Association of Professional Chaplains

What Association of Professional Chaplains does

The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) is a U.S.-based non-profit professional membership association founded in 1946 and headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. It serves certified and credentialed professional chaplains working in healthcare, palliative care, hospice, military, correctional, university, corporate, and other institutional settings. The organization earns revenue through four streams: annual membership dues across individual and retired categories, Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) certification and recertification fees, events and conferences (including the 2023, 2025, and 2026 Annual Conferences plus webinars and the Essentials of Palliative Care Chaplaincy program), and publications (the APC Forum newsletter, Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, and Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging, plus advertising).

APC's core products are not technology assets but professional services: BCCI certification, published standards (Common Qualifications and Competencies, Standards of Practice, Professional Ethics), continuing education, advocacy, peer networking, and member-only resources (Reading Room, podcasts, professional contacts database). The organization operates a community-led go-to-market model, with membership and certification managed through its website (apchaplains.org), supported by social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, an email newsletter, and an annual in-person conference. Pricing for dues and certification fees is not publicly disclosed and requires login or direct inquiry.

The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors (currently 2025-2026 term) and operates under a published 2026-2028 Strategic Plan. It maintains a small staff (11-50 employees), a corporate sponsorship program for institutional partners, and a web development vendor relationship with Matrix Group International. There is no evidence of a technology platform, mobile app, AI capabilities, or merger and acquisition activity.

Name

Association of Professional Chaplains

Legal name

Association of Professional Chaplains

Website

https://professionalchaplains.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Association of Professional Chaplains is a U.S. non-profit professional membership association founded in 1946 that certifies and supports credentialed chaplains working in healthcare, military, correctional, and other institutional settings through BCCI certification, published standards, annual conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Professional chaplaincy certification
• Spiritual care membership
• Pastoral care standards
• Chaplain continuing education
• Interfaith chaplaincy association

Headquarters

HQ city

Hoffman Estates

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from professional chaplains and related spiritual care professionals. Membership categories include individual membership, retired status, and corporate sponsorship tiers.
2. BCCI Certification Fees: Fees associated with Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) certification and maintenance of certification processes for professional chaplains.
3. Events and Conferences: Revenue from annual conferences (2023, 2025, 2026), educational events, and webinar programs including the Essentials of Palliative Care Chaplaincy program.
4. Publications: Revenue from professional publications including the APC Forum, Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, and Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging. Also includes advertising opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Association of Professional Chaplains is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers services for chaplains through paid membership programs, BCCI (Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc.) credentialing, annual conferences and webinars, professional standards and ethics guidance, and a portfolio of publications including the APC Forum newsletter and peer-reviewed journals (Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging). It also supports members with online resources such as grief videos, podcasts, a Reading Room, professional advocacy, program development tools, and a professional contacts database.

Product overview

The Association of Professional Chaplains is a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of services including membership programs, BCCI certification, annual conferences, webinars, professional standards and ethics guidelines, and multiple peer-reviewed publications (APC Forum newsletter, Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging). The organization serves chaplains through advocacy, education, professional standards, and member resources, functioning as a professional association rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Programs

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Matrix Group International, Inc.minorOthersMatrix Group International, Inc. provides web design and development services for the Association of Professional Chaplains website (apchaplains.org). This is an operational/vendor relationship for website maintenance rather than a strategic partnership.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Regional players

• Canadian Association for Spiritual Care: CASC is a regional peer providing certification, education, and professional standards for spiritual care professionals in Canada. It operates the equivalent of BCCI certification in the Canadian market and competes with APC for cross-border chaplaincy members.

Direct peers

• Association for Clinical Pastoral Education: ACPE is a direct peer accrediting clinical pastoral education (CPE) programs and certifying CPE supervisors and educators. While more focused on CPE training than chaplaincy certification, ACPE is part of the same professional chaplaincy ecosystem and its accredited training is often a prerequisite for APC membership.
• National Association of Jewish Chaplains: NAJC is a direct peer providing professional chaplaincy certification, support, and advocacy specifically for Jewish chaplains. It operates in the same certification and membership space as APC and competes for Jewish chaplains working in hospitals, hospices, and other institutional settings.
• Spiritual Care Association: The Spiritual Care Association (SCA), part of the Healthcare Chaplaincy Network, is the most direct peer — it also provides chaplaincy certification, membership, and standards for professional chaplains, including a board-certified chaplain credential that directly competes with APC's BCCI certification in healthcare settings.
• National Association of Catholic Chaplains: NACC is a direct peer providing certification, education, and professional standards specifically for Catholic chaplains. It offers the BCC certification (through the joint Council on Certification) and competes with APC for members working in Catholic healthcare and institutional settings.

Emerging players

• College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy: CPSP is an emerging peer providing clinical pastoral education and chaplaincy certification with a psychotherapy-oriented approach. It offers board certification that competes with APC's BCCI credential and targets chaplains seeking a more clinically integrated certification pathway.

Broad incumbents

• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: NHPCO is a broad incumbent in the hospice and palliative care space where many APC members work. While not a direct chaplaincy certification body, it influences standards for spiritual care provision in hospice settings and is a relevant stakeholder and content partner for APC's palliative care chaplaincy programming.
• American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine: AAHPM is a broad incumbent serving physicians and clinicians in hospice and palliative medicine. It is not a chaplaincy body, but it is a key professional association in the same palliative care setting where APC's Essentials of Palliative Care Chaplaincy program operates, making it a relevant ecosystem peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chaplain
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/ProfChap
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-professional-chaplains

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association of Professional Chaplains