Interprofessional Aging and Palliative Care Certificate

This program is designed for clergy (of all religious traditions), social workers, chaplains, graduate and seminary students, spiritual leaders, mental health professionals, and nurses. A small number of individuals with other professional backgrounds have been accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Interested MSW students at Wurzweiler register for the MSW Gerontology and Palliative Care Certificate, rather than the Interprofessional Aging and Palliative Care Certificate. Students in the MSW Gerontology and Palliative Care Certificate are eligible to apply for a special scholarship.

Clergy, chaplains, social workers, and other health and mental health professionals are frequently called upon to assist clients, patients, and congregants with issues around aging, serious illness, health issues affecting older adults, end-of-life care, and bereavement. Many practitioners lack the knowledge and skill base to effectively and comfortably discuss, guide, and advise clients and congregants when these issues arise, especially in times of crisis. For example:

• Considering options that facilitate independent community living for as long as possible;
• Assisting families to manage transitions of care, including difficult discussions about options for long-term care and caregiving;
• Guiding discussions about advance care planning for serious illness and end-of-life care.

Practitioners will gain knowledge and skills to better assist older adults and their family members in addressing these challenging concerns. These skills are also transferable for clergy and mental health practitioners who seek career opportunities and growth in agencies such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, hospices, community organizations, and others.

This flexible program is designed for working clergy and professionals. The courses are on-line and asynchronous, allowing participants to work on courses wherever they are (in the U.S. or internationally) and at whatever times work best for them. All lessons, discussions, and assignments can be flexibly scheduled around professional, family, and personal activities. In addition, our faculty schedule a limited number of sessions on Zoom to encourage live dialogue among faculty and students, and the opportunity to meet with colleagues in person.

This program can be completed within one (1) year. Two courses will be offered for each 8-week “semester,” with a short break between terms. Courses are offered in three semesters: fall (following the early fall Jewish holidays); winter/early spring; and late spring/early summer (usually following Passover).

Students can take the time they need to complete the certificate. While it is ideal for participants to progress at the recommended pace of two courses per semester, participants may decide to move along at a slower pace, taking one class during each semester and completing the certificate over two years.

Participants will take 6 courses of 3-credits each, for a total of 18 graduate-level credits. Courses may be taken in any order; there are no prerequisites. 

Example courses include:

• Counseling Individuals and Families Facing Aging and Serious Illness
• Psychosocial/Spiritual Approaches to Aging and Serious Illness
• Social Gerontology
• Palliative Care: Social Work Practice with Serious Illness
• Coping with Loss
• Interfaith Perspectives on Aging

You can find the descriptions for these courses by clicking Curriculum.

In addition, we schedule regular continuing education conferences related to aging and palliative care, among other innovative and timely offerings. This program is offered at nominal charge to participants of this program.

Yes. The Interprofessional Aging and Palliative Care Certificate is fully accredited by the New York State Department of Education as a free-standing advanced professional certificate.

As a professional certificate, this program is not a substitute for a professional master’s degree and licensure that is necessary for entry to a particular profession.

Yes. This option is available to participants without a social work background who wish to acquire an MSW and be eligible for licensure as a social work/mental health professional. With the exception of the course in Counseling Individuals and Families, credit for certificate courses (5 courses/15 credits) may be applied towards an MSW degree at Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Graduates of the program can apply their credits to both the required courses and electives that comprise the 60-credit MSW degree. Students who complete the MSW program will be eligible to take the exam for licensure as a social worker/mental health professional. If a student is interested in pursuing an MSW, it should be discussed with the director at the time of their application, or early in their program. Students must ultimately apply for and be accepted into the MSW program in order for the transfer credits to be applied.

Students may be waived from taking one course in this program if they have taken a similar, graduate-level class at another accredited program within the prior 5 years. Students are asked to provide the syllabus for the class to be considered for waiver. Faculty will review the syllabus with the student and make a determination if the course is sufficiently similar to one of our courses. This will be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Each university program maintains its own standards for accepting credits earned outside their program. These credits may be applied at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work’s MSW program. Students who wish to apply these credits at other schools of social work, or at Clinical Pastoral Education programs, should request guidance directly from these programs.

For participants entering the Certificate Program in 2026-2027, tuition is $838 per course (for each of 6 courses, for a total of $5,028 for the entire program). For current clergy-in-training/seminary students, tuition is $518 per course (for each of 6 courses, for a total of $3,108 for the entire program). Tuition rates may change from year to year.

A very brief application is available on our website. Applicants are also required to submit their CV/resume with their application.

Applicants may use this application fee waiver code when submitting their application for a complementary application fee: yufeewaiver
 

Rabbi Liz Rolle, Program Coordinator, at liz.rolle@yu.edu
Gary L. Stein, JD, MSW, Director, at glstein@yu.edu