2026 Best North Dakota Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Programs

MSN-prepared nurses in North Dakota have the opportunity to increase their career opportunities and earn a greater salary with completion of a North Dakota Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing program.

North Dakota has limited programs, which gives nurses in North Dakota the option of pursuing an online post-master’s certificate in nursing from a school in a nearby state.

2026 Best Online Nursing Post-Master's Graduate Certificate Schools in North Dakota

If you are a nurse with a master's degree and want to advance your career in North Dakota, finding the right online post-master's graduate certificate program is key. At RegisteredNursing.org, we have ranked the best schools to help you make a smart choice. Online programs give you the flexibility to study from home or anywhere, which is great for busy professionals. You can use distance learning or remote options to fit education into your life. This makes it easier to gain new skills without leaving your job. Check out how we create our rankings to learn more about our process. https://www.registerednursing.org/rankings-methodology/

#1

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND - Public 4-Year - und.edu

Graduate Certificate - Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate

Online Learning - Visit Website

University of North Dakota's online Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate is a 9-credit, three-semester program designed for working nurses seeking to advance into educational roles. This fully asynchronous program develops expertise in curriculum design, teaching strategies, and assessment methods, preparing graduates to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator exam. No entrance exam is required for admission. The flexible format allows professionals to balance studies with career commitments, with all coursework completed online and no campus visits needed.

• 100% Online Graduate Certificate
• 9 Total Credit Hours
• 3 Semester Completion
• Designed for Working Nurses
• Flexible Asynchronous Courses
• No Campus Attendance Required
• Same Degree as On-Campus
• Accredited by HLC
• Exam Preparation Included
• Multiple Career Path Options

Graduate Certificate - Post-Graduate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Online Learning - Visit Website

University of North Dakota's online Post-Graduate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate is a 26-credit program for certified nurse practitioners with master's or doctoral degrees. This four-semester program enhances clinical skills for acute care settings through asynchronous online courses, though it requires twice-per-semester campus intensives. No entrance exam is specified for admission. Graduates are prepared for acute care certification and can pursue high-demand roles in critical care and hospitalist settings, with potential salaries averaging $157,580 annually.

• Online post-graduate certificate
• 26 total credit hours
• 4 semester completion time
• Asynchronous course delivery
• Prepares for acute care certification
• Targeted for experienced nurses
• Twice-per-semester campus intensives

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#2

University of Mary

Bismarck, ND - Private 4-year - umary.edu

Graduate Certificate - Health Care Informatics Graduate Certificate

Online Learning - Visit Website

The University of Mary's online Health Care Informatics Graduate Certificate prepares nurses to apply technology for enhanced patient care. This 20-week program develops skills in data management, clinical decision-making, and ethical technology use without requiring entrance exams. Focused on informatics, it includes 12 credits across four courses at $495 per credit, demanding a 2.75 GPA. Graduates can pursue roles like nurse informaticist, with potential earnings around $115,000, making it ideal for advancing in healthcare technology.

• Online graduate certificate program
• 12 total credits
• 4 courses, 20 weeks long
• $495 per credit tuition
• Minimum 2.75 GPA requirement
• Designed for practicing nurses
• Potential $115,000 career earnings
• Multiple career path options
• Focuses on healthcare technology
• Informatics skill development

#3

North Dakota State University

Fargo, ND - Public 4-Year - ndsu.edu

Graduate Certificate - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Online & Campus Based - Visit Website

North Dakota State University's hybrid Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certificate program combines online coursework with in-person clinical experiences, requiring 25 credits total. This program specifically targets graduates of Family Nurse Practitioner programs, focusing on advanced diagnostics, therapeutics, and management of adult-gerontology patients in acute care settings. It prepares students for the Acute Care NP certification exam and emphasizes hands-on clinical training. Admission requires a graduate nursing degree, but no entrance exam is specified. The hybrid format offers flexibility for working professionals, blending distance learning with essential clinical components to advance careers in acute care nursing.

• Hybrid program format.
• Prepares for Acute Care NP exam.
• 25 total credits required.
• Includes distance learning courses.
• Clinical experience provided.
• Focus on adult-gerontology care.
• Advanced therapeutics and diagnostics.
• For Family Nurse Practitioner graduates.
• Flexible for working professionals.
• Graduate degree in nursing required.

*Data citation: NCES, IPEDS 2023 Final Release Data.

The admission requirements are similar among universities that offer a post-graduate certificate in nursing. Nurses need to know admission requirements for the school, and post-master’s certificate in nursing programs.

The University of North Dakota admission requirements include:

• Submitting a completed application
• Providing a transcript indicating a minimum of 3.0 GPA in the previous graduate program
• Submitting a current resume
• Submitting three letters of recommendation
• Current U.S. unencumbered licensure as an RN

Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Classes and Courses

The post-graduate certificate in nursing courses and classes vary from one program to another, and among the universities offering post-master’s nursing certificates. Some programs require clinical or practicum hours, while other programs or schools require only classes on-campus or online.

Walden University, located in Minneapolis, offers three post-graduate certificate in nursing programs, including Nursing Education. Courses and classes include:

• NURS 6002/6003 – Transition to Graduate Study for Nursing
• NURS 6370 – Foundational Skills for Nurse Educators in Academic and Healthcare Environments
• NURS 6321- Curriculum Development, Assessment, and Evaluation
• NURS 6321- Teaching Learning Strategies: Integrating Technology Into Nursing Education
• NURS 6351- Role of the Nurse Educator

When a university offers more than one post-graduate certificate in nursing program, nurses should check specific courses and class requirements for their preferred program.

Program Length

The program length potentially helps North Dakota nurses decide which program is their ideal option. While time commitment is possibly a factor for some nurses, other nurses simply want to pursue their nursing specialization passion. North Dakota nurses sometimes have the option of completing programs part-time, while this is not an option for some programs.

The Nursing Administration and Organizational Leadership Post-Baccalaureate Certificate at Minnesota State University Moorhead consists of six courses for the 14-credit hour program.

Tuition and Cost of Attendance

Tuition and other costs sometimes vary within the same school when considering different programs. Tuition sometimes varies when a nurse chooses between pursuing a post-graduate certificate in nursing in the traditional on-campus format or an online program option.

It is important that nurses consider the fact that tuition does not cover additional costs such as program fees, books, equipment, or malpractice insurance.

Tuition for nurses enrolled in the Montana State University Certificate in Nursing Education program is $381.65 per credit hour for out-of-state online students.

Online Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Programs in North Dakota

Online post-graduate certificate in nursing programs offer the same curriculum as traditional programs that require nurses to attend classes on-campus. Online students gain a broad understanding of the concepts, theories, technology, skills and knowledge required while having the flexibility of an online program option.

Featured Online School

The University of North Dakota features two online post-graduate in nursing certificate options. Nurses that choose the Family Nurse Practitioner option build on their current expertise to provide comprehensive nursing care across the lifespan.

Nurses that choose the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner broaden their scope of practice to include serving patients with mental illness.

Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Career Pathways in North Dakota

There are exceptional options for North Dakota nurses that want to expand their career options and earn a better salary. Nurses have the opportunity to achieve their preferred career pathway with a post-graduate certificate in nursing.

Some nursing career pathways include:

• Family Nurse Practitioner 
• Nurse Leader 
• Nurse Educator
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse 
• Acute Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Salary and Job Outlook

The job outlook for nurses with an advanced education is consistently increasing, as is the salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists nursing as a career with a ‘much faster than average’ job growth outlook.

The BLS lists the average median annual salary of nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists at $113,090 as of 2018.

List of North Dakota Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Programs

Broaden your nursing expertise and career opportunities with a North Dakota Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing.