Online Graduate Certificates in Nurse Education
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Nursing is a burgeoning field that’s experiencing growing pain. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), a nursing faculty shortage results in nursing schools turning away thousands of qualified applicants yearly. In addition, the need for nursing education faculty struggles to keep pace with the occupational demands of registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Fortunately, nurses aspiring to teach the next generation can become nurse educators with an online graduate-level certificate.
Online graduate certificates in nurse education provide specialized knowledge and skills to teach nursing skills. Nursing schools and universities offer these programs and can be completed entirely online or in a hybrid format. Programs provide part-time or full-time enrollment, allowing working nurses to complete their education while remaining employed and positioning themselves for career advancement.
Another benefit of learning in an online nurse educator certificate program is advancing one’s education without committing to a master’s or doctoral program. However, many colleges allow credits from nurse education certificate programs to be applied toward graduate or doctoral degrees.
Becoming a nurse educator is a solid career investment. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2021) reports that nursing instructors at the postsecondary level earn an average annual salary of $82,040. It also shows industries that pay higher salaries to nurse educators, including local government, specialty hospitals, business schools, general hospitals, and psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, which pay anywhere from $89,440 to $127,590.
When choosing an online graduate certificate program in nurse education, it is essential to consider career goals and objectives. Some programs offer a general overview of nursing education, while others focus on a specific area, such as online teaching or curriculum development. In addition, some programs require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree, while others require a master’s degree to be eligible for admission.
Pursuing a certificate in nursing education is a rewarding decision that can lead to tremendous personal and professional satisfaction. As a nurse educator, you will play an essential role in shaping the future of healthcare by training and preparing the next generation of nurses.
The following is a list of online accredited nurse education certificate programs and three faculty members who teach in them.
Featured Online Graduate Certificates in Nurse Education
The Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State University offers online graduate certificates in nurse education to help RNs advance their careers and prepare them for leadership roles in nursing. The 15-credit certificate program includes four required courses and a 135-hour practicum course. Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution and a current RN license.
The program’s core courses teach curriculum development in academic and practice settings. The practicum course includes mentorship and the opportunity to specialize in an area of interest. This program can be completed part- or full-time and can be completed as part of a master’s or doctoral nursing program.
Graduates from this program become academic faculty, nurse educators, nurse managers, and nursing staff development specialists. In addition, the flexible program can be completed online, making it a convenient option for working nurses.
- Location: Tempe, AZ
- Duration: One to two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $807 per credit
Benedictine University offers an online graduate certificate for nurse educators. This three-course certificate does not require campus visits. This program prepares graduates to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) National League for Nursing (NLN) Certified Nurse Educator exams.
This nine-credit program includes courses such as instructional strategies; curriculum development; and evaluation strategies and methods.
- Location: Lisle, IL
- Duration: 1.5 semesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $500 per credit
Purdue University Global offers an online post-master’s certificate for nurse educators, comprising one or two courses per ten-week term. Courses include teaching and learning theories and strategies; the signs of advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology; curriculum design, assessment, and evaluation; applying principles of advanced nursing practice – clinical; advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning; and evaluating and disseminating principles of advanced nursing practice – clinical.
Graduates of this program may qualify to take the certified nurse educator exam through the National League for Nursing and the nursing professional development exam through the ANCC.
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $420 per credit
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers an online post-master’s certificate program for aspiring nurse educators with three start dates: January, May, or September. Courses include foundational theories in education; pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacology for nurse educators; program and curricular design for health science education; and teaching methods in higher education.
Graduates of this program may be eligible to take the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam through the National League for Nursing (NLN) and/or the Nursing Professional Development (RN-BC) exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Location: Raleigh, NC
- Duration: Two trimesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $715 per credit
The School of Nursing at Vanderbilt University offers a post-master’s certificate in nursing education. This 12-credit online program is for nurses with master’s or doctoral degrees or current nurse educators who want to pivot into nursing education in academia or healthcare. Students can complete all courses online, and students can opt to attend on-campus sessions.
Students not yet admitted to Vanderbilt University can apply for a three or four-semester program. In addition, currently enrolled MSN, PMC, or DNP students can submit a change of status form to add this certificate to their study plan.
Graduates from this program are positioned to teach students using best practices for teaching and learning from an innovative educational approach. Typical job titles include academic faculty, preceptor, staff developer, and clinical educator.
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Duration: Three to four semesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $1,883 per credit
The School of Nursing at Duke University offers an online master of science in nursing (MSN) with a specialty in nursing education. This 36-credit program confers a graduate degree curriculum that includes core, clinical, and nursing education courses. In 2022, the U.S. News & World Report ranked this online nursing education program #1 in the nation.
This certificate program is available to registered nurses with a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited school or a master’s or PhD program. Please note that this is not a continuing education certificate program designed for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who want to uplevel their skills and credentials.
The nursing education certificate requires 12 credits of courses in curriculum development and assessment and evaluation strategies and is organized around core competencies related to nursing education organizations.
- Location: Durham, NC
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $1,984 per credit
The School of Nursing at Johns Hopkins University offers an online post-master’s nursing education certificate. This program prepares graduates to teach in face-to-face and online learning environments and design curricula, materials, and assessments for nurses in undergraduate or graduate-level programs.
The curriculum in this program follows core competencies that emphasize technology, mission-driven curriculum, course objectives, learning experiences, and instructional design strategies.
This program is open to current master’s and doctoral students. To add this certificate, students must submit a written request to the admissions office. In addition, graduates from this program can sit for the NLN Certified Nurse Educator exam.
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Duration: Four semesters
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $1,826 per credit
Penn Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania offers a hybrid certificate program in transformative nursing. Courses are offered online and on campus, including academic and service environment teaching options.
Applicants to this program must be currently enrolled MSN students at Penn Nursing. Certificate application requirements include an application, unofficial transcripts from BSN and undergraduate and graduate programs, an essay, a letter of recommendation, an active RN license, and a resume.
Graduates from this program are eligible to take the NLN Nurse Educator Certification exam and the ANCC Nursing Professional Development Certification exam.
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $81,081 total
Appalachian State University offers a hybrid nursing education graduate certificate that students can complete in one year. The 12-credit program can be completed part-time in two semesters with asynchronous and in-person courses.
Required courses include educational theories for academic and practice settings and nursing education practicum. Elective courses include educational tests and measurements in nursing, and instructional strategies for nursing and informatics.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 2.7 GPA and hold a current and unrestricted RN license in North Carolina or a state that participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) with North Carolina. Other requirements include a graduate school application, official transcripts, an application fee, and a current resume.
- Location: Boone, NC
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $304 per credit (in-state); $1,138 per credit (out-of-state)
Available to currently enrolled graduate students, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) offers an online certificate in nursing education. This 18-credit program includes six courses that prepare nurses with MSN degrees to teach in associate or baccalaureate programs.
This program includes curriculum development, teaching and learning, testing and evaluation, instruction technology, and practicum. Applicants must apply through the UAH graduate school for admission. Those with MSN degrees from other institutions must submit official transcripts.
Graduates from this program are prepared to sit for the nursing education certification exam, teach in various settings, and give nursing students the best instruction to prepare them for nursing careers.
- Location: Huntsville, AL
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $789 per credit (in-state); $1,782 per credit (out-of-state)
The University of Maine’s online graduate certificate in nursing education program is designed for registered nurses who wish to pursue a career in nursing education. This fully online program requires 10 credits, and students can complete the program on a full-time or part-time basis. Courses include curriculum and course development and evaluation in nursing education, field experience in nursing education, and assessment, measurement, and evaluation.
To apply, a candidate must have a BSN or MSN in nursing from an accredited program, a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, coursework in college-level statistics and research methods, two years of experience as an RN, be licensed to practice in Main, and undergo a pre-admission interview by the School of Nursing.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to teach in nursing programs at the associate and baccalaureate levels. In addition, students can transfer credits earned in this program to the MSN program.
- Location: Orono, ME
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $590 per credit
The nurse educator certificate program at the University of Central Florida is designed to prepare nurses for careers in nursing education. The program requires 18 credits and can be completed part-time in three semesters. Common courses in the program include nursing education principles, curriculum development, and evaluation in nursing education.
Admissions requirements include a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a non-nursing field and a current RN license. Applicants are not required to submit GRE scores. However, those with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees must complete three prerequisite courses before beginning the program.
Upon completing this program, graduates are eligible to take the Certified Nurse Educator Exam offered by the National League for Nursing. In addition, graduates from this program can pursue careers as nursing educators in various settings or apply credits earned in this program to UCF’s online MSN nurse educator program.
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $289 per credit
The online graduate certificate in nursing education from the University of Arkansas is designed to prepare nurses for careers in nursing education. The program consists of four courses totaling 12 credits and can be completed in as little as one year.
Courses in this program include curriculum design and development, methods of assessment and evaluation, instructional design and delivery, and specialty development. In addition, students can choose to apply credits earned in this program to the master of science in nursing with a concentration in nursing education.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution and a current RN license. In addition, applicants must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework in their previous nursing program, a letter of recommendation from a peer, complete an interview, and have basic computer and library skills.
- Location: Fayetteville, AR
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Tuition: $584 per credit
Professors to Know in Online Nurse Education Certificate Programs
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Betsy Babb Kennedy, PhD, MSN, CNE
Vanderbilt University
Dr. Betsy Babb Kennedy is an associate professor of nursing and director of faculty development at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Her research interest areas include multidimensional learning environments and mentoring nursing faculty. Dr. Kennedy earned a PhD in nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina and holds MSN and BSN degrees in nursing from Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Kennedy has published extensively in the fields of nursing development. Her most recent co-authored publication assesses how learning environments influence student learning outcomes. Other publications include obstetrics and gynecology topics, such as managing obstetric hemorrhage. -
Susan Quelly, PhD, RN, CNE
University of Central Florida
Dr. Susan Quelly is the director of the nurse educator program at the University of Central Florida’s College of Nursing, which confers MSN degrees and post-graduate certificates. She is also an associate professor and teaches courses in curriculum development in nursing education, teaching strategies for nurse educators, and core clinical concepts for nurse educators. Dr. Quelly holds a PhD, an MSN from the University of Central Florida, and a BSN from Eastern Kentucky University.
In addition to nursing education, Dr. Quelly’s research expertise includes chronic diseases, gaming/mobile apps, primary care, population health, and quantitative research methods. She is a member of the Journal of School Nursing editorial panel and several professional societies, including the National Association of School Nurses and the Florida Association of School Nurses. -
Kelley Strout, PhD, RN
University of Maine
Dr. Kelley Strout is the director, an associate professor of nursing, and interim associate dean of health science at the University of Maine School of Nursing. She is the recipient of distinguished teaching awards in the discipline of health professions. Dr. Strout holds a PhD in nursing from Northeastern University and an MSN and BSN from the University of Maine.
Dr. Strout has published extensively on cognitive wellness and nursing education, including publications such as Innovations in Nursing Education, Nursing Research, American Nurse Today, and The American Journal of Nursing.
