Program Overview

Teaching Nursing Certificate Program

The Certificate in Teaching Nursing is designed for nurses who are seeking to enhance their teaching pedagogy and skills and for those who are seeking an academic career in teaching nursing. For students with a master’s degree or higher, the Certificate in Teaching Nursing will qualify them to sit for the National League for Nursing’s certification exam, Certified Nurse Educator. Nurses with a baccalaureate degree will gain valuable knowledge, skills, and experience for clinical teaching, precepting, and roles in clinical professional development.

Program Details

• Application Available:
  • Fall: February 1-June 15
  • Spring: July 1-November 15
• Program Start:
  • Semester: Fall or Spring
  • Enrollment: Part-Time (1 or 2 courses per semester)
• Program Length:
  • Duration: Three 8-week terms (1.5–3 semesters)
• Program Delivery:
  • Format: Web-based
  • Certificate: Awarded Upon Completion

Learning Outcomes

Aligned with the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator Competencies, students will be able to:

1. Apply evidence-based approaches to assess the learning needs, style, and motivation of the learner.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of curriculum planning, design, and evaluation
3. Examine the legal and ethical responsibilities of nurse educators
4. Apply selected learning theories and teaching strategies in academic and clinical practice settings
5. Implement the teaching and learning processes with selected learners
6. Analyze sociopolitical, economic and institutional factors associated with nursing education
7. Plan strategies to meet teaching, service and scholarship functions of the faculty role

Program Structure

The certificate consists of three courses (9 credit hours), each delivered in an 8-week fully online format:

1. N390U: Foundations of Nursing Education
2. N390V: Art and Science of Teaching in Nursing
3. N390W: Role of the Nurse Educator

Admission Requirements

All students interested in applying for graduate study in The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing must meet the admission requirements established by the University’s Graduate School and the School of Nursing. Applicants are expected to be graduates of accredited colleges or universities. Below are the minimum requirements for admission.

1. Degree: A BSN degree or an associate degree in nursing and a baccalaureate degree outside of nursing
2. GPA: 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or comparable GPA in upper-division work (junior- and senior-level courses) and any graduate work completed
3. Recommendations: 1 required
4. Statement of Purpose
5. Curriculum Vitae/resume

Application Procedures

Applicants must complete the online application. The online application is data entry only. All supporting application documents are uploaded on the My Status page after the application is paid and submitted.

• Supporting Documents:
  1. Official transcripts dated one year or less, from all four-year institutions attended.
  2. Official transcripts dated one year or less, for an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), if applicable.
  3. Curriculum Vitae: Readable, 12-point font, 1-inch margins
  4. Personal Statement: Maximum two (2) pages. Readable, 12-point font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins
  5. Recommendations: 1 required / 1 maximum
  6. Official TOEFL scores taken within the past two years (for International Applicants only).

Tuition & Fees

• Items
  • Application Fee: $65
  • Tuition – Amount paid each semester is determined by the number of courses taken (1 or 2 courses)
  • 3 credit hours: $2,000
  • Total Tuition - 9 credit hours: $6,000
  • Textbook, resources used, and cost varies by course and instructor.

Acceptance to Graduate Programs in Nursing

The School of Nursing Admission committee begins reviews after each of the application deadlines. All application materials are required to be submitted by the program’s application deadline; files that remain incomplete will not be reviewed or acted upon by the committee.

• If admitted, applicants will be notified of the admission decision.
• Decisions are communicated in the following ways:
  1. Admission offers are sent via email by the School of Nursing.
  2. Official admission decision e-letters from the Graduate Admissions Office are available on the application Status Check page.
• Acceptance by both the School of Nursing and the Office of Graduate Studies is necessary before enrollment is permitted.