The Hospice & Palliative Care Chaplaincy Careers Information Hub

Key Things To Know

If you're considering becoming a hospice or palliative care chaplain, here are some important facts to understand before stepping into this sacred work:

• It’s not about converting anyone: Chaplains offer spiritual care that honors each person’s beliefs, whether religious, spiritual, or secular

• Listening is central: Often, chaplains say less and listen more, helping people find peace in their own way

• You don’t need to be clergy, but it helps in some settings: Many chaplains are ordained, but some roles accept board-certified spiritual care providers from diverse backgrounds

• Certification matters: Most healthcare chaplain roles require certification from an accrediting body like APC, NACC, or NAJC

• You’ll work with a team: Chaplains often collaborate with nurses, social workers, and doctors as part of a holistic care team

• Presence is the practice: You’re not there to fix or explain suffering, but to walk beside people through it

• Cultural and religious literacy is key: You’ll encounter patients from many backgrounds, so openness and adaptability are essential

• Documentation is part of the job: Even spiritual care comes with paperwork, including charting visits and care plans

• It’s emotionally deep work: You’ll hold space for grief, fear, and sometimes joy—supporting patients and families with compassion and steadiness

Why Choose This Career?

Becoming a hospice or palliative care chaplain is more than a profession. It’s a calling rooted in compassion, presence, and purpose. Here’s why people are drawn to this meaningful work:

• Offer peace during profound moments: Chaplains help patients and families find comfort, meaning, or simply a sense of calm when facing death or serious illness

• Serve people of all faiths and backgrounds: This role invites you to be open, inclusive, and present with anyone in need, regardless of belief system

• Support the whole person: Chaplaincy brings emotional and spiritual care into the healthcare space, helping people feel seen beyond their diagnosis

• Connect deeply without judgment: You’re there to witness someone’s experience, not to fix it or preach, which allows for rich, authentic connections

• Be part of an interdisciplinary team: Chaplains collaborate with medical professionals, bringing a unique and valued perspective to patient care

• You can make moments sacred: Whether it's blessing a room, holding silence, or helping a family say goodbye, small acts become powerful

• Flexible settings: Work in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, or home-based care

• Every day has meaning: Even on hard days, your presence helps people feel less alone during one of life’s most vulnerable times

Job Responsibilities

Hospice and palliative care chaplains provide emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and care teams. While every day can look different, here are the core responsibilities you’ll likely encounter:

• Offer spiritual care to patients and families regardless of their faith background, belief system, or cultural identity

• Facilitate conversations about meaning, legacy, forgiveness, fear, hope, or unresolved questions at the end of life

• Lead or participate in rituals such as prayers, blessings, life reviews, or memorial services when requested

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including nurses, social workers, and physicians to support the whole person

• Provide grief and anticipatory grief support before and after a patient’s passing

• Chart visits and patient interactions in electronic medical records as part of holistic care documentation

• Respect and adapt to diverse beliefs to ensure spiritual care is culturally appropriate and meaningful to the patient and family

• Be a calm, nonjudgmental presence during emotionally intense moments, such as delivering difficult news or sitting vigil

• Support staff wellness by offering emotional support to healthcare providers working in high-stress end-of-life environments

Education and Certification Requirements

To become a hospice or palliative care chaplain, you’ll need a mix of theological education, clinical training, and certification. Here’s what that path usually looks like:

• Bachelor’s degree: Most chaplaincy careers begin with an undergraduate degree, often in religion, psychology, or a related field

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or equivalent: Most healthcare chaplain roles require a graduate-level theological degree from an accredited institution

• Ordination or endorsement: If you’re affiliated with a religious tradition, many roles require ordination or an endorsement from your faith group

• Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE): Completion of at least four units of CPE is typically required. These supervised internships take place in healthcare settings and focus on developing emotional, spiritual, and professional skills

• Board certification: Certification through a national body such as the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), or the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) is often required or strongly preferred

• Continuing education: Chaplains are expected to stay current through regular professional development and spiritual formation

• Optional credentials: Some roles may also look for palliative care-specific training, trauma-informed care, or grief support certifications

How To Get Started

If you're feeling called to hospice or palliative care chaplaincy, here’s a step-by-step path to begin your journey:

• Explore the field: Read books, watch documentaries, or listen to podcasts that highlight spiritual care at the end of life

• Talk to chaplains: Reach out to a hospice or hospital chaplain in your community and ask about their path, daily work, and lessons learned

• Volunteer in hospice or elder care settings: This gives you firsthand experience with end-of-life care and helps you discern if the role fits

• Pursue theological education: If you haven’t already, consider a Master of Divinity or a similar degree from an accredited seminary or divinity school

• Start Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE): Look for accredited programs through hospitals or faith-based organizations to begin hands-on training

• Connect with your faith group: If ordination or endorsement is part of your tradition, explore those requirements early

• Apply for internships or residencies: Some chaplains enter year-long residencies to deepen their training before certification

• Join a professional association: Groups like APC or NACC offer resources, mentorship, and guidance on the path to certification

• Look for open roles: Entry-level or part-time chaplain positions may be available at local hospices, hospitals, or long-term care facilities

Common Myths

There are plenty of misconceptions about what hospice and palliative care chaplains do. Here are some of the most common myths—and the truth behind them:

"Chaplains are only for religious people."
Not true. Chaplains serve everyone, regardless of faith, belief, or lack of belief. Their role is to offer support that aligns with the individual’s values and worldview.

"You have to preach or convert people."
Hospice chaplaincy is not about evangelizing. It’s about presence, listening, and meeting people where they are, not where you think they should be.

"If I’m not religious, I can’t be a chaplain."
While many chaplains have faith backgrounds, some serve from a humanist, spiritual-but-not-religious, or interfaith perspective. Openness and compassion matter more than dogma.

"It’s mostly reading scripture and praying."
That may be part of the role when requested, but chaplains also offer emotional support, facilitate difficult conversations, and help patients reflect on legacy, meaning, and identity.

"Chaplains only show up when someone is about to die."
While they often support people near the end of life, chaplains also work with patients and families throughout illness, helping navigate spiritual and emotional needs at every stage.

"You won’t be respected in a medical team."
Quite the opposite. Chaplains are often seen as essential members of the care team, especially in palliative settings where whole-person care is prioritized.

"You have to be old to be a chaplain."
Wisdom helps, but chaplains of all ages serve effectively, especially when they lead with humility and a willingness to learn from every person they meet.

"It’s too emotionally heavy to do long term."
The work can be intense, but it can also be deeply grounding and fulfilling. With good boundaries, reflection, and support, many chaplains stay in the field for decades.

What Makes Someone A Good Fit

Hospice and palliative care chaplaincy is sacred, personal work. If the qualities below sound like you, this might be a deeply meaningful path to pursue:

• You’re a calm, steady presence: In moments of crisis or sorrow, you remain grounded and composed

• You listen without fixing: You don’t rush to offer solutions or advice—you know that holding space is often the most powerful thing you can do

• You’re spiritually curious and open: You respect many paths and can walk alongside people regardless of their beliefs

• You’re comfortable with silence: You understand that not every moment needs to be filled with words

• You find meaning in service: You’re drawn to work that brings comfort, connection, and purpose to others

• You’re emotionally mature: You can handle emotionally charged situations without becoming overwhelmed or defensive

• You respect boundaries: You know when to step in, when to step back, and how to care for yourself while caring for others

• You value interfaith understanding: You’re willing to learn about different religious and cultural traditions to serve diverse communities with care

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about becoming a hospice or palliative care chaplain? Here are some common ones, answered clearly and honestly: