About the Program

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education prepares experienced nurses with the knowledge, skills, and expertise to teach and evaluate learning in academic and clinical settings.

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities in the nurse educator role.
• Facilitate adult learning through curriculum design, teaching, evaluation, and advisement responsibilities inherent in nursing faculty roles.
• Function as a nurse educator and apply evidence-based educational methods.
• Utilize and integrate technology in the didactic, laboratory, simulation, and clinical environments.

Format

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education is a blended program with online classes and in-person components. While most courses are available 100% online, NUR 567 and NUR 569 are practicums that may be completed at a qualifying organization geographically convenient to the student.

Although we have rolling admissions, courses are taken sequentially starting during the Fall semester.

Nurse educators are in high demand. The United States is currently experiencing a severe nursing shortage, and one reason is that many universities must turn away applicants due to a lack of nurse educators to train these future nurses.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for nursing instructors and teachers was $86,530 in May 2023, higher than the median yearly wage for all occupations of $48,060.

After earning your certificate, graduates can take the National League for Nursing Nurse Educator Certification- Novice exam.

Notable Companies Employing Alumni

• Maine Community College System
• University of Maine System
• Northern Light Health
• Maine Health System
• Maine General Hospital
• Acadia Hospital 
• St. Joseph’s Hospital
• Dorothea Dix Hospital 
• Penobscot Community Health Center