Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate

The Nurse Educator Certificate is designed for registered nurses who seek opportunities in a staff development role in the clinical arena or in a faculty role in academic setting. A strong emphasis is placed on experiential learning opportunities focusing on teaching pedagogy and assessment of learning. Students will gain a strong foundation in curriculum development, methods of inquiry, teaching-learning theory, and the role of education in health care. A requisite residency consisting of a minimum of 200 hours will be arranged collaboratively with the student, faculty, and a skilled educator mentor. This curriculum is offered in an all-online format with the exception of the nurse educator residency; which consists of practice hours in addition to the online component. The nurse educator residency will consist of supervised experience hours.

Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate Expected Student Learning Outcomes:

Graduates of the Nurse Educator Certificate are able to:

1. Integrate evidence-based principles of teaching and learning into the design, delivery, and evaluation of nursing education within the clinical or academic arena.
2. Utilize appropriate principles, models, and processes of instructional design to create educational experiences for nurses in either the clinical or academic arena.

Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate Requirements for Admission:

The Certified Nurse Educator Certificate applicants must:

• Complete the University application for the non-degree seeking student
• Send official transcripts from all undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) institutions attended and demonstrate a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Possess an unencumbered/unrestricted license as an RN in Illinois or be eligible and obtain one upon admission
• Possess a bachelor’s degree in nursing (or higher) from an accredited nursing school
• Submit proof of flu vaccine, current CPR certification, immunity from communicable diseases, including tuberculosis screening

* Enrollment in this certificate is not available to students currently enrolled in the master’s nurse educator (NE) or master’s entry into nursing practice (MENP) majors.*

**Up to 3 transfer credit hours will be accepted toward the certificate**