Skip to main content

Post Master's Certificate

Nursing Education
Post Master's Certificate (Nurse Educator)

Calendar

CLASSES START
May 6th

8 Mo.

Program Length

16

Credits

Online

Format

MSN

Required

Post Master's Certificate

Nursing Education
Post Master's Certificate (Nurse Educator)

Your new career path in nursing education awaits

AccreditationAccredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Paying for schoolYou can earn up to 85% in loan forgiveness through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP)1
ClinicalsWe pledge your clinical placement!
Format100% online classes
QuickPaths6 start dates per year; transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University
Teacher Who Went From MSN to Nurse Educator Instructing Nursing Student

Over 90%

Satisfaction rate

Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2022 Herzing Graduate Survey.

Over 90%

Satisfaction rate

Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2022 Herzing Graduate Survey.

Post Master’s Certificate - Nursing Education (Nurse Educator)

Online Post Master's Nursing Education Program

The Post Master's Certificate in Nursing Education is a 16-credit post-graduate program which prepares you for a career as a nurse educator. 

The online certificate program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in teaching/learning strategies, instructional design, curriculum development and evaluation, roles of nurse educators, and much more.

SVG
Career-focused curriculum

Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

SVG
Flexible schedule

We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

SVG
Virtual services

Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

SVG
Lifelong support

We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

SVG
Rolling admissions

No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Classes Start May 6th

Learn More Today

Curriculum

Nursing education certificate program classes & curriculum details

Designed for nurses who already hold an MSN, our online Post Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education program provides students with the academic knowledge, skills, and expertise to become nurse educators in diverse healthcare and academic environments. Courses consist of specialty concentration courses and a clinical course.

ProgramMonthsiCredits
Post Master's Certificate Nursing Education (PMCNE)816

i. Average number of months for students to complete the program attending full-time

View PMC-NE Sample Schedule

Required Courses in Nursing Education Certificate program (Including Graduate Practicum)

16.00 semester credit hours are required. NU 610, NU 621, and NU 636 will be required if not completed successfully with the prior Master of Science in Nursing degree.

or  Semester Credit Hours: 3.00

Tuition & Cost

Tuition & Cost

The cost of tuition for the Post Master's in Nursing Education program is $615 per credit.

You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.

Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.

Find my estimate

 Scholarships & Financial Aid

You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.

Find scholarships and grants 

 Military/Veteran Discounts

Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.

VA/Military benefits 

You can earn up to 85% in loan forgiveness through the NFLP.

Commit to a career as a nursing instructor and you can potentially save immensely on cost as part of the National Faculty Loan Program (NFLP).

You’ll need to find a full-time position within 12 months after graduation. The longer you remain employed full-time, the more you can save—up to 85% over 4 years.2

Learn more about NFLP

Nurse Educator Teaching Student in Labs
Requirements

Admission prerequisites

The post master’s nursing education certificate program is open to registered nurses who:

  • Hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN) from an accredited university or college.
  • Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse in the state in which they live (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement).

Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District Of Columbia.

MSN Placement Pledge Badge

Your clinical placement is our pledge.

We understand securing clinical placement as part of a post master's certificate nursing program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.

As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.

Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*

* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.

Classes Start May 6th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Meet our Leadership

Brandy Ebert, DNP, RN, MSN-Ed, MBA-PM, BSB

"Herzing University provides students with the knowledge, skills, and attitude to become a qualified nursing educator. The Nurse Educator program provides teaching and learning opportunities in both traditional academic settings, as well as a clinical-based settings for those who may wish to become a clinical educator.

Herzing’s knowledgeable and supportive faculty, as well as its robust curriculum, provide graduates with the tools they need to succeed as a nursing educator."

Dr. Brandy Ebert is the Department Chair for Academic Programs for the Online Nursing Department, overseeing the RN-MSN, MSN, PMC in Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership and Administration, and Public Health Nursing programs. She also oversees MSN core courses, including theory, evidence-based practice, pharmacology, pathophysiology, etc.

Dr. Ebert has been in nursing education since 2010. In addition, she has served in leadership capacities and faculty at various institutions, in which she was responsible for teaching a variety of courses, curriculum development, simulation and clinical leadership, nursing instruction, faculty/student management, campus scheduling, clinical site acquisition, financial/supply maintenance, etc. During her tenure, she has also implemented a variety of new programs and initiatives, including master instruction, experiential learning, alternative clinical learning days, nursing education checklists and competency assessments, and a post-graduate mentorship program. She regularly engages with students and interacts with leadership to monitor program assessments/matrices and develop clinical and curriculum orientation processes and collaborative assessment tools.

Prior to nursing, Dr. Ebert had a science background with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, and experience working a research laboratory for two years.

Brandy Ebert, DNP, RN, MSN-Ed, MBA-PM, BSB Department Chair of Academic Programs (Online MSN)

Brandy Ebert

Department Chair of Academic Programs (Online MSN)1

1MSN-Core Courses, MSN-Nurse Educator, MSN-Nurse Leader, MSN Public Health, & RN-MSN-A Programs


Why Herzing
Nurse Educator Teaching How to Administer an IV

Herzing's Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education program provides busy professionals with the flexibility and convenience of completing coursework online. Full-time and part-time options available.

We are committed to helping you achieve academic success.

As a student in our nursing education certificate program, you will learn from dedicated Doctoral-prepared faculty and have Master-prepared academic coaches available to you who offer one-on-one assistance, coaching, and support.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

We offer multiple options for current nurses of all types, including pathways for ASN/ADN, BSN, and MSN degree holders.

View our available online Nursing Education programs.

The National League of Nursing identifies the following as the primary nurse educator core competencies:

  • Facilitate learning
  • Facilitate learner development and socialization
  • Use assessment and evaluation strategies
  • Participate in curriculum design and evaluation of program outcomes
  • Function as a change agent and leader
  • Pursue continuous quality improvements in the nurse educator role
  • Engage in scholarship
  • Function within the educational environment

A post master’s certificate (PMC), also referred to as a “post-graduate” certificate, is designed for nurses who hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and seek additional certification in a separate field.

Herzing University offers several post master’s certificates for MSN-prepared nurses looking to transition in or out of clinical-based practice:

  • AGACNP - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (program length: 20 months)
  • AGPCNP - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (program length: 20 months)
  • FNP - Family Nurse Practitioner certificate (program length: 16-20 months)
  • NE - Nursing Education certificate (program length: 8 months)
  • NLA - Nursing Leadership & Administration (program length: 8 months)
  • PMHNP: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate (program length: 20 months)

A post master’s certificate from Herzing University provides the education, training, and practical experience you need to take the next big step in your nursing career.

You’ll need a great education, plenty of clinical experience, excellent communication skills, a passion for healthcare and a real desire to make a difference—and an eagerness to share your experiences with others. The best teachers are those who are truly passionate and pass that along to their students. A great teacher goes a lot further than the essentials.

Perhaps most important is a commitment to a life of learning. If you possess these crucial skills for a nurse educator, this might be the career you’re looking for.

With the proper education and experience, nurse educators may specialize in two different ways:

  1. Type of care. High-demand areas of care will seek nurse educators with those specialties— possibilities including adult health/gerontology, psychiatric & mental health, pediatrics, public health and many others. Demand for all specialties will fluctuate based on evolving demographics and long-term industry trends.
  2. Student education level. Educators may favor training students in one of several levels of nursing, including practical/vocational nursing, registered nursing (associate or bachelor’s degree), master’s degree or doctoral degree level positions.

The Herzing Post Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education program may be completed in 8 months when attending full-time. Complete the 16-credit program and you’ll be eligible to sit for the Certified Nurse Educator exam and become a certified nurse educator (CNE).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a nurse educator is $84,180 per year.* Salaries can vary based on location, education, and experience. Discover the average nurse educator salary in your state and learn more about a career in nursing education.

Yes, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN),  Nursing faculty shortages are limiting student capacity at a time when the need for registered nurses continues to rise.

The AACN’s 2018-2019 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing report found that “nursing schools turned away 75,029 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2018 due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints.”

The AACN cites the following primary reasons for the nurse educator shortage:

  • Faculty age continues to climb, and a wave of retirements is expected over the next 10 years
  • Higher compensation in clinical settings draws candidates away from faculty roles
  • Master’s and doctoral nursing programs are not generating enough candidates for nurse educator programs

The result is that nurse educators are in very high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 18% increase in employment from 2022-2032, significantly higher than most other types of postsecondary teachers.*

No, a nurse educator is not considered an APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse). A nurse educator can be called an APRN only with a separate credential as one of the following:

  • Nurse Practitioner (NP)
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
  • Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Nurse educators generally practice in one or both of:

  • Academic setting. Universities, colleges, trade schools, etc.
  • Clinical setting. Hospitals, clinics, other healthcare organizations, etc.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports these 5 industries provide the highest level of employment for nurse educators in 2018:

  1. Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
  2. Junior Colleges
  3. General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
  4. Technical and Trade Schools
  5. Business Schools and Computer and Management Training
Certification

Do I need to get certified?

Certification or licensing isn’t currently required for nurse educators, but it can help you stay competitive in the job market and potentially increase your earning potential.

Graduates from a postgraduate certificate in nursing education program (who also hold an MSN degree) are eligible to take the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) exam from the National League for Nursing (NLN).2

We recommend you take this step to get certified, earn an edge on the job market and get off to a fast start in your career as a nurse educator.

Nurse Educator Certification
Disclosures

Accreditations

Accreditations & Disclosures

1. In exchange for post-graduation employment as nurse faculty meeting specific criteria, the program authorizes the cancellation of up to 85% of any such loan (plus interest thereon).

2. Certification is not a state requirement for employment.

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

Request Information
Ready to get started?

Contact us to request more information

Herzing Tuition Wizard

When do you want to start classes?

The program has an automatic transfer of credits, and allows you to transfer up to additional credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credits.

  Transfer Credits

The program allows you to transfer up to credit hours.

  Transfer Credit Hours
Post Master's Certificate - Nursing Education (Nurse Educator) Online Campus
Tuition
Cost per Credit$615.00
Base Tuition$9,840.00
Savings from Transfer Credits (12 x $615.00 )(-$7,380.00)
Estimated Tuition Cost*$2,460.00
Fees
One-time Program Fee$0.00
Per-semester Program Fee$0.00
Per-semester Learner Resource Fee$530.00
Estimated Total Fee*$1,590.00
Total Semesters 1
RequiredNeeded
33
Total Credits
RequiredNeeded
164
Estimated Cost 2
Base CostYour Cost
$11,430.00$4,050.00
Estimated Savings*
$7,380.00

Available Scholarships & Loan Options

Who Can Apply

Any student in a degree-seeking program that makes on-time, out of pocket payments toward tuition and fee expenses.

Requirements

The amount of the payments made that exceed the amount of excess loan funding received will be used to calculate total award. Eligible students must make on-time payments, according to a predetermined payment plan. Restrictions may vary.

  • Matching percentage is based on student’s EFC at the time of application.
  • Student’s with a Pell eligible EFC will receive a 100% match
  • Students will non-Pell eligible EFC will receive 50% match
  • Students who do no complete the FAFSA will automatically qualify for the 50% match.
Who Can Apply

Prospective and current students in the Herzing University Master of Science of Nursing – Nursing Education (MSN-NE) or Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education (PMC-NE) program.

Requirements

Expenses covered by the NFLP include reasonable educational expenses such as tuition and fees. Awards may be renewable contingent upon ongoing federal funding. In exchange for post-graduation employment as nurse faculty meeting specific criteria, the program authorizes the cancelation of up to 85% of any such loan (plus interest thereon).

  • Must submit a Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Be in good standing with all other loans
  • Must seek employment as a faculty member at an accredited school of nursing within 12 months of graduating
  • Complete all required paperwork, including the initial application
  • Must be willing to comply with all reporting requirements, including post-graduation
  • Meet citizenship eligibility requirements

Please follow the link for more information: https://www.herzing.edu/nflp


Questions?

Reach out to a member of the Financial Aid team at the Online campus:

Financial Aid Team
(866) 508-0748
fa@herzing.edu

1 

Actual semesters to complete are dependent upon university approved transfer credits and program mapping.

2 

Estimated program length, estimated number of semesters, and estimated program shown above are standard by program for each student based on: a student taking a full-time course load each semester, the student not having any transfer credits (from previous Herzing experiences or from other post-secondary institutions), and successful completion of each course.

Current tuition rates for all programs are effective through the Summer 2024 semester.

PMC-NE SAMPLE SCHEDULE
SEMESTER 1
 NU525 Technology or NU530 Organizational Systems and BehaviorNU600 Teaching/Learning Strategies
NU617 - The Nurse Educator RoleNU635 Curriculum Development and Evaluation
SEMESTER 2
 NU681 Advanced Nursing Practice Clinical PracticumNU683 Graduate Onsite Practicum in Education
PD Applied Scholarship