What is a chaplain and how to become one

Q: Can you become a chaplain online?

Yes, you can become a chaplain online through online coursework. Although difficult to find, complete online bachelor's degrees in chaplaincy do exist. Education requirements for chaplains will vary depending on the hiring organization. Some institutions require a candidate to have a bachelor's degree in divinity, while other organizations require a master's degree.

Q: Does a chaplain have to be religious?

Yes, a chaplain must be ordained in their recognized faith. While chaplains belong to a specific religious faith, they can serve all members of a community. A chaplain is an ordained and certified faith-based counselor. While a chaplain identifies with a specific faith, those he serves need not be religiously affiliated. Hospitals, prisons, universities, and the military all employ chaplains.

Q: How do you become a certified chaplain?

Becoming a certified chaplain is a lengthy process involving both educational and work-related requirements. Once these requirements have been met, candidates are able to apply for certification.

Q: How many years does it take to become a chaplain?

It will take someone six to eight years to become a chaplain. The process of becoming a chaplain is lengthy and involves both educational and work experience requirements. Chaplain candidates typically hold a master's degree in a relevant theological or psychological field of study. It is important that these degrees are obtained at recognized and approved learning institutions. The educational requirements for someone seeking chaplain certification is a minimum of 72 semester hours.

Q: What's the difference between a pastor and a chaplain?

The difference between a pastor and a chaplain has to do primarily with the people that they serve. Pastors and chaplains serve two different segments of the population. In addition, some of the requirements to work in this field can vary significantly.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Rodolfo Estrada III

A chaplain is a spiritual advisor who provides emotional and religious support to individuals in hospitals, schools, the military, and prisons. They offer non-judgmental listening, comfort, and guidance to people of different faiths or those without religious beliefs. Chaplains work with patients, families, and staff to help them cope with grief, stress, and spiritual distress. They conduct religious services, lead prayers, perform sacraments, and offer counseling. Chaplains also promote a sense of community and understanding.

What general advice would you give to a Chaplain?

Rodolfo Estrada III

Assistant Professor of the New Testament, Vanguard University of Southern California

Students of theology have the opportunity to pursue careers beyond traditional parish or church ministry. They can find roles as chaplains, work within non-profit organizations, engage in community service, or enter any profession that involves interacting with individuals from various backgrounds and belief systems. I strongly advise acquiring a micro-credential, honing skills in writing and public speaking, or actively collaborating with community leaders to enhance their qualifications and impact.

ScoreChaplainUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $46,392

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

2.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 6.62%

Black or African American 11.76%

Hispanic or Latino 8.99%

Unknown 4.00%

White 68.19%

Gender

female 31.68%

male 68.32%

Age - 52

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52

Stress Level

8.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.3

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Chaplain?

Pros

Flexibility in scheduling and work environment
Potential for personal and professional growth through continuing education and training
Collaborative work with healthcare professionals and other chaplains
Opportunity to facilitate healing and closure for patients and families
Chance to practice one's own faith while respecting the beliefs of others

Cons

Potential for burnout due to intense emotional demands of the job
Limited career advancement opportunities
Possible conflict with healthcare staff or patients regarding religious beliefs or practices
Difficulty maintaining boundaries between personal and professional life
Need for ongoing self-care to avoid compassion fatigue or secondary trauma

Key steps to become a chaplain

Explore chaplain education requirements

Most common chaplain degrees

Bachelor's

47.9 %

Master's

36.1 %

Associate

5.4 %

Start to develop specific chaplain skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	21.19%
Social Work	10.66%
Clinical Pastoral	9.63%
Spiritual Care	7.95%
Pastoral Care	6.58%

Complete relevant chaplain training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New chaplains learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a chaplain based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real chaplain resumes.

Research chaplain duties and responsibilities

Provide full pastoral ministry, visitation and counseling to inmates and incarcerate patients.
Participate as members of a psychiatric or rehabilitation team in staff conferences concerning patients and inmates.
Perform functions in field and combat environments, combat lifesaver tasks and apply communication skills in crisis/potential suicide intervention.
Visit patients/families identify as appropriate for pastoral services and provide direct spiritual counseling, prayer, and ministry as appropriate.

Prepare your chaplain resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your chaplain resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a chaplain resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Chaplain Resume templates

Build a professional Chaplain resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Chaplain resume.

Apply for chaplain jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a chaplain job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do chaplains rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Chaplain reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023

Pros

being with patients and families during this time of need

Cons

the huge amount of mandated paperwork, DON'T work for a for-profit!

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Pros

I enjoy working with people allowing them to know they are not alone and I will be with them until the end.

What is a chaplain and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Chaplain?

What are the pros and cons of being a Chaplain?

Chaplain career paths

Key steps to become a chaplain

Explore chaplain education requirements

Most common chaplain degrees

Start to develop specific chaplain skills

Complete relevant chaplain training and internships

Research chaplain duties and responsibilities

Prepare your chaplain resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Chaplain Resume templates

Apply for chaplain jobs

How Did You Land Your First Chaplain Job

Average chaplain salary

How do chaplains rate their job?

Chaplain reviews

Chaplain FAQs

Can you become a chaplain online?

Does a chaplain have to be religious?

How do you become a certified chaplain?

How many years does it take to become a chaplain?

What's the difference between a pastor and a chaplain?

Search for chaplain jobs

Chaplain jobs by state