy Network Partner — Spiritual Care Association is an affiliate of HealthCare Chaplaincy Network, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
- HealthCare Chaplaincy Network Partner — Spiritual Care Association is an affiliate of the HealthCare Chaplaincy Network.
- IMF Partner — Strategic partner that provides ecclesiastical endorsement for SCA members and serves evangelical Christian ministers and chaplains globally.
- John Templeton Foundation Funder — Provided a grant to HCCN that supported groundbreaking research on the effectiveness of spiritual care in health care.
- National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) Network — Recognized as a qualifying organization for reciprocal board certification and accredited clinical training.
- Spiritual Care Association Network — Professional chaplains participate in Communities of Chaplains through membership in the Spiritual Care Association.
- Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing Partner — Became a program of SCA in 2020, expanding its work in faith community nursing
- World Spiritual Health Organization (WSHO) Network — Recognized as a qualifying organization for reciprocal board certification.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Evidence-Based Certification and Competency Assessmentmethodology: evidence_based_certificationBy using standardized, objectively scored assessments—including clinical knowledge tests and simulated patient exams—SCA produces more reliable and equitable certification of chaplain competency, because these methods reduce bias, align with clinical standards in healthcare, and ensure each requirement is supported by evidence of its contribution to professional effectiveness.
- Inclusive Credentialing Without Faith Group Endorsementmethodology: inclusive_credentialingBy removing faith group endorsement as a certification requirement, SCA promotes equity and diversity in chaplaincy, because such requirements are not evidence-based indicators of professional competency and historically privilege Christian traditions, excluding qualified practitioners from non-Christian or non-endorsing backgrounds.
- Peer-Based Professional and Spiritual Developmentmethodology: peer_learning_communityBy fostering structured peer learning communities grounded in shared ethics and mutual support, SCA enhances chaplain resilience and professional growth, because peer engagement with case studies and shared experiences promotes deeper learning and spiritual well-being than isolated practice.
- Professional Standardization to Unify the Chaplaincy Fieldmethodology: professional_standardizationBy establishing standardized education, scope of practice, and accreditation of training programs, SCA strengthens the chaplaincy profession and increases its recognition in healthcare, because uniform standards reduce fragmentation and build credibility comparable to other clinical disciplines.