Application deadline
Credits and costs
As medical diagnoses and patient care become more complex, a serious nursing shortage could impact the quality of nursing staff in the United States. And, unfortunately, because there are fewer nurses with the background to teach prospective students, many nursing programs are forced to turn away qualified applicants.
Why a Certificate in Nurse Education from Penn State?
The 9-credit nurse educator graduate certificate can give you the opportunity to influence the success of the next generation of nurses and to make a positive difference in your community.
Offered in a partnership between Penn State World Campus and the highly respected Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, the relevant curriculum is delivered in a convenient online format, covering such topics as:
- nursing education theories and strategies
- assessment and evaluation in nursing education
- curriculum and program development in nursing education
Gain the skills you need to advance your career, without sacrificing your other responsibilities. Penn State World Campus understands that as a working adult, you need flexible and convenient learning options in order to continue to meet your professional and personal commitments. You can complete your course work at times and places that fit your life.
Who Should Apply?
If you are a currently licensed registered nurse with a bachelor's degree in nursing who wants to further develop your skills as a nurse educator, this graduate certificate could be for you. You might also be interested in this certificate program if you have already earned your master's degree in nursing in a specialized field and you want to learn effective teaching strategies in the classroom, and in clinical and online educational settings.
Information for Military and Veterans
Are you a member of the military, a veteran, or a military spouse? Please visit our military website for additional information regarding financial aid, transfer credits, or application instructions.
Online Education at Penn State
Penn State has a history of 100+ years of distance education and more than two decades of experience in online learning. We create an online learning environment that offers you the same quality education our residential students experience in a face-to-face setting. Learn more about Penn State World Campus.
Courses
The Graduate Certificate in Nurse Educator requires successful completion of three 3-credit graduate-level nurse educator courses. The program also includes an optional 4-credit practicum course designed to give you the opportunity to apply the knowledge you gained in the three required courses.
This certificate is designed as a "stand-alone" certificate or can serve as a "step up" to the Nurse Educator option in the Master of Science in Nursing program.
The curriculum in the 9-credit certificate can help prepare you to teach in a variety of educational and clinical settings, by covering such main topics as:
- nursing education theories and strategies
- assessment and evaluation in nursing education
- curriculum and program development in nursing education
Required Courses (9 credits)
Optional Course (4 credits)
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,007 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,082 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
Paying for Your Certificate
Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.
Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.
Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
Your certificate application, including receipt of all transcripts, must be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete.
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact our admissions counselors.
Admission Requirements
For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must have a current license to practice professional nursing in the United States or a foreign country and hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree in nursing that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.
GPA and Test Scores — To be considered for admission to the certificate program, your undergraduate GPA must be 3.0 or greater and, if applicable, your graduate GPA must be 3.3 or greater.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
Start Your Application
You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.
Begin the graduate school application
- Choose Enrollment Type: "Certificate Admission"
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
- Choose "Nurse Educator" as the certificate
Checking Your Status
You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this degree program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Start or Advance Your Career
Start or Advance Your Career
You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree
A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree
Not only can this program help create opportunities in your career, it can also give you a solid head start toward a full master’s degree.
Contact Us
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]
Cody Hoffman
Student Enrollment Recruiter
Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 814-865-0865
To learn more about additional, highly respected nursing programs, visit The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing website.
Faculty
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Rachel Allen, RN, PMHNP-BC
DegreePh.D., University of Massachusetts DartmouthDr. Rachel Allen is an assistant research professor of nursing, family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, Jonas Nurse Leader Scholar, and Fellow at the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on psychiatric nursing, nursing history, mental health policy, and the broad social history of deinstitutionalization. Dr. Allen's research contains both a chronic illness and community focus, centering on individuals living with serious and persistent mental illness.
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Cara Exten, PH.D., MPH, B.S.
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DegreePh.D., The Ohio State University
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DegreeMPH, Emory University
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DegreeB.S., East Tennessee State University
Dr. Cara Exten is an assistant teaching professor for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She is an infectious disease epidemiologist, focusing on health disparities affecting sexual and gender minority populations, with an emphasis on sexual health (specifically HIV and other sexually transmitted infections) and substance use. She has extensive experience in survey data collection, data analysis, and working with high-risk populations, and she is passionate about the examination of diseases in their entirety, including biological, sociological, and epidemiological factors.
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Donna M. Fick, RN, FGSA, FAAN
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DegreePh.D., Nursing Science/Geriatrics, University of California-San Francisco
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DegreeMSN, Gerontological Nursing, University of Cincinnati
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DegreeBSN, Nursing Science, Berea College
Dr. Donna M. Fick is the director of the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence at Penn State. She is an instructor for a variety of graduate nursing courses. Dr. Fick's research interests include inappropriate medication use in older adults, recognition and management of delirium superimposed on dementia, and implementation of ultra-brief delirium screening in hospital settings.
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Sandra Halbruner, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC
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DegreeDNP, Wilkes University
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DegreeM.S., Penn State
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DegreeBSN, Johns Hopkins University
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DegreeB.S., Franklin & Marshall College
Dr. Sandra Halbruner is an assistant teaching professor for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She has more than 21 years of experience in the field of medicine. Her research interests include active learning techniques in the multi-site or online classroom.
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Sharilee Hrabovsky, D. ED., MSN, FNP-BC
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DegreeD.Ed., Adult Education, Penn State
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DegreePost-Master's Certification, Family Practice Nurse Practitioner, Widener University
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DegreeMSN, Nursing Case Management, Villanova University
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DegreeBSN, Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University
Dr. Sharilee Hrabovsky is an assistant research professor for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and a tobacco treatment specialist for College of Medicine. A practicing nurse for the more than three decades, many of them as a nurse practitioner, she has presented on tobacco use, treatment, and regulation research for the last several years. As a Nationally Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, she has worked with hundreds of tobacco users through clinical trials or direct patient care in their quest to reduce or quit tobacco use. Her research interest includes tobacco use, treatment, and regulation; behavior change; and qualitative and mixed methods research.
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Susan Loeb, PH.D., RN, FGSA, FAAN
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DegreeDNP, Penn State
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DegreeMSN, Penn State
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DegreeBSN, Penn State
Dr. Susan J. Loeb is a professor for the College of Nursing and the College of Medicine. She is a faculty affiliate at the Center for Health Care Policy and Research and Center for Healthy Aging. Her program of research focuses on the health needs and issues of older inmates with chronic health conditions, including those with advanced chronic illnesses who are approaching the end of life. Her research has been funded by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Nursing Research. Over the past two decades, Dr. Loeb has taught a wide array of courses across the nursing curriculum, from undergraduate through doctoral education. Most recently, her teaching has been in writing-focused courses, helping students develop their scholarly papers or dissertations. She also regularly teaches NURS 501: Issues in Nursing and Health Care.
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Paul Logan, PH.D., CRNP, ACNP-BC
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DegreePh.D., Penn State
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DegreeMSN, University of Pennsylvania
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DegreeBSN, Messiah College
Dr. Paul Logan is an assistant research professor for the College of Nursing. His research interests include outcomes, quality, and value in health care, particularly the quality of care provided by nurse practitioners. His clinical interests include acute care, critical care, and cardiovascular disease.
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Sheri Matter, Ph.D.
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DegreePh.D., Leadership and Administration, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
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DegreeMSN, Wilmington University
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DegreeMBA, University of St. Francis
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DegreeBSN, Wilkes University
Dr. Sheri Matter is the director of online MSN programs and is an assistant teaching professor for Penn State's Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She has more than 30 years of nursing leadership experience, including serving as chief nursing executive of a multiple-hospital system. Her dissertation focused on the nurse characteristics of a highly reliable organization. Her research interests include leadership, nurse characteristics and their effects on quality, and qualitative methods.
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Nicole Peterson, DNP, A/GPCNP-BC, CRNP, RN
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DegreeDNP, University of Iowa
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DegreeMSN, University of Iowa
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DegreeBSN, University of Iowa
Dr. Nicole Peterson is an assistant teaching professor for the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and an Emeritus associate professor of instruction at the University of Iowa College of Nursing. She is a Respecting Choices® first steps and advanced steps facilitator. She has experience teaching in undergraduate and graduate nursing, including master's and doctorate level, as well as serving as geriatric nurse practitioner preceptor to numerous students, including family medicine residents. Her teaching experience includes lecture, online, clinical/practicum, and simulation with emphasis on utilizing active learning strategies in the classroom. As an enrolled member of the Menominee Nation of Wisconsin and a first-generation college student, she strives to be a supportive resource for underrepresented students in higher education. Her clinical research interest includes advance care planning. Her DNP project involved advance care planning conversations and completion of an Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (IPOST) when applicable with nursing home residents in a mid-size town when the medical orders were first available statewide in Iowa.
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Andrea Yevchak Sillner, PH.D., GCNS-BC, RN
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DegreeDNP, Penn State
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DegreeMSN, Penn State
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DegreeBSN, Penn State
Dr. Andrea Sillner is an assistant professor for the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and a board-certified gerontological clinical nurse specialist. Her 2017 Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Early-Career Investigator Award in Patient and Family Engagement supports her work to develop a new subscale of the Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory, to be known as the P-TAC. This new subscale is being designed to strengthen technology-assisted communication among older adults receiving community-based home health services and their formal and informal caregivers, and will also address current gaps in support needed to improve transitions in care for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. Her research interests include person-centered, preference-based interventions focused on improving communication among health care providers, patients, and family members; technology-based communication strategies; and communication and care transitions for persons with delirium and delirium superimposed on dementia.
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Kimberly Van Haitsma, PH.D.
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DegreePh.D., Clinical Psychology, Bowling Green State University
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DegreeM.A., Clinical Psychology, Bowling Green State University
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DegreeB.A., Psychology, Calvin College
Dr. Kimberly Van Haitsma's research interests include developing observational methodologies to assess behavior and emotion in dementia, developing evidence-based education programs to enhance the skills of formal caregivers, advancing the understanding of person-centered care — "knowing preferences for everyday living" — and developing measurement tools for research, clinical practice, and evidence-based interventions for formal caregivers.
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Kelly Wolgast, RN, FACHE, FAAN
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DegreeDNP, University of Alabama at Birmingham
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DegreeM.S., Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College
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DegreeMSN, Vanderbilt University
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DegreeBSN, Penn State
Dr. Kelly Wolgast teaches both nurse administrator/management courses and nurse educator courses in Penn State's MSN and DNP Programs. Her research interests includes nurse leadership, health care delivery models, distance learning, and military/veterans' health.
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