Free Resource · BCCI Board Certification

5 Reasons Chaplains Get Deferred
And How to Make Sure It Doesn't Happen to You

What the committee is really looking for — and the specific mistakes that keep qualified chaplains from passing on their first appearance.

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What's Inside

5 reasons qualified chaplains don't pass — and what to do about it.

This guide is based on what BCCI committees actually evaluate — not general writing advice.

01

They Assert Instead of Demonstrate

The most common reason for deferral — writing about what you do instead of showing a specific moment where you did it.

02

They Don't Name a Theoretical Framework

BCCI expects chaplains to ground their practice in identifiable theory. Many skip this entirely.

03

They Cover All 29 — But Don't Demonstrate Any

Depth beats breadth. A single rich example is worth more than five paragraphs of generalities.

04

They Can't Defend Their Materials in the Interview

The committee already knows where your writing is thin before you walk in the room.

05

They Underestimate How Much Revision Is Needed

The chaplains who pass on the first appearance almost always received substantive feedback — and revised based on it.

"I built this tool because I've been through the board certification process myself. I know the anxiety of staring at a blank page, trying to articulate years of ministry in language the committee will recognize. This guide — and the app — give you the feedback I wish I'd had."

— The Developer  · Board Certified Chaplain · CPE Educator · 15+ Years Healthcare Chaplaincy