‘Hindu Chaplain’ as a designator of a category of employment refers to professional providers of spiritual and pastoral care from a Dharmic lens, and is best expressed as a Hindu Spiritual Care Provider. They will have accreditation and professional training appropriate to the contexts of their care recipients (e.g. Higher Education, Healthcare, Military, Corrections, etc.) Their role includes, but is not limited to, offering spiritual accompaniment by embodying the well-established tenets of the various Hindu Dharmas, encouraging a deepened understanding of the Dharmas and issues pertaining thereto -- due to their familiarity with the history of the philosophy and praxis of a wide variety of Dharmic traditions -- and, thus, can serve as a reliable interlocutor between the traditional sources and the requirements of contemporary society.’ 

Credentials of a Hindu Spiritual Care Provider
A Hindu Spiritual Care Provider will typically hold a graduate degree, and then have specialized training in spiritual care either through the Clinical Pastoral Education programs or through academic certification in Hindu spiritual care. Specific requirements will vary by sector (e.g, Federal, healthcare and higher education). Most Hindu Spiritual Care Providers tend to deepen their knowledge of Hindu theory and practices as it becomes apparent which components are required given their context of employment. In terms of the USA, Hindus Spiritual Care Providers are generally employed under the rubric of Hindu Chaplain/Hindu Spiritual Care Provider/Director for Hindu Life, whether full- or part-time if professionally trained, or as Volunteer Hindu Chaplain/Hindu Spiritual Care Provider if not. 

​For specific details on the definitions,  conceptualization and standards adopted by NAHCA, please refer to the documents below.

Defining hindu chaplaincy

Hindu chaplain: Requisite qualifications