Master’s in Nursing (MSN): By completing a Master’s of Science in nursing (MSN), students gain the necessary advanced degree credits to qualify as an APRN. Students looking to complete their MSN may consider an online program to fit their schedule, especially if they are working in the field or want to fast-track their program.
Nurse Educator
If you have a passion for teaching and a background in nursing, you may find a fulfilling career helping educate the next generation of nurses. Before you become a nurse educator, it may be important to understand some common educational steps to take, the expected salary and job placement outcomes, how to get certified and what the role encompasses. With all of this information, you may then be able to gauge your long-term interest in a career as a nursing educator.
How to Become a Nurse Educator
The following common steps may be taken to become a nurse educator:
1. Become a registered nurse
To pursue a career as a nurse educator, you may be required to complete an accredited program in registered nursing. Following completion, you will need to reach out to your state board to take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. It’s important to have hands-on nursing experience before becoming a nurse educator, as some certifying bodies require experience up to two years.
2. Pursue an advanced degree in nursing
A nurse educator is a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with specialized training and advanced degrees. Other types of APRNs include nurse midwives, women’s health nurse practitioners, nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists. After becoming a registered nurse (RN), those interested in teaching nursing should consider pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited institution. They may also want to find a program with flexible learning options, especially if they are already employed in the health industry. For those who want to teach at a university, a doctoral degree is often required.
3. Gain real-world experience as a nurse educator
After becoming an RN and graduating from a master’s program in nurse education, it’s important to pursue real-world experience in the field. This will help build your resume and set you up for future certification eligibility.
4. Get certified
The National League of Nurses (NLN) offers two certification designations for nurse educators: Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) and Certified Clinical Academic Nurse Educator (CNE®cl). Though neither is required to practice, both offer a competitive edge for nurses.
5. Complete continuing education requirements
Different states have different requirements, however, some states may require continuing education classes every two years.
Pathways to Becoming a Nurse Educator
While the steps above are a general description of a career trajectory, everyone’s individual path may vary. For instance, you may go from a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) into a doctoral program. Next, we’ll explore a few common pathways to becoming a nurse educator.
RN to MSN: An RN to MSN program enables students to specialize in a field of choice, including nurse education. Most programs require at least an associate degree in nursing, and some may favor a bachelor’s degree. Most accredited programs require an active RN license. A number of RN to MSN online programs exist to help students further specialize their nursing careers.
Post-Grad Certificate: Students can earn a postgraduate certificate from an accredited academic institution in an area related to nursing education or a separate specialization. Most programs will conduct a gap analysis to help students determine what classes to take. An advanced degree (master’s or doctoral) is the prerequisite for a post-grad certificate program. A post-grad certificate in nursing education from an accredited organization may help students prepare for a CNE or CNE®cl certificate.
Doctor of Nursing: A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the highest degree awarded in the nursing field. Students interested in pursuing this track need to have an active registered nurse license. In most cases, except for when they pursue a BSN-to-DNP accelerated program, they should also have a master’s of science in nursing. A DNP program to fit their schedule, especially if they are working in the field or want to fast-track their program.
BSN to DNP: The explicit benefit of a BSN-to-DNP program is that you don’t have to spend time or resources getting a master’s degree. Many programs will award you with a master’s degree as part of earning your DNP. As such, a BSN-to-DNP track can save a student money because they don’t have to invest in their master’s degree.
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What is a Nurse Educator?
Nurse educators bridge the gap between nursing school and clinical practice. Nurse educators draw directly on their nursing experience to teach the next generation of nurses. Nurse educators will have general nursing knowledge, but they may specialize in one or two areas, such as geriatric care. They may also focus on a certain level of education, for instance, entry-level nursing courses or more advanced doctoral programs.
Unlike other APRNs, such as nurse practitioners or nurse midwives, who work directly with patients, a nurse educator’s main focus is teaching about the field of nursing. They may oversee students as they work with patients or see their own patients on a limited basis when not teaching.
Nurse educators design and implement teaching plans, oversee research, lab and clinical work, lecture and supervise internships.
Should I Become a Nurse Educator?
Nurse educators possess a theoretical background in nursing and hands-on knowledge of administering care. Nurse educators exhibit the essential skills of communication to get others to understand their direction, research to advance the field of nursing and mentoring to support future nurses.
The demand for nurse educators is expected to rise. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, undergraduate and graduate nursing programs turned away 65,766 qualified applicants for the 2023-2024 school year, due in part to an insufficient number of faculty available to teach. A 2023 survey found that the main barrier to hiring nurse educators was a shortage of doctoral-prepared nurses.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 32,500 new NP positions will open each year from 2024 to 2034.
Salary
In general, APRNs, including nurse educators, have higher earning potential than registered nurses, due in part to their investment in advanced education. The mean annual wage for nursing instructors and postsecondary teachers was $87,090 in May 2024, the BLS reports. The following table shows the states with the highest-paid nursing instructors and postsecondary teachers.
| State | Salary |
|---|---|
Oregon | $109,570 |
District of Columbia | $107,570 |
Texas | $104,640 |
California | $101,770 |
New Jersey | $99,990 |
Roles and Responsibilities
Nurse educators design and implement curricula for nursing students. While they may have a small hands-on client caseload, in general, their expertise lends itself best to the classroom or to overseeing students’ clinical work. They lecture on various nursing topics, put together presentations for students, advise on internships, educational pathways and job opportunities, assist with research projects, and mentor students. They act as a bridge between nursing practice in a clinical setting and its theory.
Nurse Educator Certifications
Information on the certifications below for nurse educators was last retrieved in October 2025. Be sure to check the organization’s requirements for the most up-to-date information on eligibility.
The National League for Nurses: Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®)
Eligibility requirements:
Option 1:
- A valid license/certificate as an active, practicing nurse in one’s country of residence
- An advanced degree in nursing (master’s or doctoral) with an emphasis on nursing education -OR- an advanced degree in nursing (master’s or doctoral) with a certificate in nursing education -OR- an advanced degree in nursing (master’s or doctoral) with at least nine credit hours of graduate-level education classes
Option 2:
- A valid license/certificate as an active, practicing nurse in one’s country of residence
- An advanced degree in nursing (master’s or doctoral) with an emphasis in an area other than nursing education
- Two years of academic teaching experience (valid within five years)
Fees:
- NLN member: $425
- Nonmember: $525
Renewal:
CNE® certificates must be renewed every five years. The start date is the day the certificate is awarded, and the end date is the last day of the fifth year.
Renewal fees:
- NLN member: $350
- Nonmember: $450
National League for Nurses: Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE®cl)
Eligibility requirements:
Option 1:
- A valid license/certificate as an active, practicing nurse in one’s country of residence
- A graduate degree in a nursing-related field
- Three years of professional practice in any area of nursing
Option 2:
- A valid license/certificate as an active, practicing nurse in one’s country of residence
- A bachelor’s degree in nursing (or higher)
- Three years of professional practice in any area of nursing
- Two years of academic teaching experience (valid within five years)
Fees:
- NLN member: $350
- Nonmember: $450
Nurse Educator Resources
- National League of Nurses: The National League of Nurses (NLN) offers demographic information about nurse educators, research objectives, information about certification, professional development, upcoming conferences and job outlooks.
- National League of Nurses: Chamberlain University College of Nursing Center for the Advancement of the Science of Nursing Education
National League of Nurses: Center for Innovation in Education Excellence: The Center focuses on innovation in teaching environments, with an emphasis on online education and meeting the needs of modern students.
Related Nursing Careers
While a variety of advanced specialties exist in the nursing field, each has its own function and educational requirements.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA): To become a certified registered nurse anesthetist, a person must undergo advanced, specialized nursing training to be able to administer care in a variety of settings from dental offices to hospitals to pain clinics. CRNAs are responsible for administering local and general anesthesia, sedating patients and giving spinal, peripheral and epidural nerve blocks. They often work with a care team before and after surgery.
- Nurse Executive: To become a nurse executive, you must complete an advanced degree in nursing and become a registered nurse. This leadership position is responsible for organizing care teams, being a patient advocate and a liaison across multiple departments. Like nurse educators, they further the field of nursing but rarely work directly with students.
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM): To become a certified nurse midwife (CNM), you must undergo substantial specialized training in women’s health and complete an on-campus or online CNM program. A CNM is a type of APRN who works primarily with pregnant women on labor, delivery and postnatal care.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): To become a certified nurse specialist (CNS), you must choose an area of focus to become your specialty. These nurses meet all the basic nursing requirements of a registered nurse and then pursue an advanced degree and certifications in a specialized field, such as gerontology. They are seen as experts in that subject and consult other medical professionals, provide direct care, interpret research, and focus on results to improve patient outcomes.
- Nurse Practitioner: To become a nurse practitioner, you must complete an on-campus or online nurse practitioner program. While nurse practitioners pursue some of the same advanced education as nurse educators, the primary difference between the two specialties lies in a nurse practitioner’s routine patient care. They advise and implement a patient’s overall healthcare plan.
FAQs
How long does it take to become a nurse educator?
The amount of time it takes to become a nurse educator depends on your specific track. In general, it takes about two years to become a registered nurse. An MSN degree can take another two years and a DNP can take two to three years on top of that. An accelerated BSN-to-DNP program can take five years. Times will differ depending on full-time or part-time status.
What does a nurse educator do?
A nurse educator has the unique role of helping the next generation of nursing students. They design and implement the curriculum to provide students with theoretical knowledge of nursing. They also oversee hands-on clinical experience. Because they are also registered nurses, they bring a unique perspective from direct experience in the role. Student mentoring, course/curriculum design, research advising, and lecturing are all well within the nurse educator’s scope of practice.
Where does a nurse educator work?
Nurse educators work in academic, hospital, and other healthcare settings. In an academic setting, nurse educators teach the theory and practice of nursing to both graduate and undergraduate students. They may give lectures in person or online. Nurse educators also oversee nursing students in clinical settings, including hospitals and other health facilities.
What makes a good nurse educator?
Nurse educators typically have exceptional communication skills because they need to make complex topics accessible to a range of stakeholders, from entry-level nursing students to advanced nursing students working directly with patients. Their direction needs to be clear. Nurse educators are excellent researchers who can design curricula and lecture on a variety of nursing subjects. Nurse educators help mentor a new generation of nurses and, as such, typically exhibit advising skills and offer practical guidance on internships, education pathways, and job opportunities.
What is the difference between a nurse educator and a nurse administrator?
Nurse administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of nursing, including assembling nursing teams, reviewing budgets, and supervising nursing staff. They may assign nurse educators to a team as needed, but they don’t take on teaching positions unless they are leading a specialized workshop on nursing administration. Like nurse educators, nurse administrators rarely take on direct patient care.
Information on this page was updated in October 2025.