Master's-prepared nurses have many opportunities to advance and expand their clinical knowledge base. They can either pursue a doctor of nursing practice degree (DNP) or opt to complete a post-master's certificate program. In doing so, they can add to their current clinical practice or change specialties entirely.

With the post-master's nursing education option, nurses are not limited to direct patient care. They can work as a nurse educator for staff as well as patients, and utilize their skills as an educator to enhance their current practice.

Choosing a Post-Master's Nursing Education Certificate Program

When selecting a post-master's nursing education certificate program, several facets need to be considered:

  • Accreditation– In most states, nursing boards require completion of an accredited nursing program to become licensed. Many local agencies accredit nursing programs, but most often students will see accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Accreditation by one of these two agencies ensures that specific educational standards are met to practice safely.
  • Cost– The overall cost to attend a post-master's certificate program is probably one of the most important factors when choosing a school. There are many variables when it comes to tuition cost: resident status, city and state where the school is located, and whether the school is a public or private program can all contribute to the overall cost. Students should remember that there are additional university fees, technology fees, and other expenses outside of the cost of tuition. Luckily, most programs have financial aid options as well as a part-time curriculum which can help offset the cost.
  • Program Length– The length of time to complete a post-master's nursing education certificate program can vary, depending on the nurse's starting point. For example, the program will be shorter for those who have already completed an advanced health assessment, physiology, and pharmacology course. Students should be aware that some schools advertise "faster completion" compared to other programs; students should always ensure proper curriculum as well as accreditation status before selecting one of those programs.
  • Online Options– Many nurses prefer the flexibility of online learning. They can study when they can and learn at their own pace. More and more nursing programs, including post-master's nursing education certificate programs, offer online or hybrid options. Some programs require minimal campus visits, and some are 100% online. Most schools are very transparent on their websites with campus visitation requirements.
  • Internship/Externship Opportunities– Many nursing programs are contracted with local healthcare facilities/offices so students can gain valuable (and necessary) clinical experience. Depending on the course of study, students should select a program that contracts with a facility that supports their specialty. For example, a student pursuing a post-master's nursing education certificate program may prefer to gain clinical experience in a teaching hospital or nursing school. However, some programs have the students find their own preceptor in a clinical setting. Students would need to find local candidates to serve as mentors in their field of study.

Online Post-Master's Nursing Education Certificate Programs

The computer age has helped open many doors for students, and nursing is no exception. More and more online programs are available which allow nurses to pursue a higher degree level. Online programs have many benefits, but may also have drawbacks.

Online vs. Classroom-Based Post Master’s Nursing Education Certificate Programs

One of the most important advantages of an online post-master's certificate in nursing education is flexibility. Many nurses and nurse practitioners work all hours, or even around the clock! Because nurses can work odd hours, online programs are ideal. Nurses can study in the middle of the night, early morning, holidays, or whenever they can fit it in. Not only that, but they can learn at their own pace and by using their learning style. This, in turn, can lead to more success.

One of the disadvantages of online programs is the lack of face-to-face communication with instructors and peers. While communication is usually electronic, many students miss the personalized interaction that comes with campus learning. Additionally, there may be added costs associated with online learning. Students may need to invest in a laptop, webcam, and other items. With regards to learning, some students struggle with the reduced amount of structure that comes with classroom learning. In this case, "self-paced learning" may lead to procrastination or missed assignments.

Post-Master's Certificate Nursing Education Admission Requirements

Each post-master's certificate program has its own specific admission requirements. General admission requirements may include:

  • An MSN degree from an accredited university
  • Current, unencumbered RN or APRN license (if applicable)
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher (specific GPA requirements may vary between schools)
  • Current resume/CV
  • A written statement of purpose, or goal statement
  • Have completed a specific number of clinical practice hours

Post-Master's Certificate Nursing Education Curriculum

As with any nursing program, the curriculum for a post-master's certificate nursing education program may vary slightly between schools. The curriculum may include courses in:

  • Foundations in nursing education
  • Designing curriculums
  • Teaching strategies
  • Assessment and evaluation
  • Advanced clinical practice as an educator
  • Leadership
  • Evidenced-based research
  • Advanced physiology, pharmacology, and health assessment (if not already completed in a master's degree program)

In addition to the above courses, students enrolled in the post-master's nursing education certificate program must also complete a specific number of clinical practicum hours. This ensures students can apply nursing education theory to practice and allows them to gain valuable knowledge and real-world experience to practice independently.

Helpful Resources

Other Degree Programs

List of Post Master’s Certificate Nurse Education Programs

Jump to Your State Listings

Alabama

Graduate Certificate Programs
301 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35899
(256) 824-1000

Alaska

Graduate Certificate Programs
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 786-4406

Arizona

Graduate Certificate Programs
411 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(480) 965-7788

3300 West Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85017
(855) 428-5673

Graduate Certificate Programs
1625 W. Fountainhead Pkwy
Tempe, AZ 85282
(866) 484-1831

Arkansas

Graduate Certificate Programs
104 North Caraway Rd
Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 972-3112

California

Graduate Certificate Programs
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
(323) 343-3000

Graduate Certificate Programs
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, CA 90747
(310) 243-3696

4610 X Street Suite 4202
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-2145

Colorado

501 20 ST.
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-1890

Connecticut

Graduate Certificate Programs
501 Crescent Street
New Haven, CT 06515
(203) 392-7278

Delaware

Graduate Certificate Programs
120 North State Street
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 736-2300

Florida

Graduate Certificate Programs
12201 Research Parkway, Suite 300
Orlando, FL 32826
(407) 823-2744

Georgia

Graduate Certificate Programs
4225 University Avenue
Columbus, GA 31907
(706) 507-8800

Graduate Certificate Programs
231 W. Hancock St.
Milledgeville, GA 31061
(800) 342-0471

Graduate Certificate Programs
1332 Southern Drive
Statesboro, GA 30458
(912) 478-4636

Graduate Certificate Programs
800 Georgia Southwestern State University Drive
Americus, GA 31709
(877) 871-4594

Illinois

Graduate Certificate Programs
One University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446
(815) 838-0500

Graduate Certificate Programs
511 NE Greenleaf Street
Peoria, IL 61603
(309) 655-2201

Graduate Certificate Programs
1 Hairpin Dr
Edwardsville, IL 62025
(888) 328-5168

Graduate Certificate Programs
Leach College of Nursing
500 Wilcox St.
Joliet, IL 60435
(800) 735-7500

Indiana

Graduate Certificate Programs
200 North Seventh Street
Terre Haute, IN 47809
(800) 468-6478

Graduate Certificate Programs
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323
(219) 989-2400

Graduate Certificate Programs
8600 University Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47712
(812) 464-8600

Iowa

Graduate Certificate Programs
1550 Clarke Drive
Dubuque, IA 52001
(888) 825-2753

Graduate Certificate Programs
1 University Place
Lamoni, IA 50140
(641) 784-5000

Kansas

Graduate Certificate Programs
600 Park Street
Hays, KS 67601
(785) 628-3478

Kentucky

Graduate Certificate Programs
1906 College Heights Blvd
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 745-0111

Maine

Graduate Certificate Programs
5724 Dunn Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5724
(207) 581-2592

Maryland

Graduate Certificate Programs
School of Nursing
525 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21205
(410) 955-4766

Massachusetts

Graduate Certificate Programs
291 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
(413) 594-2761

Graduate Certificate Programs
376 Hale Street
Beverly, MA 01915
(197) 892-7058 x5

Graduate Certificate Programs
651 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-2703

Graduate Certificate Programs
486 Chandler St
Worcester, MA 01602
(508) 929-8000

Michigan

Graduate Certificate Programs
200 Ferris Drive
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 591-2270

Graduate Certificate Programs
7400 Bay Road University
Center, MI 48710
(989) 964-4000

Graduate Certificate Programs
5557 Cass Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-4082

Minnesota

Graduate Certificate Programs
1104 7th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56563
(180) 059-3724 x6

Graduate Certificate Programs
859 30th Ave SE
Rochester, MN 55904
(507) 285-7100

Mississippi

Graduate Certificate Programs
Highway 8 West
Cleveland, MS 38733
(180) 046-8637 x8

Missouri

Graduate Certificate Programs
4483 Duncan Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 454-7055

Graduate Certificate Programs
901 S National Ave
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-5000

Montana

Graduate Certificate Programs
P.O. Box 173560
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-3783

Nebraska

Graduate Certificate Programs
5035 Everett Street
Lincoln, NE 68506
(402) 481-3801

Graduate Certificate Programs
101 S. 42 Street
Omaha, NE 68131
(402) 552-3100

Graduate Certificate Programs
5000 Saint Paul Avenue
Lincoln, NE 68504
(402) 465-2329

Nevada

Graduate Certificate Programs
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy.
Las Vegas, NV 89154
(702) 895-3011

Graduate Certificate Programs
1664 N. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557
(775) 784-1110

New Hampshire

Graduate Certificate Programs
420 South Main Street
Nashua, NH 03060
(603) 888-1311

New Jersey

Graduate Certificate Programs
1000 River Rd
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 692-2000

Graduate Certificate Programs
111 W State St
Trenton, NJ 08608
(888) 442-8372

New York

Graduate Certificate Programs
4400 Vestal Parkway East
Binghamton, NY 13902
(607) 777-2000

Graduate Certificate Programs
320 Porter Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14201
(716) 829-8000

Graduate Certificate Programs
4380 Main Street
Amherst, NY 14226
(800) 462-7652

Graduate Certificate Programs
330 Powell Ave.
Newburgh, NY 12550
(845) 561-0800

Graduate Certificate Programs
433 First Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 998-5300

Graduate Certificate Programs
100 Seymour Rd
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 792-7500

Graduate Certificate Programs
School of Nursing
101 Nicolls Road
Stony Brook, NY 11794
(631) 689-8333

North Carolina

Graduate Certificate Programs
East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 328-6131

Graduate Certificate Programs
110 S. Main St., P.O. Box 997
Boiling Springs, NC 28017
(704) 406-4000

Graduate Certificate Programs
Carrington Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 962-2211

Graduate Certificate Programs
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28223
(704) 687-8622

Graduate Certificate Programs
1 University Way
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(828) 227-7211

Ohio

Graduate Certificate Programs
1 College Ave
Columbus, OH 43209
(614) 236-6011

Graduate Certificate Programs
10900 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 368-2000

Graduate Certificate Programs
1375 University Esplanade
Kent, OH 44242
(330) 672-7930

Graduate Certificate Programs
6832 Convent Blvd.
Sylvania, OH 43560
(800) 878-3210

Graduate Certificate Programs
127 S Davis Ave
Columbus, OH 43222
(614) 234-5800

Graduate Certificate Programs
College of Health Sciences & Professions

Athens, OH 45701
(740) 593-1000

Graduate Certificate Programs
1 South Grove Street
Westerville, OH 43081
(614) 890-3000

Graduate Certificate Programs
302 E Buchtel Ave
Akron, OH 44325
(330) 972-7111

Graduate Certificate Programs
2801 W. Bancroft
Toledo, OH 43606
(800) 586-5336

Graduate Certificate Programs
College of Nursing
2600 Clifton Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45220
(151) 355-8550 x0

Graduate Certificate Programs
2020 East Maple Street
North Canton, OH 44720
(330) 490-7090

Graduate Certificate Programs
1 University Plaza
Youngstown, OH 44555
(330) 941-3000

Oklahoma

Graduate Certificate Programs
1100 N Stonewall Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
(405) 271-2428

Pennsylvania

Graduate Certificate Programs
Division of Nursing
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley, PA 18034
(610) 282-1100 x2838

One College Avenue
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
(717) 766-2511

South Carolina

Graduate Certificate Programs
9200 University Boulevard
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 863-7000

Graduate Certificate Programs
PO Box 100547
Florence, SC 29502
(800) 368-7551

South Dakota

Graduate Certificate Programs
1004 Campanile Dr
Brookings, SD 57007
(605) 688-4114

Tennessee

Graduate Certificate Programs
P.O. Box 4458
Clarksville, TN 37044
(931) 221-7662

Graduate Certificate Programs
365 Stout Drive
Johnson City, TN 37614
(423) 439-4578

Graduate Certificate Programs
1350 King College Road
Bristol, TN 37620
(800) 362-0014

Graduate Certificate Programs
1 William L Jones Dr
Cookeville, TN 38505
(931) 372-3101

Graduate Certificate Programs
615 McCallie Ave
Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 425-4416

Graduate Certificate Programs
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
(731) 661-6545

Graduate Certificate Programs
Loewenberg College of Nursing
101 Wilder Tower
Memphis, TN 38152
(190) 167-8200 x3

Texas

Graduate Certificate Programs
2601 W. Avenue N
San Angelo, TX 76909
(180) 094-6862 x7

Graduate Certificate Programs
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5774
Corpus Christi, TX 78412
(361) 825-2753

2800 S University Dr
Fort Worth, TX 76129
(817) 257-7000

Graduate Certificate Programs
3601 4th St.
Lubbock, TX 79430
(806) 743-2730

Graduate Certificate Programs
304 Administration Dr.
Denton, TX 76204
(940) 898-2000

Graduate Certificate Programs
301 University Blvd
Galveston, TX 77555
(409) 772-1011

Graduate Certificate Programs
3900 University Blvd
Tyler, TX 75799
(903) 566-7000

Utah

Graduate Certificate Programs
10 South 2000 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
(801) 581-3414

Graduate Certificate Programs
3848 Harrison Blvd
Ogden, UT 84408
(801) 626-6000

Virginia

Graduate Certificate Programs
4400 University Dr
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 993-1000

Graduate Certificate Programs
5115 Hampton Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-3000

Washington

Graduate Certificate Programs
1815 Wilson Rd
Pullman, WA 99164
(509) 335-3564

Graduate Certificate Programs
14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave
Vancouver, WA 98686
(360) 546-9788

Washington, DC

Graduate Certificate Programs
2121 I St NW
Washington, DC 20052
(202) 994-1000

Wisconsin

Graduate Certificate Programs
12800 N Lake Shore Drive
Mequon, WI 53097
(262) 243-5700

Graduate Certificate Programs
45 S National Ave
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 923-7600

Graduate Certificate Programs
702 West Johnson Street. Suite 1101
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 263-2400

Graduate Certificate Programs
800 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 424-1234

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