Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate Online

Add to your credentials and prepare for clinical and academic teaching opportunities with a nurse educator certificate online.

Apply by 8/1/26
Start class 8/24/26 Apply Now
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Program Overview

Begin a teaching career with this online nurse educator certificate program

The online Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate program from University of North Carolina Wilmington prepares you for instructional roles in hospitals and healthcare settings as well as higher education. Designed for MSN- or DNP- prepared nurses, this online nurse educator certificate program features accelerated coursework available 24/7, so you can continue working full time, study on your schedule and finish faster.

Learn evidence-based curriculum design and assessment strategies as you develop teaching techniques that help nursing students and current nurses improve health outcomes. Complete a practicum experience tailored to your career goals and learn how health policy and advocacy impacts nursing education.

UNCW nurse educator post-graduate certificate graduates meet the education criteria to be eligible to sit for National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator exams.

In this nurse educator post-graduate certificate program, you will:

  • Create an environment that facilitates learning for the achievement of desired cognitive, affective and psychomotor outcomes
  • Develop as a nurse educator through integration of expected professional values and behaviors
  • Construct assessment and evaluation methods to measure learning and teaching effectiveness
  • Design evidence-based, aligned curricula that includes contemporary nursing and health care trends to prepare learners to function effectively in healthcare
In this nurse educator post-graduate certificate program, you will:
  • Create an environment that facilitates learning for the achievement of desired cognitive, affective and psychomotor outcomes
  • Develop as a nurse educator through integration of expected professional values and behaviors
  • Construct assessment and evaluation methods to measure learning and teaching effectiveness
  • Design evidence-based, aligned curricula that includes contemporary nursing and health care trends to prepare learners to function effectively in healthcare

Careers for graduates of this nurse educator certificate online program include:

  • Nurse Educator, Academic Setting
  • Nurse Educator, Healthcare Setting
  • Clinical Nurse Educator
  • Professional Development Specialist, Hospital Setting
  • Nursing Clinical Instructor
Careers for graduates of this nurse educator certificate online program include:
  • Nurse Educator, Academic Setting
  • Nurse Educator, Healthcare Setting
  • Clinical Nurse Educator
  • Professional Development Specialist, Hospital Setting
  • Nursing Clinical Instructor

Also available:

UNCW also offers flexible education master's degrees and certificate programs online.

Total Tuition $4,262.20*
Duration As few as 8 months**
Credit Hours 12

Accreditation:

The Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate programs at The University of North Carolina Wilmington hold pre-accreditation status from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation, located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20037. 202-909-2487. Holding pre-accreditation status does not guarantee that initial accreditation by NLN CNEA will be received.

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Need More Information?

Call 855-306-4734

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Tuition

Learn about tuition for the nurse educator certificate online program

UNCW offers convenient, pay-by-the-course tuition for our online programs. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year pending legislative approval. View more information on your cost of attendance.

View additional tuition information+

Program Total Tuition & Fees*
Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Cert(in-state residents) $4,262.20
Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Cert (out-of-state residents) $15,966.24

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $4,262.20*

Calendar

Set a reminder for your program’s dates and deadlines

The nurse educator post-graduate certificate program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring rolling admissions and six start dates each year. Choose the date that best suits your goals.

View full calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 18/24/268/1/268/1/268/26/268/27/2610/11/26
Fall 210/19/269/26/269/26/2610/21/2610/22/2612/6/26

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 8/1/26
Class Starts 8/24/26

Admissions

Review admission guidelines for the nurse educator post-graduate certificate

Here’s a checklist of what you’ll need to begin the online nurse educator certificate program admission process.

Admission Requirements:

  • Graduate degree in nursing
  • Official transcripts
  • 3.0 GPA
View all admission requirements +

Applicants desiring admission into the Post-Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate program at UNCW must first seek admission to the UNCW Graduate School, which requires:

1. A completed graduate school application
2. Official transcripts of all college work

Note: Students taking graduate courses elsewhere must be in good standing at that institution to be eligible for graduate work at UNCW.

Additional UNCW School of Nursing admission requirements include:

1. An active, non-restricted licensure or eligibility for licensure as a professional registered nurse in North Carolina is required unless:

  • The student's active, non-restricted license is from a compact state that is the student's primary state of residence (fixed permanent and principle legal residence) https://www.ncsbn.org/compacts.htm
  • The student is distance-based, will not be practicing in North Carolina while enrolled in school and has an active, non-restricted licensure or eligibility for licensure in their primary state of residence

2. A nursing degree from a nationally accredited program and a completed graduate degree in nursing or a related field. Degrees accepted include:

  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) or an equivalent doctorate in nursing from a nationally accredited program (Option 1)
  • Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program and a master's or doctorate degree in a related field (Option 2)

3. A strong academic record:

  • Minimum of 3.0 GPA in graduate degree in nursing (Option 1)
  • Minimum of 3.0 GPA in baccalaureate degree in nursing (Option 2)

4. Additional items may be requested as needed. Items include, but are not limited to, letters of recommendation, a personal statement and standardized test scores.

5. The application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.

Courses

Explore the nurse educator certificate online program coursework

The online nurse educator certificate curriculum is comprised of four courses (12 credit hours). Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides the foundations for the nurse educator role in academic settings with an introduction to the curriculum design process. Students will evaluate various curriculum design models and relevant educational theories. They will analyze principles of alignment and contemporary influences on curriculum development. Students will conduct an evidence-based needs assessment for a specific audience based on assessment of the learners’ development needs.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides essential knowledge and skills for the nurse educator to design, develop, and deliver curricula for the classroom setting. The students will examine relevant evidence-based practices for effective teaching and learning. They will select relevant educational theories, develop SMART learning objectives, and plan evidence-based content, instructional strategies, learning resources, and facilitation of learning techniques for the development of diverse learners. Students will analyze curricula for alignment and effectiveness relative to current nursing and healthcare trends, professional nursing standards, the identified learning need, diverse needs of the learners, and the classroom setting. Pre-requisite: NSG 518 Evidence-based Education Foundations for the Nurse Educator Role
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course includes key components of assessment and evaluation regarding both student learning and teaching effectiveness. The student will examine significant teaching, learning, assessment, and evaluation models from education and nursing within the academic setting, inclusive of the classroom, lab, and clinical environment. Students will practice planning, constructing, and analyzing evidence-based assessments that align with learning objectives and program outcomes. Students will delineate formative and summative evaluations and utilize outcome-based data for continuous quality improvement of teaching. Pre-requisite: NSG 538 Evidence-based Curriculum Design, Development, and Delivery for the Nurse Educator Role
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides students with experiential learning in the role of a nurse educator. The course emphasizes the use of evidence-based teaching and assessment/evaluation strategies across diverse learning environments. Students will facilitate learning and promote role competence and socialization for the adult learner. The course integrates curriculum design principles rooted in educational theory and healthcare-centered content. Additionally, students will develop a professional development plan to foster lifelong learning and role competence. Emphasis is placed on the scholarship of teaching and learning in nursing education, as well as the broader impact of policy, advocacy, and healthcare outcomes within academic and organizational settings. Through active engagement, students will refine their ability to navigate the evolving landscape of nursing education and contribute meaningfully to the profession. The course includes preceptor-supervised practice experience hours. Pre-requisite: NSG 548 Evidence-based Assessment of Learning and Teaching Effectiveness for the Nurse Educator Role

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