The Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education is an advanced degree designed to be completed part-time and online. Prospective students must have completed a Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) to enter the program. Students who desire entry to this program will be subject to minimum eligibility criteria and ranking against other candidates. To identify the requirements that will apply to you, please use the table below to find the selection criteria for your target selection date.

Selection for this program occurs on a rolling basis. New cohorts start each May. 

Because we understand students’ need to plan and to work toward a specific set of criteria, we make every attempt to avoid changing selection criteria within a year of a selection date. However, in rare cases (i.e., an observed change in program outcomes or a change in ACEN accreditation standards), changes may be made up to six months prior to a selection date. If a change to selection criteria is required less than a year from a selection date, we will provide notice of the change to all students known to be working toward eligibility for that date.

In addition to the eligibility and ranking criteria, individuals considering applying to this program should be aware that participation in the clinical component of the curriculum is contingent upon the student meeting all clinical requirements, including background checks, vaccinations, health and liability insurance coverage, physical examinations, drug testing, and others.

The 10-panel drug screening performed upon selection and randomly throughout the program will identify the presence of controlled substances, including marijuana. In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, all forms of marijuana, including medical marijuana, are prohibited. A positive drug test will result in dismissal from the program, even if the student holds a valid medical marijuana card.

Failure to meet clinical requirements would result in the inability to complete the educational requirements of the program. For specific information about clinical requirements, please contact the program office.

As of result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions across the country have implemented some version of Pass/Fail (P/F) or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grades. In response to this change, Penn College will accept “pass" equivalent grades, assigned as a result of COVID-19, when the College determines a course may be accepted for transfer.

Penn College students enrolled in a pre-program, awaiting selections, are NOT eligible to opt in for Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grades. Therefore, when a Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading scheme has been implemented by a transferring institution, those students seeking to be ranked in one of the selective admission majors within the School of Nursing & Health Sciences will be asked to provide a letter grade for all coursework.

In a case where a student is unable to secure a letter grade from their transferring institution, those course(s) will not be included in Math/Science GPA calculations, or other grade-related criteria, associated with selection. It is important to note that a lack of math and science course grades will likely impact a student’s competitiveness/and or eligibility for selection. A student who is unable to provide letter grades should meet with the designated program director to discuss how an inability to obtain letter grades may impact their eligibility or ranking.