Online Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education
Build Upon Your MSN Degree to
Advance Your Career as a Nurse Educator
12-Month Program
Rise as a nursing leader with this flexible, career-relevant certificate program.
Supportive Instructors
Committed to your success, our nursing faculty has both clinical and academic experience.
Nursing Leader
Gwynedd Mercy University has been a regional leader in nursing education for more than 70 years.
Advanced Qualifications
This program prepares you to shift your nursing career or advance in nurse education.
Flexible Program Designed for MSN-Prepared Nurses
This online nursing education certificate program is ideal for nurses seeking expanded teaching expertise, looking to advance their careers and achieve professional growth. It is designed for current nurse educators aspiring to leadership roles, as well as healthcare professionals interested in teaching, academic, policy, or research positions in the U.S. or abroad. The program also provides a pathway to GMercyU’s EdD in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education – Nursing Education.
Online Coursework Enhanced with In-Person Component
This 12-credit nursing ed post-master’s certificate program combines theory and practice. In addition to online courses accessible 24/7, the program includes a six-credit-hour teaching practicum where you’ll apply what you’ve learned in a real-world setting.
Teach, Lead and Inspire
Help alleviate the nationwide shortage of nurses and improve patient outcomes by educating the next generation of nurses. Many nurse educators appreciate being able to teach and meet that urgent need and still be a practitioner on a more flexible basis.
Program Features
Complete GMercyU’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education in as few as 12 months, as you benefit from:
- The flexibility of asynchronous, online coursework for most of the program, complemented by an in-person component to ensure essential hands-on learning
- Small cohorts with a mission-centered and personalized approach
- Faculty who bring clinical expertise, academic rigor, and a passion for the nursing profession
Here, you’ll learn from the best. GMercyU’s Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions has been a regional leader in nursing education for more than 70 years, with a reputation for helping students with career advancement, improving healthcare delivery, and achieving better patient outcomes.
As a graduate of our nursing education post-master’s certificate program, you will be equipped to teach nursing curriculum, implement program improvement strategies, effectively evaluate student learning outcomes, and more. You’ll be prepared to:
- Begin or advance your career as a didactic and/or clinical instructor
- Expand your understanding of learning theories and motivation theories
- Bridge the connection between students’ classroom learning and clinical experiences
Hands-On Learning Experiences
A key component of the Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education program is a teaching practicum that enables you to practice the theories, strategies, and skills you’ve learned in real-world academic settings. This immersive practicum, including 225 practicum hours, emphasizes curriculum design, learning theories, and evidence-based teaching strategies, while integrating the expectations and responsibilities of the faculty role in higher education.
Throughout the practicum, you will engage in supervised teaching experiences that provide hands-on exposure to instructional methodologies, student assessment and faculty responsibilities.
Learning experiences are conducted within higher education environments, and you will work with the Clinical Coordinator and Program Director to arrange clinical placements for clinical seminars or staff development experiences.
Program Details
In the program, you will complete 12 credits. Courses are online, with an in-person component for NUR 606.
Specialization Courses – 12 credits
- Nursing Education Seminar I
- Nursing Education Seminar II
- Teaching Practicum
The Post-Master’s Cert – Nurse Education program enrolls new students three times a year, each spring, summer and fall.
Upcoming Start Dates:
- Spring 2026: January 12, 2026
- Summer 2026: May 11, 2026
- Fall 2026: August 24, 2026
Applicants to the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions Post-Master’s Certificate – Nursing Education program must meet the following requirements:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from a college or university accredited by CCNE, ACEN, NLNAC or CNEA
- Minimum of a 3.0 GPA
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Valid, unencumbered Pennsylvania RN license
- Two satisfactory letters of recommendation that can be from the following sources:
- An academic professional
- A healthcare provider with whom the student has worked or volunteered
- A current supervisor
- Resume or CV
Once you are admitted to the program and before starting the teaching practicum course, you will need to:
- Pass a criminal background and child abuse record check
- Undergo a drug screening and FBI fingerprinting
- Provide a certificate of health from a family physician or nurse practitioner that includes immunization information
- Obtain a yearly flu vaccination, COVID vaccination, and PPD screening
- Provide proof of CPR certification, liability insurance, and personal health insurance
These requirements must be met before beginning your teaching practicum (NUR 606).
Estimated 2025-2026 costs: $1,010 per credit hour
Post-Master’s Certificate – Nursing Education ($12,120 for the complete 12-credit program)
Fees: The administrative costs of your education are covered through fees. Fees are not refundable. To learn more about tuition and fees, contact an enrollment representative today.
Financial Aid: To learn how to determine your Financial Aid eligibility, please contact Bailey Steidle-Kildea, Senior Financial Aid Specialist, at FinancialAid@GMercyU.edu.
Phone: 877-499-6333, x21080
Fax: 215-542-5790
The National Nurse Educator Shortage
There is no better time to become a nurse educator.
According to a 2023 survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nearly 2,000 full-time faculty vacancies exist among 922 nursing schools, with additional positions needed to accommodate student demand.
In response, the federal government introduced several initiatives, including the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, the Faculty Loan Repayment Program, and the Nurse Corps Repayment Program, all aimed at incentivizing careers in nursing education. The bipartisan Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act, introduced in 2024, seeks to further support wage increases for nurse educators.
Accreditation and Approval
The post-graduate APRN certificate program at Gwynedd Mercy University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Interested in an
MSN – Nurse Educator Program Track Instead?
Earn Your
MSN Nurse Educator
Prepare for advanced education roles in academic, clinical, or professional settings. GMercyU’s accelerated Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator Track can be completed on either a full-time or part-time schedule.
Learn More
Become a Nurse Educator
with GMercyU
Advance your career and help shape the next generation of nurses. Apply for GMercyU’s Post-Master’s Certificate – Nursing Education today.
Call 833-588-5953 or email accelerate@gmercy.edu to contact an admissions counselor.