further education for nurses

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Our free continuing education for nurses is offered across a wide variety of clinical and professional development topics and is designed to help nurses meet state CE contact hour requirements. Free nursing CEUs are approved by ANCC and are available to nurses in all 50 states. 

• Nursing Continuing Education Courses

Free Nursing Continuing Education Courses

Nurse.com offers a vast array of free CE courses to help you meet your nursing continuing education contact hour requirements.

Our free continuing education for nurses is offered across a wide variety of clinical and professional development topics and is designed to help nurses meet state CE contact hour requirements. Free nursing CEUs are approved by ANCC and are available to nurses in all 50 states.

Nurse.com’s free online continuing education courses are intended for nurses who work across all specialties and care settings and who are looking to earn free nursing contact hours for license renewal or professional development:

• Registered Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Advanced Practice Nurses

How to Earn Free CEs and Access Certificate

Create a free Nurse.com account

Create a free Nurse.com account to get access to free online CE courses for nurses.

Complete online courses quickly on Nurse.com

Free CE Courses on Nurse.com are all ANCC accredited and review a wide variety of nursing topics. 

Take the CE test & get your certificate 

After successfully taking the CE test with a score of 75% or higher, your course will automatically move to the "My Transcripts" page within your Nurse.com account where you can download and print it.

What are the best free continuing education courses for nurses?

Nurse.com offers a variety of free CEs for nurses. Each month, new courses are added to our list of free continuing education courses.

Who can earn Free CEUs?

Nurse.com’s free online continuing education courses are intended for nurses who work across all specialties and care settings and who are looking to earn free nursing contact hours for license renewal or professional development:

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Nursing Courses Online

Study nursing for patient care and healthcare practice. Learn about clinical procedures, patient assessment, and nursing ethics.

The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.

Explore the Nursing Course Catalog

University of Minnesota

Integrative Nursing

Skills you'll gain : Leadership and Management

Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

The George Washington University

Leading Healthcare Quality and Safety

Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Michigan

The Nurse's Toolkit

Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Pittsburgh

Clinical Terminology for International and U.S. Students

Skills you'll gain : Communication

Essentials in Clinical Simulations Across the Health Professions

Skills you'll gain : Training

Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Northwestern University

Career 911: Your Future Job in Medicine and Healthcare

Skills you'll gain : Human Learning, Writing, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Training, People Analysis

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Skills you'll gain : Leadership and Management, Leadership Development, Critical Thinking, Professional Development, Deep Learning, Training

University of Colorado System

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Searches related to nursing

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular nursing courses.

• Integrative Nursing :   University of Minnesota
• Leading Healthcare Quality and Safety :   The George Washington University
• The Nurse's Toolkit :   University of Michigan
• Clinical Terminology for International and U.S. Students :   University of Pittsburgh
• Essentials in Clinical Simulations Across the Health Professions :   The George Washington University
• Career 911: Your Future Job in Medicine and Healthcare :   Northwestern University
• Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes :   The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Nursing Informatics Leadership :   University of Minnesota
• Newborn Baby Care :   University of Colorado System
• Become an EMT :   University of Colorado System

Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing

What is nursing ‎.

Although the specific duties may vary, nursing generally involves treating injured or ill patients. The job not only requires you to tend to physical ailments, but also to keep patients calm and comfortable before, during, and after procedures. Nursing can take place in various settings, including hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and at a patient's home. Nurses often work alongside doctors and surgeons to offer comprehensive care to patients. ‎

What career opportunities can arise from learning about nursing? ‎

An education in nursing can help prepare you for numerous positions, including pain management nurse, critical care nurse, nurse educator, school nurse, or telemedicine nurse. Pain management nurses work with patients who suffer from chronic pain or pain resulting from a medical procedure. If you excel at keeping your cool under pressure, you can find work as a critical care nurse. Critical care nurses spend their time in intensive-care units, working to stabilize critically ill patients. Nurse educator is a less intense path to take. The job involves training other nurses, and it's a suitable position if you have a talent for teaching others. If you like kids, you can work as a school nurse at a local elementary, middle, or high school. Telemedicine nursing is a task that involves counseling patients via telephone calls or the internet. The job requires excellent communication skills, as you won't be present to physically assist the patient. ‎

How can online courses help me learn about nursing? ‎

Online nursing courses will help you gain a thorough understanding of subjects such as anatomy, patient safety, and trauma care. You'll develop important skills such as reading vital signs and treating pain. Instructors use reading assignments and lectures to guide you and quizzes to assess your understanding of the material. These online courses are ideal if you want to further your education but also want the flexibility to tackle subjects at your own pace. ‎

What are the benefits of taking an online Nursing course? ‎

Online Nursing courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Nursing skills. Choose from a wide range of Nursing courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels. ‎

What Nursing courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce? ‎

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Nursing, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here . ‎

Other topics to explore

The Nurse’s Guide to Continuing Education

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Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:

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Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for NurseJournal.org as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.

Explore our full list of Integrity Network members.

• Nursing CE Explained
• Why Nursing CE is Important
• Who Offers Nursing CE
• Nursing CE by State

Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?

Nursing is a constantly changing profession, and nurses must commit to being lifelong learners so patients receive the best care possible. Most states require continuing education (CE) for nurses to maintain their licenses and stay up to date with best practices.

Check with your state board of nursing to determine the number and types of nursing CE credits or units (CEUs) you need to renew your license.

Explore the required continuing education for nurses, different types of continuing education, and how to pay for or find free nursing CE courses.

Popular Online MSN Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Continuing Education for Nurses Explained

Nursing continuing education is an ongoing learning activity typically required by state nursing boards to maintain your nursing license and ensure you’re keeping up with the latest knowledge in your field. These educational credits or hours may include formal courses, peer-reviewed content, workshops, conferences, and online programs. Nursing CE helps ensure high standards of nursing practice and helps nurses to adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape.

You can find appropriate CE opportunities through professional nursing associations, nursing schools, course directories, or peer-reviewed publications. Choose CE programs based on subject matter, wider career goals, and learning preferences. Many nursing CE credits require you to pass a test at the end of the learning module.

Most states require CE to maintain your license, but the number of credits or hours vary. Some states also require CEUs for specific topics. Check with your state board of nursing to find the nursing continuing education requirements in your state.

Required Nursing CEs Based on Your Nursing Degree

The number of CE hours required to renew your nursing license can range from zero in several states, including Arizona, up to 24 hours of CE in Washington, D.C. Nursing CE requirements may also vary by license or certification level — licensed practical nurse (LPN) , registered nurse (RN) , and nurse practitioner (NP) , for example.

In one U.S. jurisdiction — Washington, D.C. — LPNs, RNs, and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) must renew their licenses every two years. LPNs must complete 18 CE hours, and RNs must finish 24 CE hours. LPNs and RNs must complete two CE hours specifically devoted to LGBTQ topics and three hours devoted to public health. APRNs must complete 24 hours of CE, including 15 related to pharmacology and related topics.

If you have a national certification, you may need more CEUs than your state requires. And, some of your CEs will likely need to be in your speciality. Check the websites of the national and state agencies that manage your certification for details.

Why Continuing Education for Nurses Is Important

Nursing CE provides the necessary education and knowledge to apply the latest developments in nursing care. Advancements in healthcare technology, cultural competence, and an increased focus on wellness and prevention are widening the healthcare system, which requires an increasing knowledge base to improve patient outcomes.

Continuing education for nurses also protects healthcare institutions from legal liability. Additionally, you can use CE hours to help you develop skills for your next career move.

CE courses for nurses can cover similar topics in nursing school, including health promotion, communication, leadership, and legal and ethical aspects of nursing. Whatever your current or aspired position, CE can help develop your expertise.

Types of Continuing Education

• Annual healthcare employee requirements
• State-mandated nurse CE
• Professional development activities

Continuing Education Formats

• Conferences
• Live classes
• Online classes
• Online and live webinars
• Self-study educational packets

Who Provides Continuing Education for Nurses?

There are various nonprofit and for-profit organizations that develop accredited continuing education courses to further nursing knowledge and competence.

Abbott Nutrition Health Institute Courses

This nonprofit provides free continuing education for nurses through online courses on nutrition, including infant nutrition, nutrition after surgery, and related topics.

Nurse.com hosts free continuing education courses for nurses on career topics and nursing practice. Most provide one or 1.5 hours of credit.

The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing Courses

Johns Hopkins offers free and paid online courses on particular conditions, such as HIV, multiple sclerosis, and general nursing practice.

NurseCEU.com

This website publishes lists of continuing education units, including a section on free continuing education for nurses. You can search the listings by topic.

This site offers unlimited CEU courses for an annual fee of $19.95. Topics include preparing for bioterrorism, medical errors, and smoking cessation; they also cover specific health conditions or concerns.

Nursing CE Central

Every state board of nursing has approved the CEs offered by Nursing CE Central. After selecting your state, you receive a renewal package, including unlimited access to the CE library and courses required by the state.

Paying for Nursing Continuing Education

Continuing education prices range from free to several hundred dollars. Many employers pay or share the cost of continuing education for nurses. Some large hospitals, especially academic medical centers, may be CE providers or subscribe to services that deliver online CE credits. Other employers will reimburse your expenses. Many nursing associations and other nonprofits provide nursing scholarships when employers do not pay for CE.

Alternative Ways to Fulfill Nursing Continuing Education Requirements

Some states — but not all — have alternative methods you can consider. Although one of the following programs may state it carries CE credit, be sure to check with your Board of Nursing to ensure it is approved.

• Academic courses: Higher education coursework may count toward nursing CE credits when they meet the state criteria.
• Certification programs: Specialty certification tests may include continuing education credits.
• In-Service Training: In-service training by employers may carry continuing education for nurses when the employer has the program accredited.
• Publishing: Publishing in a professional journal may earn continuing education credits in some states.
• Volunteering: Certain volunteer activities involving public health initiatives or public education may qualify, depending on your state.

Nursing Continuing Education Accreditation

Like nursing school accreditation, CEU accreditation confirms that continuing education courses for nurses provide reliable, evidence-based information and are delivered in an appropriate format.

You can find accredited programs from state-approved providers and professional associations. Qualifying education must be accredited by one of several nursing organizations, including:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• State Nursing Boards
• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
• National League for Nursing (NLN)
• Various other professional nursing associations, including the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)

Nursing Continuing Education Requirements by State

Each state holds different continuing education requirements for nurses. Below describes the number of contact hours each state requires for continued licensing. Many states include additional requirements or accept alternate forms of education, such as a refresher course. Check your state board of nursing for specifics.

• Alabama: 24 contact hours every two years
• Alaska: 30 contact hours every two years
• Arizona: No state requirement
• Arkansas: 15 contact hours every two years
• California: 30 contact hours every two years
• Colorado: No state requirement
• Connecticut: No state requirement
• Delaware: 30 contact hours every two years
• Florida: 24 contact hours every two years
• Georgia: 30 contact hours every two years
• Hawaii: 30 contact hours every two years
• Idaho: 15 contact hours every two years
• Illinois: 20 contact hours every two years
• Indiana: No state requirement
• Iowa: 36 contact hours every three years
• Kansas: 30 contact hours every two years
• Kentucky: 14 contact hours every year
• Louisiana: 30 contact hours every two years
• Maine: No state requirement
• Maryland: No state requirement
• Massachusetts: 15 contact hours every two years
• Michigan: 25 contact hours every two years
• Minnesota: 24 contact hours every two years
• Mississippi: 20 contact hours every two years
• Missouri: No state requirement
• Montana: 24 contact hours every two years
• Nebraska: 20 contact hours every two years
• Nevada: 30 contact hours every two years
• New Hampshire: 30 contact hours every two years
• New Jersey: 30 contact hours every two years
• New Mexico: 30 contact hours every two years
• New York: Infection control every four years
• North Carolina: 30 contact hours every two years
• North Dakota: 12 contact hours every two years
• Ohio: 24 contact hours every two years
• Oklahoma: 24 contact hours every two years
• Oregon: One-time 7 hours requirement of pain management
• Pennsylvania: 30 contact hours every two years
• Rhode Island: 10 contact hours every two years
• South Carolina: 30 contact hours every two years
• South Dakota: No state requirement
• Tennessee: 5 contact hours every two years and other evidence of additional learning
• Texas: 20 contact hours every two years
• Utah: 30 contact hours every two years
• Vermont: No state requirement
• Virginia: 30 contact hours every two years
• Washington D.C.: 24 contact hours every two years
• Washington: 45 contact hours every three years
• West Virginia: 12 contact hours every year
• Wisconsin: No state requirement
• Wyoming: No state requirement for nurses working full-time

Source: NetCE

Frequently Asked Questions About Continuing Education for Nurses

What is ce in nursing.

Continuing education (CE) is the ongoing learning nurses must complete throughout their careers to maintain their nursing license. CE helps nurses stay current with advancing scientific and clinical knowledge, technology, techniques, cultural competence, and more. You can obtain CEs in online courses, workshops, conferences, reading materials, and more.

What is the purpose of continuing education for nurses?

The purpose of CE credits is to ensure nurses stay knowledgeable in the changing healthcare environment to provide care that meets best practices. Continuing education for nurses supports professional development and fulfills state licensure requirements in most states. By staying current, nurses can better adapt to change and contribute to improved patient safety.

What are some examples of continuing education for nurses?

Examples of CE for nurses include webinars and online courses on specialized topics and hands-on workshops. In some states, academic programs, specialty certifications, and publishing in professional journals may also qualify for CE hours. Presentations at professional events are another valuable way to earn credits and stay updated in your field.

What counts as CEUs for nurses?

Continuing education requirements for nurses include educational offerings accredited by nursing organizations and approved by your state Board of Nursing. If you attend out-of-state conferences and seminars, check with your state board to ensure the CEs are approved. An accrediting body must also approve academic coursework related to nursing and self-study programs.

Page last reviewed August 8, 2024

Related Resources

Free Online Nursing Courses You Can Take Right Now

Learn something new and strengthen old skills with these free online nursing courses and continuing education opportunities.

10 Things to Know About Nursing Continuing Education

Most states require nursing continuing education for license renewals. Get details on what you need to do, when, and how to choose the right courses.

How to Document Nursing Continuing Education Credits

As a nurse, you must show proof of taking continuing education units to maintain your nursing license, employment, or both — depending on your state.

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Post-Master's Certificate

Nursing Education

Be prepared to train nurses and make an impact on the future of healthcare.

Utilize your nursing knowledge, experience, and MSN degree to pursue additional nursing credentials that will allow you to progress in your career. Move forward on your career path with the help of a post-master's degree certificate in nursing that opens the doors to new opportunities.

As a nurse educator, you will demonstrate a professional presence by helping nursing students acquire the knowledge and skills to work effectively in inter-professional teams across a variety of academic and healthcare settings. 

Don't have an MSN? No problem! Check out the RN-to-MSN or the BSN-to-MSN nursing education degree programs offered by WGU. You can also  compare post-master's certifications to MSN programs .

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The program consists of 16 credits and is paced to be completed in two six-month terms. 

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Nurse Educator Courses

This program consists of 8 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.  

The Nursing Education courses in this program were derived from the National League for Nursing Nurse Educator standards and the Master’s Essentials for Professional Nursing practice. The nurse educator specialization will cover topics such as curriculum development, learning styles, assessment, and more.

Demonstrating mastery is how you pass a course, so learning what it takes to be outstanding in your career is at the heart of WGU’s Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing–Education curriculum. That means the things you master at WGU are often directly applicable the next day at work—and it means what you’re doing at work frequently informs the work you’re doing in your courses. It’s all about real-world applicability so every moment spent studying is time well spent.

The Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing – Education consists of the courses listed below. You will typically complete one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Certificate Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you'll take your assessment, and once you pass, you'll complete the course and move on. This means you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.

Evolving Roles of Nurse Educators in Diverse Environments examines the multidimensional roles of a contemporary academic nurse educator. This course explores the roles and responsibilities of the nurse educator as a teacher, leader, change agent, and curriculum innovator. Students will also examine the importance of personal and professional development by developing strategies that promote academic integrity, cultural sensitivity, social justice, and ethical/legal values in diverse environments. The course emphasizes the responsibility of nurse educators to utilize communication, collaboration, and leadership in mitigating challenges in academic nursing education.

Facilitation of Context-Based Student-Centered Learning explores how the nurse educator will incorporate authentic experiences into the creation of course plans that facilitate scholarly inquiry, collaboration, and knowledge acquisition in varied educational environments. Emphasis is placed on innovative, transformational, and experiential teaching and learning strategies to facilitate student development of professional, context-based nursing principles, knowledge, skills, and behavior. Evolving Roles of Nurse Educators in Diverse Environments is a prerequisite to this course.

Contemporary Curriculum Design and Development in Nursing Education analyzes the concepts of creating curriculum based on national nursing accreditation standards and instructional design best practices. Nurse educator students will create course content that supports learning in diverse, real-world environments where nurse educators facilitate learning. Instructional design strategies for delivering course content will reflect the mission of academic institution programs, contemporary trends in nursing education, and the needs of key stakeholders in nursing education and practice. Facilitation of Context-Based Student-Centered Learning is a prerequisite to this course.

Assessment and Evaluation Strategies for Measuring Student Learning addresses the academic nurse educator's role in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of student achievement outcomes in nursing education programs. This course requires students to integrate best practices from nursing theory and theories of learning to assess student learning in diverse educational settings. Topics include validity, reliability, and practicality of assessments, interpreting item difficulty and discrimination test results, and analyzing student achievement and learning outcomes data. This course has no prerequisites.

Emerging Trends and Challenges in 21st Century Nursing Education analyzes the emerging trends, technologies, and challenges that academic nurse educators encounter when facilitating learning in diverse healthcare settings. Students will focus on the necessity of interprofessional collaboration and the barriers and facilitators to overcoming the challenges associated with teaching and learning in nursing. Topics include the impact of emerging technology, challenges in nursing practice, and the role of the academic nurse educator as a scholar and a nursing education policy advocate. This course has no prerequisites.

The Nursing Education Field Experience provides the academic nurse educator student an opportunity to work collaboratively with academic mentors and interprofessional stakeholders to analyze the need-gap for a curriculum change, innovation, or improvement. Based on the identified need-gap, the graduate student will design and develop a course that reflects evidence-based instructional design and assessment principles and practices. This course prepares students for the role of an Academic Nurse Educator, as an agent for change and quality improvement in nursing education.

The Nursing Education Capstone course provides the Nurse Educator student an opportunity to apply previous course work towards the completion of an evidence-based curriculum proposal project. During this course students will build on previous work during their Nursing Education Field Experience course by planning the implementation and evaluation phases of their proposed curriculum change. The capstone project represents a synthesis of competencies across the Master of Science in Nursing—Nursing Education degree program, which prepares them to lead, manage, and transform nursing education in diverse and complex settings. This course is eligible for an in-progress grade. Please see the grading scale policy for more information.

The learner will explore professional communication by applying the principles of academic writing to their discipline. Learners will incorporate these skills into the development of an evidence-based scholarly paper in their specialty area. As learners develop a scholarly paper, they will acquire a deeper understanding of the research topic selected and analyze whether initiatives and interventions have been effective or ineffective.

Program consists of 8 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

Field Experiences

Special requirements for this program

While most of your coursework will be completed online, your nursing program includes some requirements—including field experiences—that must be completed in a facility near you. And while most of your courses can be accelerated based on your prior knowledge and hard work, some nursing programs begin with a  cohort-based course  that must be completed via five scheduled webcam sessions with faculty and fellow students.

Skills For Your Résumé

As part of this program, you will develop a range of valuable skills that employers are looking for. 

• Curriculum Development: Successfully implemented instruction using a variety of instructional strategies to support and expand learning, enhancing student engagement and academic growth.
• Lesson Planning: Effectively implemented ongoing assessment methods to determine the effectiveness of instruction and student learning.
• Research: Successfully collected comprehensive and relevant information on research topics from multiple sources, ensuring a well-informed and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
• Educational Technologies: Identified and utilized technologies that facilitated the delivery of educational instruction, optimizing learning experiences.
• Change Management: Expertly determined the most effective change management techniques for implementation in a given situation, ensuring smooth transitions and maximizing positive outcomes.
• Business Process:  Led transformative change in an organization's culture.

“Enrollment was perfectly easy for me. I was able to submit online and somebody called me within a day to start the whole process. Within two or three weeks I was ready to go for my first term.”

—Bryon Denton M.S. Nursing – Education

Top accreditations mean that your certificate is respected by employers and peers. You will get a quality education that is valuable in the industry with this nursing leadership program.

On Your Schedule 

You can continue working at your full-time job or maintaining your responsibilities while earning your nursing leadership post-master's credential. You don't have to log in to classes and there aren't due dates. You are in charge of your program.

Strong Alumni Network

When you enroll in the nursing education certificate program at WGU, you join an impressive network of healthcare professionals.

COST & TIME

An Affordable Nursing Education Certificate

By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their programs. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.

A Nursing Certificate Is Within Reach

There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:

The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.

Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits. 

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.

* WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

A Certificate in Nursing Education Designed to Be Earned on a Nurse's Schedule

Our unique education model puts working nurses in the driver’s seat of their education. As a busy nurse, you need a certificate program that's more than simply online—you need one that truly reflects the realities of your work life and experience. At WGU, your progress is driven by your ability to prove what you’ve learned. How quickly is largely up to you. Once you’ve mastered the material, you prove what you know through tests, papers, projects, or other assessments. Demonstrating mastery is how you pass a course, so learning what it takes to be outstanding in your career is at the heart of WGU’s curriculum.

Other online certificate programs may give you the convenience of distance learning; WGU's online programs take that flexibility further—many steps further!

"WGU is a great option for nurses who are looking to advance their careers but need further education and flexibility to do so.”

—Kathryn Kosmides M.S. Nursing – Education (RN to MSN)

CAREER OUTLOOK

Real Results for Your Career in Nursing Education

Once you have completed your Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing–Education you will have the knowledge and skills to be an outstanding nurse educator. You'll be in demand, because you'll be prepared to translate your extensive nursing knowledge into learning opportunities for other nurses.

Nurse educators teach and train nurses, nursing students, schoolchildren, community groups, workers, patients, and consumers. A post-master's certificate can prepare you to make a difference in a wide variety of settings, including:

• Community agencies.
• Industry and businesses.
• Nursing programs.

Return on Your Investment

On average, wgu graduates see an increase in income post-graduation.

Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source:  2023 Harris Poll Survey  of 1,655 WGU graduates.

Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.

Nursing instructors at colleges, universities, or professional schools make over $84,000 on average, according to recent statistics.

—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Nursing Education Leaders Are Thriving in Diverse Careers

Given the growing nurse educator shortage, earning your certificate in nursing education is both a rewarding decision and a solid career move. Once you master subjects like curriculum development, instruction and evaluation, and current technology in nursing education, your role in nursing can take on a whole new dimension. Our 3,000-plus nursing education alumni have great jobs and satisfying careers:

• Director of nursing
• Chief nursing officer
• Quality director
• Clinical nurse leader
• Project manager

Diverse Industries

• Health systems
• Cancer centers
• Local, state, or federal government
• Hospice providers

Major Employers

• Ascension Health
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• UCLA Health System

WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers

Hospitals and clinics around the country know the benefit of a degree from WGU, so your healthcare degree is valuable.

Admissions Requirements Unique to This Program

To be considered for this post-master's certificate program in nursing, you must:

• Possess an M.S. in Nursing from an accredited institution or state board of nursing approved program.
• Possess an active, unencumbered RN license in your state of residence, or your state of employment. (Some license holders may be granted a waiver if they are not licensed in their state of residence or employment.) You must be licensed in the state in which you will complete your clinical experience. 

Safety Notice:  WGU and the College of Health Professions (CHP) are committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all patients, community members, and key stakeholders that interact with WGU students at various clinical/host sites. Interactions might include direct patient interaction, observation experiences, laboratory experiences, project development, or conducting research.  Standard compliance verification for students in applicable CHP programs is required to protect the public, meet CHP program expectations, reasonably assure compliance with state regulatory board requirements, meet WGU’s contractual and legal obligations with clinical partners, and support WGU’s mission to prepare students who will be qualified to enter their desired field. Compliance items may include, but are not limited to, background checks, immunizations, and drug screens as needed.

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Transfer Credits

More About the Nursing Education Certificate

• General Program Questions
• Financial Aid Questions

Who is eligible for the post-master's certificate in nursing programs?

In order to be eligible for this certificate program, you must be a registered nurse with an active, unencumbered RN license and hold a MSN degree from an accredited program.

Can I get a scholarship for this program?

Yes! WGU does offer scholarship opportunities for students in post-master's certificate programs. 

How does WGU keep its tuition so low?

As a nonprofit university, WGU doesn’t need to benefit shareholders. Our students are our only focus. We also try to keep our operating costs low. And since we’re an exclusively online university, we don’t need to maintain expensive classroom buildings, a campus, or other nonacademic programs.

Why should I get a post-master's certificate?

A post-master's certificate in nursing is a great option for MSN graduates who are looking to change the trajectory of their careers. For example, MSN-educated nurses who want to become a clinical instructor can benefit from a post-master's certificate in nursing education.

Does WGU offer financial aid?

WGU is approved to offer  federal student aid . You will need to apply using the FAFSA, which is used to determine your eligibility for aid. WGU’s FAFSA school code is 033394.

Are there scholarships available?

Scholarships are available for new WGU students and returning graduates.  This video shows more  about scholarship opportunities and how they can help you pay for school. Get information on:

• How to apply
• Eligibility requirements
• Examples of scholarships
• What happens after you apply
• Other financial aid options

How does tuition work at WGU?

WGU's tuition is a flat rate that is charged every six months. You can take as many courses as you are able in that six-month term—with no extra cost. You simply pay for the term and do as much work as you can or want to during that time. This means that finishing faster helps you save money—a major benefit you won't find at most other schools. 

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