Nurse Educator Certificate

A Nurse Educator Certificate demonstrates competence; it is a way to show that you have acquired thorough knowledge and skills in the specialty of nursing education by completing coursework in teaching and learning theory, assessment, evaluation, curriculum design, and the professional role of the nurse educator. This is different from earning nurse educator certification which is a designation given to those who pass the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam and maintain this with continuing education credits.

The program is composed of five courses that can be completed over four terms; although, there is flexibility in the plan of study.

Yes, this program is 100% online.

Students in this program complete five key courses. These include Paradigms for Teaching and Learning, Student Learning and Evaluation, Curriculum Design and Evaluation, Growing in the Nurse Educator Role, and Nurse Educator Praxis.

Yes, the program will prepare you with the knowledge you’ll need to pass the CNE exam.

Not all certificate programs offer a practicum, but the Rush program does include a praxis course which allows for application and reflection of all information learned. Taken along with another course called Growth in the Nurse Educator Role, the practicum is about 20 hours over the term where the student works with a mentor to develop, implement and evaluate an educational offering of their choice for their home organization.

Yes, the program was designed with working nurses in mind. The courses are flexible, practical and 100% online in an asynchronous format.

In addition to faculty roles, earning a nurse educator certificate opens doors to lead within staff development, continuing education teams and any learning environment that involves students. And it’s not just about teaching — it’s also about leadership. Graduates can apply their knowledge in curriculum development, program evaluation, change management, and ethical and legal considerations in education. This credential can be a springboard to roles in administration, scholarship and research.

You may apply to the program with BSN, but a graduate degree — master's degree or higher — is needed to sit for the CNE exam. You can find information about admission and application on the program’s admissions page.

Graduates of the program will have the skills and knowledge to pass the challenging CNE exam offered by the National League for Nursing, which had a 70% pass rate in 2024.