FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about How to be come Accredited with the NRPSN

How do I train as a non-religious pastoral support practitioner?

If you want to practise as a non-religious pastoral carer in settings such as healthcare, prisons, universities, or the Armed Forces, the first step is to train and seek accreditation through the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network (NRPSN).

NRPSN accreditation is the recognised route for practising in institutional settings in the UK and provides professional standards, accountability, and ongoing support.

What is the first step in the training pathway?

The entry point for most of our practitioners  is one of our NRPSN Skills Trainings.

These trainings:

  • Introduce the core competencies of non-religious pastoral care
  • Are designed and regularly updated by experienced practitioners
  • Form part of the NRPSN assessment and recruitment process

Successful completion allows you to seek initial NRPSN accreditation, which enables you to practise as a non-religious pastoral carer (often initially in voluntary or honorary roles).

Is the skills training enough to work as a chaplain?

The skills training is the foundation, not the end point.

Most institutions require:

  • Supervised practice
  • Ongoing continuing professional development (CPD)
  • Regular professional supervision

All of this is provided or supported through the NRPSN once accredited.

For those seeking paid roles, there is an additional Salaried Roles / Advanced Training Day, which focuses on practical preparation for employment (e.g. institutional work, interviews, assessments, and interfaith & belief working).

What if I’m interested in paid chaplaincy roles?

Many people begin by volunteering or gaining experience after initial accreditation, then move toward paid roles. Many individuals come to the NRPSN with a wealth or prior knowledge and experience in aligned fields, such as social care, counselling, or youth work which can help in securing a paid post. 

If you already know you are aiming for employment, you may:

  • Progress quickly to the advanced training day
  • Combine NRPSN training with relevant academic study
  • Build experience in healthcare or other institutional settings

Your pathway can be tailored depending on background, experience, and sector interest.

Do I need an academic qualification?

Not necessarily — but it depends on your goals.

NRPSN training focuses on professional pastoral practice.
Academic pathways (such as postgraduate certificates, diplomas, or an MA) are optional but useful if you:

  • Want deeper academic grounding
  • Aim for senior or salaried chaplaincy roles
  • Plan to register with national professional bodies (e.g. healthcare-specific roles)

We’ve created a clear overview explaining how NRPSN training and academic routes fit together, which you can view on this page

What are the different courses, and how do they relate?

In short:

  • NRPSN training = professional skills, accreditation, supervision, and practice
  • Academic courses = theoretical depth, qualifications, and career progression

Some people do only NRPSN training.
Others combine NRPSN training with academic study.
Both routes can lead to professional pastoral roles, depending on sector and employer expectations.

What if I’m interested in non-religious chaplaincy in the Armed Forces?

Non-religious chaplaincy roles in the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and RAF) are available, but they are advanced posts with additional responsibilities and requirements, set out by the MOD.

While the first step is still NRPSN accreditation, endorsement for military roles is a separate and more demanding process. These roles require significant pastoral experience, strong professional references, and the ability to work confidently within highly structured, multi-faith environments.

Because of this, most people:

  • Begin in healthcare, prisons, universities, or other institutional settings
  • Build substantial supervised pastoral experience
  • Then explore military endorsement once they are well established practitioners

Military chaplaincy is not an entry-level route, and applicants are expected to demonstrate maturity, resilience, and proven competence in institutional pastoral care.

What does military endorsement involve?

All three Armed Forces require a Certificate of Endorsement from their recognised Endorsing Authority. For non-religious chaplains, this is provided by Humanists UK via the NRPSN.

Endorsement involves:

  • Holding current NRPSN accreditation
  • Demonstrating the equivalent of 2–3 years full-time pastoral experience (paid or voluntary, depending on service)
  • Experience working in multi-faith and belief teams
  • Appropriate professional qualifications (usually postgraduate-level or equivalent)
  • Accreditation as a Humanist Celebrant, including relevant ceremonies training
  • A formal application process, references, and panel interviews

The exact requirements and recruitment routes vary between the Army, Navy, and RAF, and between regular and reserve roles.

Where can I find full details about the military route?

We have produced a separate, detailed guide specifically for those considering non-religious chaplaincy in the Armed Forces.

This document explains:

  • The nature of the role
  • Endorsement requirements
  • Experience expectations
  • How the military route differs from other sectors
  • Who to contact for initial conversations

We strongly recommend reading this document before pursuing the military route.

Where can I find course dates and apply?

All current training opportunities, details about the accreditation process, and upcoming course dates are listed here.

NRPSN training and accreditation are delivered under the auspices of Humanists UK, ensuring robust professional standards and governance.

I’m still unsure which route is right for me — what should I do?

That’s completely normal.

Many people come from:

  • Caring professions
  • Talking therapies
  • Education, welfare, or support roles
  • Or are exploring a later-career change

We encourage you to:

  • Start with the NRPSN skills training
  • Review the downloadable education pathways overview
  • Get in touch if you want to talk through options before applying

There is no single “right” route — the pathway is flexible and designed to meet people where they are.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Non-Religious Pastoral Care

A note on language

Traditionally the sector in which we practise is called ‘chaplaincy’, which has clear Christian connotations. Research by Humanists UK has shown that many non-religious people view it as exclusionary and will not access support from chaplaincy teams – even if those teams are inclusive and diverse. NHS England has adopted the term ‘pastoral, spiritual, and religious (PSR) care’ although for short many still refer to it as chaplaincy. 

Many non-Christian practitioners do not wish to be referred to as chaplains, while others prefer to keep this title due to its heritage. 

The NRPSN prefers the term ‘pastoral care’ (while recognising that this also has some religious roots) and works strategically and operationally with organisations, institutions, and teams to help them consider how they can not only build inclusive and equitable services, but also how they can best communicate this to the populations they serve by using inclusive language. 

You may come across non-religious and humanist used synonymously, and pastoral carer and chaplain also interchanged. Essentially a non-religious pastoral carer, humanist chaplain, non-religious chaplain, or humanist pastoral carer are the same thing!

What is a non-religious pastoral carer?

A non-religious pastoral carer is a trained professional who supports people’s emotional, existential, and spiritual needs from a non-religious or humanist perspective. In the UK, most are accredited through the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network (NRPSN).

Generally, they work alongside religious chaplains and pastoral carers in multi-faith teams, offering the same core pastoral care — listening, presence, meaning-making — without religious language or theology. They are there especially for people who identify as non-religious, atheist, agnostic, or spiritually uncertain, but will support anyone who seeks care. These teams are commonly found in hospitals, hospices, prisons, universities, and the armed forces – and there are also chaplaincy & pastoral care teams in the emergency services, workplaces, attending sports teams, and in various charities and community groups. 

How are non-religious pastoral carers  trained and accredited?

Non-religious pastoral carers are professionally trained and endorsed, comparable to their religious counterparts. They can be in paid or voluntary positions, but always meet the same basic standards and competencies.

Typically, they:

  • Complete specialist pastoral care training (often at postgraduate level, especially for those in paid roles)
  • Meet assessed competencies in ethics, safeguarding, diversity, and reflective practice
  • Are accredited through the NRPSN, including references and DBS checks
  • Commit to ongoing supervision and continuing professional development
  • Adhere to a professional code of conduct and complaints process

NRPSN accreditation functions in the same way that faith endorsement does for religious chaplains: it confirms suitability, accountability, and professional standards.

Why have a non-religious pastoral carer if chaplains already support everyone?

Many non-religious individuals in or using institutions where there are chaplaincy and pastoral care teams do not engage with chaplaincy at all when it is perceived as religious. This means a significant proportion of people miss out on support.

Having a non-religious pastoral carer:

  • Improves access and uptake among non-religious individuals
  • Respects choice and comfort
  • Provides specialist expertise in non-religious existential care
  • Completes a truly inclusive “faiths and none” chaplaincy model

This is about equity, not replacement. Religious chaplaincy continues as before — the service simply reaches more people.

Can non-religious pastoral carers support religious individuals?

Yes. Non-religious pastoral carers provide compassionate, person-centred pastoral care to anyone, regardless of belief.

If an individual requests specific religious rituals, prayers, or sacraments, the non-religious chaplain will generally coordinate with the appropriate faith colleague, just as chaplains already do across faith traditions.

They also offer non-religious rituals and reflective practices, such as moments of silence or remembrance, which many individuals find deeply meaningful.

Are non-religious pastoral carers anti-religious?

No. Non-religious pastoral carers are not anti-faith, and challenging or undermining belief would be a breach of NRPSN professional standards.

They work collaboratively with religious colleagues and are trained in respectful, non-judgemental care. Their role is to support the person in front of them — not to promote non-religion or debate belief.

Is there real demand for non-religious pastoral care?

Yes. Around one third of people in England and Wales identify as non-religious, and many experience serious illness, loss, and ethical distress without accessing chaplaincy support. This reflects changing demographics and best practice in inclusive care.

How can organisations introduce a non-religious pastoral carer?

Options include:

  • Recruiting a paid chaplain/pastoral carer post open to “any faith or belief”
  • Appointing an NRPSN accredited trained volunteer or honorary chaplain
  • Hosting a supervised placement for an NRPSN practitioner
  • Consulting the NRPSN for guidance, candidates, and job descriptions

The NRPSN supports organisations throughout recruitment, induction, and integration.

Do you provide pastoral care to individuals outside of institutions, or can you make referrals?

NRPSN practitioners provide pastoral support within the institutions where they are providing their care (such as hospitals, prisons, universities, or the Armed Forces).

We are not currently able to offer:

  • Individual pastoral support directly to members of the public
  • Private referrals to specific practitioners

This is because NRPSN practitioners work under the safeguarding, supervision, insurance and governance structures of their host institutions. The NRPSN is not an employer or agency, and we are therefore unable to deploy practitioners independently outside those frameworks.

If you are seeking support, we recommend:

  • Contacting your own institution’s chaplaincy, wellbeing, or welfare team
  • Asking whether non-religious pastoral support is available locally
  • Speaking to your GP or seeking a qualified counsellor via the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) directory if therapeutic support is needed

Can institutions develop non-religious pastoral provision?

Yes — and we warmly encourage this.

If your organisation recognises a need for non-religious pastoral support, we are very happy to advise on establishing a long-term role, whether voluntary or salaried. This ensures:

  • Appropriate safeguarding and governance
  • Clear accountability structures
  • Sustainable pastoral provision
  • Integration within existing multi-faith or wellbeing teams

We do not provide ad hoc or one-off cover, but we can absolutely support institutions to build something lasting and properly structured.

If this is of interest, please contact us at info[at]nrpsn.org.uk to begin a conversation.