How to Become a Nurse Educator

Step 1: Learn the Difference Between Clinical & Academic Nurse Educators

While very similar in scope, there are two main types of nurse educators: the Clinical Nurse Educator and the Academic Nurse Educator. The main difference between the two is where and how they deliver nursing education. Take a moment to think about where you want to work and what you want to teach. These considerations can help you determine what type of nurse educator pathway to pursue. Take a look at the specifics of each type below to learn more.

What Is a Clinical Nurse Educator?

One of the options for your education is to pursue a clinical nurse educator degree. This path allows you to work in healthcare facilities. You will use your knowledge and experience in the field to help support the needs of those who are learning. Clinical nurse educators tend to have very strong leadership skills and hands-on organizational skills. Typically, a clinical nursing educator facilitates the learning process within a clinical setting. They also will prepare for an academic program in nursing education.

What Is an Academic Nurse Educator?

An academic nurse educator is a professional who works at the highest level of educating nursing students. They typically work in nursing schools, community colleges, and sometimes in technical schools that offer nursing programs. These professionals typically teach professional clinical skills as well as best collaboration practices and patient care methods. They tend to have more responsibilities than a clinical nurse educator and may contribute to hospital research.

Clinical Nurse Educator vs. Academic Nurse Educator

Step 2: Find an Accredited Traditional or Online Nurse Educator Program

Once you have an idea of what type of work you wish to do, you will need to find the best online nurse education program for you. You can choose a traditional nurse educator program, which often means seeking out local colleges or universities. Online nurse educator programs can provide additional opportunities to study at a broader range of educational facilities.

First, start with finding an accredited program. There are several accrediting agencies; the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) are two trusted organizations that accredit nursing degree programs. Any program you consider should be accredited to ensure you are receiving the highest level of education possible. Choosing an unaccredited program could affect your licensing and certification chances and severely limit your job opportunities.

There are several nurse educator degree levels available, depending on what the student’s prior education is like and what type of career they are looking for. These are all found at the master’s and doctoral levels – in most cases, nurses will need to have already completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and hold an active RN license. Click on each button to learn more about the individual nurse educator degree types:

Next, choose the type of learning environment. You have several options:

• Traditional education: In this program, you will visit the school you select for your courses in person. You may spend most of your time on campus. Though master's degrees for nursing educator programs do not always require full-time education, traditional educational nursing education programs still require on-site education. Traditional education tends to be ideal for those who benefit from hands-on, in-person learning and who have time to dedicate to the educational process along the school's schedule.
• Online education: Online nurse educator programs allow you to complete your education from home, which may provide more flexibility in when you take courses, how many courses you take at one time, and your overall learning process. Online programs tend to be more affordable because they do not require room and board. However, not everyone does well when having to stay motivated and learn on their own.
• Hybrid education: For many nurse educator degrees, this is the likely path. It allows students to complete much of their education online but then allows them to complete labs, clinical work, and internships in person. This provides a more flexible educational process but does require some level of in-person education.

Nurse Educator Prerequisites

To enroll in a nurse educator degree program, students typically need to meet the following requirements:

• To enter a master's degree program, having a BSN is necessary. If you wish to pursue a doctoral degree, you'll likely need an MSN.
• An active RN license
• Work experience as a nurse (typically at least two years)
• Professional letters of recommendation
• GPA requirements (usually 3.0 or higher)
• Resume or CV with documented experience
• Transcripts of previous education

Step 3: Get Licensed and Certified as a Nurse Educator

To work as a nurse educator, you’ll first need to become a licensed registered nurse (RN), which means meeting the qualification within your state to hold an RN license. If you do not already have your RN license, you'll need to start on the path to earning your undergraduate nursing degree (ADN or BSN) and then sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). From there, students typically need to complete the following in order to become a Nurse Educator:

• Have at least a master's degree (MSN) in nursing education or a master's degree with a post-master’s nursing education certificate. Doctoral nurse educator degrees are also eligible.
• Complete the Certification for Nursing Educator (CNE) exam through the National League for Nursing