Certification

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.

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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

  • ​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 Psychospiritual Therapists

  • ​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 a minimum of one unit of Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE), where their Competency Assessment scores were seven 7s (nothing below a 6)
  • a 2 year graduate/master’s degree that fulfills CASC/ACSS Academic Requirements for certification
  • passed a knowedge interview
  • fulfilled required hours of supervision where they demonstrated the competencies of CASC/ACSS Certified Professionals.
Becoming Certified Guide Here!

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 present evidence of current spiritual pracctices. 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.

FAQS

No.  Certification is one of 7 types of Membership in CASC/ACSS: 1) Student, 2) Associate 3)Certified-Qualifying 4) Certified 5) Emeritus Certified 6) Emeritus 7) Affiliate

No. One receives a “Certificate” of completion after 1 unit of SPE. After each unit students receive competency assessment scores. Scores of seven 7s- with nothing below a 6 are required to complete the final step of Certification known as the knowledge interview.

  • Yes, a graduate degree that fulfills CASC/ACSS Academic requirements for certification.  Once you have reviewed the “Becoming Certified Guide” to see our current Academic Requirements, if you have further questions about one’s  academic background or degree, the Academic Assessment Committee can provide helpful advice.  Please contact the Educational Standards Commission chair  at education@spiritualcare.ca or by clicking here. 

Certification is the highest level of education and training for Spiritual Care Practitioners and Psychospiritual Therapists. It demonstrates a commitment to the highest ethical standards and accountability, best practice and ongoing professional development.  It ensures that the member has met the rigorous requirements for professional training, and attained a recognized degree of proficiency and competency in their chosen field of specialization.  Certification also demonstrates a commitment to the discipline of Spiritual Care and Psychospiritual Therapy and a desire to advance the professional interests of their colleagues and peers. 

Please see the Membership page for current yearly fees for the various membership categories. Currently Certified Members pay $350 per year.  The one time fee to apply for certification is $350.00.

If one already has a graduate degree that meets CASC/ACSS  requirements, the time frame is variable, depending on how easily a person can learn to practice the CASC/ACSS competencies. Each unit of SPE is 400 hours delivered either in an Extended (28 weeks) or Intensive format (11 weeks). There are also residencies that involve 3 to 4 units of SPE taken over the course of a year. Depending on how SPE is taken, one could potentially achieve the necesssary competencies between one to five years. 

  • Students are any person taking a course in Supervised Psychospiritual Education or Supervisory Education. 
  • Associate Members are any Members who are not yet certified.  They can have one to 5 or 6 units of SPE Education at varying levels. 
  • Certified- Qualifying Members have successfully completed their SPE, competency assessment, knowledge interview and are acquiring their necessary supervised practice hours.
  • Certified Members have completed all the requirements for certification including their necessary supervised practive hours.  After successful completion of the knowledge interview they complete their first Peer Review after three years. After this, Peer Review occurs every five years.
  • Emeritus Certified Members are no longer earning renumeration from the practice of Spiritual Care, Psychospiritual Therapy or as a Supervisor-Educator, and wish to sit on CASC/ACSS committees and serve the membership.
  • Emeritus Members are no longer earning renumeration from the practice of Spiritual Care, Psychospiritual Therapy or Supervisory Education.

The Professional Practice Commission (PPC) deals with all aspects of a member’s professional practice outside of education and ethics.  They advocate for members in areas of employment and hiring, scope of practice, standards of practice and ongoing professional development and education. PPC updates and manages the certification process and oversees peer review for certified Members. 

The Education Standards Commission (ESC) is responsible for the proper running and accrediting of educational courses and training programs. ESC oversees the admission into foundational and Integrative SPE as well as Provisional Supervisory Education. 
​Once a person has completed their education, they are supported by the PPC.  If a person is working and completing their professional Education, they are under both PPC and ESC. For more information about the PPC, visit the Commissions page here. 

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.

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