Ministry training, without the fog

It depends entirely on your tradition, and any site answering otherwise is answering for one denomination. Mainline and many evangelical denominations expect a Master of Divinity (MDiv) for ordination. Many non-denominational and church-planting streams ordain on calling, character, and in-house training. Some traditions run their own institutes; search interest in programs like Tony Evans' training center reflects that pastor-led model. Your denomination's ordination requirements are a documented, findable thing, and they are the only authoritative answer. They are also step one on our choosing page.

Online delivery is now mainstream at accredited seminaries. The legitimacy question is accreditation and your denomination's recognition, not the modality. Two checks settle it: is the school accredited by a recognized accreditor, and does your ordaining body accept its degrees? ATS accredits graduate theological schools in North America; regional accreditors cover universities. A cheap fast "degree" from an unaccredited diploma mill fails both checks, and it can quietly disqualify you later.

Clinical Pastoral Education is supervised spiritual-care training done in clinical settings — hospitals most commonly — organized in intensive units. It is the credentialing backbone of professional chaplaincy: board certification paths typically expect multiple CPE units plus graduate theological education. Parish pastors often do a unit for the pastoral-care formation. Aspiring hospital, hospice, and military chaplains should plan their whole path around it. Details on the CPE page.