$500 Priority Submission Scholarship
New students who submit their completed application by Monday, December 23, 2024, will receive a $500 scholarship toward their first course starting in January 2025 (Spring 1). Apply now.
Post-MSN Certificate in Nursing Education
Support Your Community. Train the Next Generation of Nurses
With a focus on pedagogical excellence and curriculum development for clinical, classroom and online settings, Merrimack’s Post-MSN Certificate in Nursing Education prepares nursing professionals who already have earned an MSN to lead in educating the next generation of skilled and compassionate healthcare workers. Graduates of the program will have completed the education eligibility requirement for the National League of Nursing’s Certification for Nurse Educators (CNE) exam.
Quick facts:
- Affordable $10,800 tuition.
- Graduates meet the educational requirements to prepare for the National League of Nursing’s Certification for Nurse Educators (CNE) exam.
- Earn your certificate in as few as five months.
- Receive personalized support from faculty and staff.
- Scholarships available.
- 100 percent online asynchronous coursework.
Learn more about Merrimack’s Post-MSN Certificate.
Gain access to a program brochure, connect with an enrollment advisor and get a head start on your application.
Educate and Inspire in a Critical Field
Nationally, there is a longstanding shortage of nurse educators and a distinct shortage of nurse educators in acute care. Healthcare systems seek well-rounded nursing professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the industry and the skills to expand the nursing workforce through teaching and training.
Clinical Nurse Educator
$100,536
Average annual salary
Professor, Nursing
$96,209
Average annual salary
Nurse Educator
$96,164
Average annual salary
Sources: Glassdoor, 2024
Post-MSN Certificate in Nursing Education Coursework
Coursework is offered 100 percent online in an asynchronous format and covers topics such as simulation-based learning and scenario design, curriculum development and assessing student learning.
Coursework (18 credits)
This course provides nurses with the knowledge and skills to develop, implement and evaluate effective nursing curricula. Students explore the theoretical foundations of curriculum development, including educational philosophies, learning theories and instructional design principles. They also study the curriculum design process — from needs assessment to outcome development and evaluation.
This course equips nurses with the knowledge, skills and tools to integrate simulation into their teaching practices effectively. Students explore the theoretical underpinnings of simulation-based learning, learn practical strategies for designing and implementing effective simulation scenarios and develop skills in facilitating debriefing sessions to maximize learning outcomes.
This foundational practicum provides nurses with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills to the role of nurse educator. The course offers a supervised and guided experience in various educational settings, allowing students to develop and refine their teaching abilities (65 hours of experiential learning application and 35 hours of indirect care application are required).
This practicum experience offers nurses the opportunity to continue to apply their knowledge in a teaching and learning environment. Building on the foundational knowledge acquired in Nurse Educator Practicum I, this course emphasizes further development of advanced teaching strategies, assessment and evaluation techniques and curriculum development principles (65 hours of experiential learning application and 385 hours of indirect care application are required).
Faculty Spotlight
Karen V. Duhamel, DNP, MSHCE, RN, CNE
Associate Clinical Professor & MSN Program Director
Karen V. Duhamel is an associate professor of nursing and program director for the graduate nursing program at Merrimack College. Her teaching focuses on nursing education for MSN-prepared students and behavioral health nursing for clinical specialty. Duhamel has taught courses on topics such as curriculum development and evaluation, theories of adult learning and nurse educator role development, innovative teaching strategies for nurse educators and social justice and legislative policy issues relevant to professional nurses.
Duhamel earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a concentration in healthcare systems leadership. Her research interests include screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) on college campuses; fostering student creativity in graduate-level nursing education and later in life; and biopsychosocial and cultural influences for living a successful life.
Tuition and Financial Aid
$600
per credit*
18
credits
$10,800
tuition
*Tuition based on 2024-2025 academic year. Tuition and fees are subject to change annually. Additional program fees may apply.
Scholarships
Merrimack offers scholarships and discounts to nurses employed by partner healthcare systems. Contact us to see if your employer is an official partner with Merrimack’s online programs.
Employer Tuition Assistance
Merrimack accepts employer financial/tuition assistance. Contact your employer to learn more about their policies regarding tuition assistance or reimbursement.
Key Dates and Deadlines
This program enrolls three times a year.
It’s Easy to Apply Online
A complete application includes:
- Online application (no fee).
- Official college transcripts from all institutions attended.
- Resume or LinkedIn profile.
- 500-word personal statement.
- One letter of recommendation.
Program requirements
- Active/unencumbered RN license in any U.S. state.
- Master’s degree in nursing (MSN or Direct-Entry MSN) with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- College-level statistics course.
GRE and GMAT scores are not required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students in the Post-MSN Certificate in Nursing Education program are required to complete 18 credit hours. Students typically earn their certificate in as few as five months. Your completion time may vary depending on the number of credits you take each semester.
Yes. Students have a variety of options to fund their education. Request more information, and an enrollment advisor will contact you to answer your questions.
Connecting with an enrollment advisor will help you:
- Understand the program admissions criteria and know whether you are eligible to apply.
- Gain insight into application best practices and how to submit a strong application.
- Know what to expect in your online classroom, including the level of faculty interaction, program outcomes and more.
- Have an immediate line of support for questions.
Merrimack College
Accolades and Accreditation
At Merrimack College, we’re proud of our long history of providing quality degrees to students entering the job market. Our faculty are more than just teachers. We are committed to helping you grow — academically, personally and spiritually — so that you may graduate as a confident, well-prepared citizen of the world.
U.S. News & World Report | Best Regional Universities North (2024)
- Most Innovative Schools (No. 14)
- Regional Universities North (No. 33)
- Best Undergraduate Teaching (No. 31)
- Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (No. 86)
(at schools where doctorate not offered) - Best Colleges for Veterans (No. 14)
- Best Value Schools (No. 47)
NECHE-Accredited
- Merrimack College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Tell me more about Merrimack’s online programs.