Overview of Certification

CASC/ACSS Certified professionals practice with integrity and accountability. Certification is in accordance with the CASC/ACSS Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and the CASC/ACSS Standards of Practice. Practice is informed by a holistic understanding of human life as physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. 

​CASC/ACSS Certified Professionals:

  • Respect the rich diversity of life and understandings of religion and spirituality
  • Engage in consultations and referrals with other professional colleagues, groups or organizations​
  • Engage in ongoing professional development, self-assessment, critical analysis and research
  • Are required to participate in a minimum of 50 hours of personal and professional development annually
  • Stay aware of best practices within the disciplines and integrate those practices into daily work
CASC/ACSS Certifies three types of professionals:
Certified Spiritual Care Practitioners
A Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner:
  • Seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals and groups experiencing spiritual, moral and existential distress related to changes in health, maturation, ability and life circumstances
  • Attends to an individual's beliefs, values, behaviours, spirituality and culture to promote meaning and wholeness
  • Implements a holistic and relational approach to assess and treat the nature of the presenting issues
  • Delivers compassionate care to individuals, families and professional staff, honouring their diverse backgrounds and perspectives
Certified Pyschospiritual therapists
A Certified Psychospiritual Therapist:
  • Integrates spirituality, psycho-education, mental health, wellness, religion, pathology and human development
  • Assesses and treats cognitive, emotional, spiritual,  behavioural, and developmental disturbances across all stages of the life span
  • Collaborates with individuals, families, communities and organizations to promote healing and wholeness. 
Certified Supervisor-Educators
A Certified Supervisor Educator is a Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner or Certified Psychospiritual Therapist who has demonstrated supervisory competence in the field of Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE) and is able to conduct SPE programs in keeping with the standards of CASC/ACSS.
A Certified Supervisor Educator:
  • Designs, implements and oversees SPE internships, that are consistent with CASC/ACSS Competencies, Standards of Practice, Scope of Practice and the Code of Ethics
  • Demonstrates strong knowledge of theories related to supervision drawn from adult education, behavioural sciences and professional ethics
  • Assesses and engages students in a way that promotes clinical learning, self awareness, and competence in their chosen field

Academic Requirements

Those wishing to apply for Certification have completed four (4) units of Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE), a Competency Assessment, a 2 year graduate/master’s degree in theology or related field that includes certain prerequisite courses, and professional papers that demonstrate the competencies of CASC/ACSS Certified Professionals.
Spiritual Care Practitioner
  • ​A member of CASC/ACSS
  • A Master's Degree of Arts in Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy, or Master of Divinity or related field
  •  A 3-credit graduate professional ethics course
  • Letter of faith/spiritual endorsement & good standing
  •  Resume
  • 3 professional letters of reference,
  • Participation in CASC/ACSS
  • Completion of four units: two Foundational (basic) & two Integrative and Contextual (advanced) of Clinical Psychospiritual Education (CPE)​
  • Competency Assessment
  • 1000 hours of supervised spiritual care experience
  • Pre-certification Mentor checklist & report
  • Completion of 2 professional papers and a clinical encounter (role play) component that demonstrate the competencies of CASC/ACSS Certified Professionals 
     
  • Certified members are subject to peer review every 5 years​​.
Psychospiritual Therapists
  • A member of CASC/ACSS     
  • A Master's Degree of Arts in Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy, or Master of Divinity or related field
  • A 3-credit graduate professional ethics course
  • Letter of faith/spiritual endorsement & good standing
  •  Resume
  • 3 professional letters of reference
  • Participation in CASC/ACSS
  • Completion of four units: 2 Foundational (basic) & 2 Integrative and Contextual (advanced) of Psychospiritual Therapy Education (PTE)
  • Competency Assessment
  • 500 hours of counselling and 200 hours of individual & group supervision
  • Pre-certification Mentor checklist & report
  • Completion of 2 professional papers and a clinical encounter component (role play) that demonstrate the competencies of CASC/ACSS Certified Professionals
  • Certified members are subject to peer review every 5 years.
Supervisor-Educator
  • A Certified CASC/ACSS member (spiritual care or psychospiritual therapy,)
  • A Master's Degree of Arts in Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy, or Master of Divinity or related field
  • A 3-credit graduate professional ethics course
  • A 3-credit graduate course in Supervision or Adult Education
  • Completed 2 units of CPE or PTE as a Provisional Supervisor-Educator 
  • Letter of faith/spiritual endorsement & good standing
  • Resume
  • 3 professional letters of reference
  • Participation in CASC/ACSS
  • A Competency Assessment
  • Supporting documentation
  • Completion of professional papers that demonstrate the competencies of CASC/ACSS Certified Professionals
  • Certified members are subject to peer review every 5 years.

Peer Review

Certified Members go through Peer review every five years in order to maintain certification. They demonstrate 50 hours per year of personal and professional development, update their training on the Code of Ethics, and maintain their standing and mandate for ministry with their faith body or spiritual community.  They meet with two other certified members to review learnings of the past five years and discuss their plan for future development and new areas of growth. Certified Members are committed to life long learning in their chosen field of expertise. 

How to Apply

You must be a Member with CASC/ACSS to apply for Certification.  Join CASC/ACSS today to gain access to our members-only portal where you can find detailed information on the application process toward Certification.