Retired, Inactive and Lapsed Chaplains

Retired Chaplain Status

The Spiritual Care Association grants the status of “Retired Chaplain” to any SCA Certified Chaplain (CC, BCC, APBCC) in good standing that has substantially retired from the profession of chaplaincy and who works no more than 50% of the time within a year in professional compensated chaplaincy. For non-SCA Chaplains seeking this status with SCA, they must first apply for SCA certification.

Retired Chaplain Status

SCA-certified Chaplains seeking Retired Status must submit a request for Retired Statusto the SCA office.
Rank status does not change. The terms used by Retired Chaplains shall be: Retired Credentialed Chaplain, Retired Board Certified Chaplain, or Retired Advanced Practice Board Certified Chaplain. Once the Retired Chaplain status is granted by SCA, the Retired Chaplain must use the following credentials after their name: CC-Ret., BCC-Ret., or APBCC-Ret., accordingly.
Maintenance of Retired Status:
1. Pay annual Retired Status fees of $30 (due by December 31 each year for the following calendar year)
2. Maintain conduct in accordance with SCA’s Code of Ethics.
A Retired Chaplain may be reinstated to active CC, BCC, or APBCC status by completing the following steps:
1. Notifying the SCA office.
2. Re-activating SCA membership (if not current)
3. Paying pro-rated certification maintenance fees for the year of reinstatement.
4. Signing the Code of Ethics.
The year the chaplain is due to take the online Standardized Clinical Knowledge Test will be the same year as it was when they began retirement status. If that time has passed while in retirement, passing the test will be a requirement of reinstatement.

Temporary Inactive Chaplains

Temporary Inactive Chaplain

The Spiritual Care Association grants the status of “Temporary Inactive Chaplain” to any SCA Certified Chaplain (CC, BCC, APBCC) in good standing who requests Temporary Inactive Status based on or more of the following reasons:
1. Chaplain will not be employed or engaged in professional chaplaincy.
2. Chaplain is on extended medical or family leave or disability.

Policies and Procedures for Temporary Inactive Chaplain Status:

Eligibility for Temporary Inactive Status: Chaplain must be an SCA Credentialed Chaplain (CC), Board Certified Chaplain (BCC), or Advanced Practice Board Certified Chaplain (APBCC) in good standing.
A Chaplain seeking the Temporary Inactive Status must:
1. Contact the SCA office to request Temporary Inactive Status.
2. Pay annual Temporary Inactive Status Maintenance fee of $30.
3. Maintain an active SCA Membership.
4. Fulfill 50% of the annual continuing education requirement for their status (CC, BCC, or APBCC)
5. Maintain conduct in accordance with the Code of Ethics.
Temporary Inactive Chaplains may stay in Temporary Inactive Status for one year (renewable for up to 4 years). After 4 years, the Temporary Inactive Chaplain must apply for reinstatement or become a Lapsed Chaplain.
A Temporary Inactive Chaplain may be reinstated to active CC, BCC, or APBCC status by completing the following steps:
1. Notifying the SCA office.
2. Paying pro-rated certification maintenance fees for the year of reinstatement.
3. Signing the Code of Ethics.
4. Active SCA membership should have been maintained during Temporary Inactive status.
The year the chaplain is due to take the online Standardized Clinical Knowledge Test will be the same year as it was when they began Temporary Inactive Status. If that time has passed while on temporary status, passing the test will be a requirement of reinstatement.

Lapsed Chaplains

Policies for Loss of Certification:

A Lapsed Chaplain is an SCA-certified chaplain that:

Failed to meet the continuing education requirements for the chaplain’s status (CC, BCC, or APBCC)
Failed to practice as a professional chaplain in accordance with SCA’s Code of Ethics.
Is in arrears of maintenance fees or other certification-related fees.
Failed to pass the online Standardized Clinical Knowledge Test every fifth year. (Note: the test must be passed every fifth year since first SCA certification even if the chaplain has been on leave for some of that time)
Voluntary resignation of their certification status.

Reinstatement of Lapsed Chaplains:

Except in the case of loss of certification due to a violation of the Code of Ethics, to be reinstated the Chaplain must:

Have lost their active certification status in 24 months or less (Chaplains that have lost their certification status for longer than 24 months will have to begin a new application)
Request reinstatement from the SCA office.
Pay any fees outstanding at the time their certification was lost.
Complete any continuing education requirement outstanding at the time certification was lost including passing the online Standardized Clinical Knowledge Test if that was the cause of the loss of certification.
Sign SCA’s Code of Ethics.
Additionally, the Chaplain must pay membership and certification maintenance fees for the year of reinstatement.
The year the chaplain is due to take the online Standardized Clinical Knowledge Test will be the same year as it was when they began retirement status. If that time has passed while being lapsed, passing the test will be a requirement of reinstatement.