Ready to make an impact as a nursing educator? Here’s your chance. This part-time, online program is designed to prepare you for advanced roles in healthcare and academia. More and more registered nurses with master’s degrees in other specialty tracks are attracted to rewarding careers in nursing education. This program answers the call with specialized coursework covering educational theories, delivery strategies, assessment methods, evaluation techniques, and curriculum development.
Have questions?
Meet with Kelly Bidlespacher, Director of Nursing, Bachelor and Graduate Degrees, to discuss the ins and outs of the Nursing Education program.
Special Admissions Requirements
A limited number of seats are available in this program. That’s why we rely on selective admission criteria to select applicants with the highest potential for success. Entry into the program is competitive.
Next steps...
You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.
Work as a nursing educator in a variety of settings, including:
At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.
Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.
“If you are already a master’s-prepared nurse and have an interest in nursing education, this certificate program will set you on the right path! In one year, you will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to teach our future nurses and foster growth within the nursing profession.”
Tanae Traister PhD, RN
Assistant Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences
Penn College's strong partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.
The SNA’s mission is to explore professional growth, promote mutual respect in collaboration between the different levels of nursing, and serve as a channel for the exchange of ideas to promote holistic health and provide for both patient and student education.
Connect with other nurse leaders through the Sigma Nursing Honor Society.
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
Gain real-world experience through two hands-on practicums. Working alongside master’s prepared nurse preceptors, you’ll benefit from expert insight and have an opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in previous courses in professional settings.
Applicants are required to have the following:
All students must earn a ‘B’ (3.0) or higher in all NUR courses within the post-master's certificate program; if a lower grade is earned in any NUR course, the course must be repeated.
The following grading system is applied to all nursing courses in this major. There is no rounding of grades:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89.99
C = 75-79.99
F = 74.99 and below
Notice of Conviction
Child abuse clearances and criminal background checks are required by some agencies involved in clinical practice experiences. Agencies can prohibit students from participating in clinical experiences at their sites if a criminal record exists or a positive drug test is noted. By virtue of contract for Pennsylvania College of Technology, when students are at a clinical site, agencies have the right to ask for random drug testing. Inability to complete clinical, fieldwork, or intern educational experiences will result in the inability to meet course and program outcomes. For additional clarification, students can speak with their program director.
The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing advises that a drug-related conviction and/or conviction of a felonious act or two misdemeanors might result in denial and/or revocation of a license to practice nursing. In accordance with the professional Nurse Law, Act of 1951, P.L. 317, No. 69, as amended, the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing shall not issue a license to an applicant who has been convicted of a felonious act prohibited by the Act known as “The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act” or convicted of a felony relating to a controlled substance in a court of law of the United States or any other state, territory or country unless a least 10 years have elapsed from the date of the conviction.
Penn College complies with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. Pursuant to this Act, all forms of marijuana, including medical marijuana, are classified as prohibited controlled substances. Additionally, alcohol, illegal drugs, and legal drugs obtained without a prescription or which may impair a student's ability to perform his/her educational responsibilities are strictly prohibited. Students are subject to drug screening at various phases of the program. Please note that a positive drug screening for marijuana will be deemed a positive test and will result in a student being dismissed from the program, even if the student has been lawfully certified to use medical marijuana and/or possesses a valid medical marijuana identification card issued in accordance with applicable state law.
The transfer of graduate level nursing credits is not accepted into this post master's certificate program.
Students must meet the Essential Functions for Nursing as established by the Nursing Program, as well as health and safety requirements including, but not limited to, immunizations (MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, annual influenza vaccination, PPD), medical examination, 10 panel drug screen, CPR certification, and background clearances as established by clinical affiliation agreements. Some clinical sites may have additional health and immunization requirements that are not part of the current program requirements, for example, COVID-19 vaccination.
Students accepted into this major will incur expenses for uniforms, malpractice insurance, clearances, certifications, etc. Refer to equipment and estimated cost list.
Technical Requirements
Operating Systems:
P.L.A.T.O. (Platform for Learning and Teaching Online) is Penn College's implementation of Desire2Learn/Brightspace LMS. It is a Web-based course management system that allows instructors to post course materials online, facilitate course communication, gauge student progress, and extend learning beyond the classroom.
Browsers:
The fully supported browsers for P.L.A.T.O. are: Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari
Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
