Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education

Are you interested in contributing to the field of nursing in a new and different capacity? Malone's Nurse Educator Certificate is an ideal option for nurses who want to become educators in academic or clinical settings.

Through our fully online Nurse Educator Certificate program, students will develop essential reasoning skills, understand and appreciate the learning philosophies that shape higher educational systems, and become proficient problem-solvers who can discern which educational methods to apply to a variety of class settings.

Students will be well prepared to apply their knowledge, skills, and techniques in higher education and staff development environments. 

Who is eligible to enroll in the program?

Any nurse who holds a BSN or MSN is eligible to complete this certificate program. 

  • Nurses with a BSN can complete the coursework to meet the educational requirements necessary to sit for the Professional Development Certification (RN-BC). Those who complete the certificate may elect to continue their education at Malone with one of our MSN program tracks. *Please note, the continuation into one of our MSN tracks does not mean your certificate coursework will count toward your credits in the program. Both the MSN and the certificate programs are separate from one another and each would need to be completed in their entirety to be earned. 
  • Nurses who have already obtained their MSN degree can complete the coursework to meet the educational requirements necessary to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator examination.

Structure of the program

There are ten (10) credits in the program and students will complete one class per semester for three semesters total (fall, spring, summer). Students may elect to begin the program in either the fall or spring semester of each academic year; no summer entry is available.

The clinical component includes 64 hours of experience and will be set up with the help of an adviser based on the student's area of interest.

Admission requirements

  • Complete the online application
  • Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree
  • Submit official transcripts and hold a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale*
  • Hold an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where the applicant resides
  • Submit two letters of recommendation (form provided here**)
  • Complete an interview: in-person or by phone

*Conditional Admission may be offered to those who meet all admission standards except the minimum 3.0 GPA. Students admitted conditionally must successfully earn a 3.0 GPA or higher in the first course.

**Recommendation letters must come from either a previous or immediate supervisor or a former nursing faculty member who can attest to your clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study. References will not be accepted from colleagues or family members.

View course curriculum

Each course and its description is listed in the official Academic Catalog

catalog buttonsOnce in the catalog, you can use the buttons (pictured left) located at the upper right of the page to plan your courses, save courses to your own personalized catalog, print them, and more!