Standard Criteria for Registration/Membership
Full Registration will be available to chaplains/spiritual care professionals subject to the following criteria and completion of the Sponsorship Form by their sponsor:
- complete, accurate and contemporary personal record;
- declaration of compliance with the Code of Conduct (2024) and Continuing Professional Development requirements;
- confirmation that, if a person’s healthcare chaplaincy/spiritual care professional role requires a person to represent a faith or belief position (or, if that person is spending time in role that is clearly representative of a faith or belief position), the person will ensure that their employing body holds appropriate evidence of relevant endorsement to the faith or belief position represented, and that this is kept current (as per the person’s faith/belief tradition requirements). Should this change, the person’s employer will be notified;
- evidence of relevant qualifications and training. This would normally include: evidence of study relevant to the applicant’s faith community or belief group such as theology, religious studies, philosophy of religion and belief; a Board Accredited postgraduate chaplaincy qualification such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Chaplaincy, two (2) units of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education in the Northern Ireland context) or have completed the Portfolio route;
- evidence of employment (honorary or salaried) in a healthcare chaplaincy/spiritual care professional post: this would normally be at a minimum of AfC5; or evidence of a minimum of 900 hours of clinically supervised practice as a healthcare chaplain/spiritual care professional (equivalent to six months autonomous supervised practice in most contexts);
- Confirmation of Contingent Malpractice Insurance
- no known existing professional conduct issues;
- payment of the relevant registration fee.
Associate Membership (Full fees) will be available to chaplains/spiritual care professionals subject to the following criteria and completion of the Sponsorship Form by their sponsor:
- complete, accurate and contemporary personal record;
- declaration of compliance with the Code of Conduct (2024) and Continuing Professional Development requirements;
- evidence of relevant qualifications and training. This would normally include: evidence of study relevant to the applicant’s faith community or belief group such as theology, religious studies, philosophy of religion and belief;
- confirmation that, if a person’s healthcare chaplaincy/spiritual care professional role requires a person to represent a faith or belief position (or, if that person is spending time in role that is clearly representative of a faith or belief position), the person will ensure that their employing body holds appropriate evidence of relevant endorsement to the faith or belief position represented, and that this is kept current (as per the person’s faith/belief tradition requirements). Should this change, the person’s employer will be notified.
- no known existing professional conduct issues;
- Confirmation of Contingent Malpractice Insurance
- payment of the relevant registration fee
- evidence of employment (honorary or salaried) in a healthcare chaplaincy/spiritual care professional post in the UK: this would normally be at a minimum of AfC5; or evidence of a minimum of 900 hours of clinically supervised practice as a healthcare chaplain/spiritual care professional (equivalent to six months autonomous supervised practice in most contexts);
- Have not completed formal post-graduate chaplaincy routes yet.
Student Membership (PG Certificate Route) (Reduced fees) will be available to chaplains/spiritual care professionals subject to the following criteria and completion of the Sponsorship Form by their sponsor:
- Complete, accurate and contemporary personal record;
- declaration of compliance with the UKBHC Code of Conduct (2024) and Continuing Professional Development requirements;
- evidence of undertaking a UKBHC accredited postgraduate chaplaincy study for example a Post-Graduate Certificate/Diploma/MSc. in Healthcare Chaplaincy;
- evidence of a minimum of 900 hours of clinically supervised practice as a healthcare chaplain/spiritual care professional (equivalent to six months autonomous supervised practice in most contexts), for example in a voluntary chaplaincy placement supervised and signed-off by a Board Registered healthcare chaplain/spiritual care professional;
- confirmation that, if a person’s healthcare chaplaincy/spiritual care professional role requires a person to represent a faith or belief position (or, if that person is spending time in role that is clearly representative of a faith or belief position), the person will ensure that their employing body holds appropriate evidence of relevant endorsement to the faith or belief position represented, and that this is kept current (as per the person’s faith/belief tradition requirements). Should this change, the person’s employer will be notified;
- confirmation of Contingent Malpractice Insurance
- no known existing professional conduct issues.
Student Membership(CPE Route) (Reduced fees) will be available to chaplains/spiritual care professionals subject to the following criteria and completion of the Sponsorship Form by their sponsor:
- Complete, accurate and contemporary personal record;
- declaration of compliance with the UKBHC Code of Conduct (2024) and Continuing Professional Development requirements;
- Completed two (2) Units of Clinical Pastoral Education in the N Ireland context with evidence of significant period of pastoral experience.
- evidence of a minimum of 900 hours of clinically supervised practice as a healthcare chaplain/spiritual care professional (equivalent to six months autonomous supervised practice in most contexts), for example in a voluntary chaplaincy placement supervised and signed-off by a Board Registered healthcare chaplain/spiritual care professional;
- confirmation that, if a person’s healthcare chaplaincy/spiritual care professional role requires a person to represent a faith or belief position (or, if that person is spending time in role that is clearly representative of a faith or belief position), the person will ensure that their employing body holds appropriate evidence of relevant endorsement to the faith or belief position represented, and that this is kept current (as per the person’s faith/belief tradition requirements). Should this change, the person’s employer will be notified;
- no known existing professional conduct issues.
- Confirmation of Contingent Malpractice Insurance
Student and/or Associate Membership (Portfolio Route) (Reduced fees) will be available to chaplains/spiritual care professionals subject to the following criteria and completion of the Sponsorship Form by their sponsor:
The Portfolio Route includes the requirement that the individual demonstrate that they are:
- Safe to practice
- Informed about the principles and practice of chaplaincy and
- Able to critically reflect on their professional experience, to qualify for full registration
- Confirmation of Contingent Malpractice Insurance
Please use this link for Portfolio material requirements.
Affiliate Membership will be available to healthcare chaplaincy volunteers, AfC Band 3 Pastoral Care Support Workers and Band 4 Pastoral Care Assistants subject to the following criteria and completion of the Sponsorship Form by their sponsor:
- Complete, accurate and contemporary personal record;
- declaration of compliance with the UKBHC Code of Conduct (2024) and Continuing Professional Development;
- Evidence of at least six months competent autonomous practice as a healthcare chaplaincy volunteer, healthcare pastoral care support worker or healthcare pastoral care assistant, supervised by a Board Registered healthcare chaplain/spiritual care professional.
- confirmation that, if a person’s healthcare chaplaincy/spiritual care professional role requires a person to represent a faith or belief position (or, if that person is spending time in role that is clearly representative of a faith or belief position), the person will ensure that their employing body holds appropriate evidence of relevant endorsement to the faith or belief position represented, and that this is kept current (as per the person’s faith/belief tradition requirements). Should this change, the person’s employer will be notified;
- Maintain up-to-date record of CPD
- no known existing professional conduct issues
Senior Associate Honorary Membership
Will be available to those chaplains/spiritual care professionals within five (5) years of stepping down from Full Registration and Employment as a healthcare chaplain/spiritual care professional who wishes to remain Registered subject to the following criteria:
- Maintain up- to-date record of CPD
- Continue have interest/involvement in Healthcare Chaplaincy
Minimal fees £10 per annum with any services to the Board being given pro bono
Guidance on Mainstream Faith Communities and Belief Groups
In determining what is a ‘mainstream’ Faith Community or Belief Group, the UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy recognises the Faith Communities and Belief Groups that are members of the Healthcare Chaplaincy Faith and Belief Group, the Free Churches Group, Interfaith Scotland and the British Humanist Association and may consult these bodies for advice and recommendations.
Professional organisations
Although not a requirement for registration the UKBHC recommends that applicants are members of a professional association of healthcare chaplains for example:
- Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains (AHPCC);
- College of Healthcare Chaplains (CHCC);
- Northern Ireland Healthcare Chaplains Association (NIHCA)
- The Association of Chaplaincy in General Practice Primary Care Chaplaincy (ACGP)
Academic Advisor
The Board has appointed an Academic Advisor to consider the equivalence of academic qualifications and experience to meet the registration/membership criteria and to advise the Registrar. The two documents that guide the processes for acceptance of qualifications and experience are set down here and need to be read in conjunction with each other. The pathway to registration with postgraduate equivalence and the requirements and process for accreditation of post-graduate awards.
Registration and Appeals: Click here for information about Registration and Appeals.
Contingent Malpractice Insurance information can be accessed using this link.