Nurse Educator

The Nurse Educator concentration requires a minimum of 39 credit hours. Full and part-time programs of study are available. Classes are offered in a combination of live and online formats. Completion of this concentration prepares students to function in innovative ways as nurse educators. Students choosing the Nurse Educator focus will be able to:

Design methods of teaching, learning and evaluation for nursing education in the classroom, online, and nursing practice/clinical settings.
Analyze and develop plans of study in nursing based on appropriate curricular principles.
Integrate caring as a theoretical model into an educational framework.
Applicants are admitted into a specific MSN concentration. Students may not change into an NP concentration from a non-NP concentration. Upcoming admission deadlines are listed below.
Apply the role of nurse educator, demonstrating successful instructional methods in the classroom, online, and nursing practice/clinical settings.

At the completion of the program and after two years of experience as a nurse educator, graduates are eligible to sit for the National League for Nursing Nurse Educator Certification.

Students may only apply for one MSN concentration.
We offer the Nurse Educator concentration on the Boca Raton campus.
High salaries. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median level for nurse educator was $84,180 per year in 2022.
We admit twice a year during the Spring and Fall semesters. The deadline to apply for Spring admission is November 15th and the deadline to apply for Fall admission is July 1st.
Admissions decisions are made based upon the quality of the application and the number of available slots in the program desired.
Effective 2023, the GRE and MAT are not accepted for applicants who do not have a minimum GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Admission Criteria

Nurse Educator Concentration Admission Criteria

Bachelor’s in Nursing from a regionally accredited university and a CCNE or ACEN accredited nursing program.
Minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the final 60 baccalaureate-level course credits in the B.S.N. program.
Prerequisites: Basic Statistics course and Baccalaureate level Nursing Research course.
A copy of your CV/resume (Required Format for CV).
1 letter of recommendation (letter must have signature).
A copy of a Registered Nurse license (Florida or Compact).
Philosophy of Nursing Essay (Guidelines for Philosophy Essay).
A copy of your final conferred official academic transcript.

*A satisfactory state / federal criminal background check will be required ONLY for admitted students.

Application Process

We admit twice a year during the Spring and Fall semesters. The deadline to apply for Spring admission is November 15th and the deadline to apply for Fall admission is July 1st.
Admissions decisions are made based upon the quality of the application and the number of available slots in the program desired. Please read the following instructions carefully.
Complete the Florida Atlantic University GradCAS Application. Due to a high volume of applications and the time needed to receive and process transcripts and application fees, the application may take up to 2 weeks to complete. Costs of the application are the responsibility of the applicant.
GradCAS is the centralized application service for students applying to the nurse practitioner concentrations. You will submit your application, supplemental materials listed under admissions requirements, and request a letter of reference through GradCAS. All documents must be received in GradCAS by the published application deadline. Please note: You will request the letter of reference electronically in GradCAS. Be prepared with a reference name and current e-mail address. GradCAS requires their own set of official transcripts.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications with missing documents/transcripts are considered incomplete.
All admission requirements must be completed before the application deadline.
If you are unable to complete the requirements and submit all necessary supporting materials by the program application deadline, you are encouraged to apply for the next admission cycle for your program of interest.
Regulations governing admission to the graduate study in Nursing at FAU include those established by both the University and College of Nursing.

"All materials submitted in support of your application become the property of Florida Atlantic University. We cannot return materials or copies to applicants. Thank you for considering Florida Atlantic University for your graduate school needs."

Nurse Educator Admissions	Deadline
Fall Admission	July 1st
Spring Admission	November 15th

Incomplete GradCAS applications (with all admission documents) are not considered for admission.

Information sessions

Information Sessions

Click HERE to register for one of our offerings that suits your schedule.

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 4:00PM - 5:00PM
Thursday, January 8, 2026 4:00PM - 5:00PM

Curriculum

Nurse Educator Curriculum

Please see below the suggested course of study:

Estimated Cost Breakdown for NEDU Concentration

Instate (FL) tuition rate	$371.81 per credit hour
Out of State tuition rate	$1026.81 per credit hour
Credits needed to graduate	Minimum of 39 credits.
Total Estimated Tuition	Instate (FL) $12,270.06 / Out of State $33,884.73

*Cost per credit and total cost are calculated using tuition per credit and associated fees for the current academic year. It does not include course materials, textbook expenses, and other potential expenses related to individual courses.

Sample Careers

Clinical Nurse Educator
Nursing Instructor
Nursing Curriculum Coordinator
Simulation Nurse Educator
Director of Nursing Professional Development
Continuing Education Coordinator
Clinical Practice and Education Specialist
Nursing Consultant
Education Specialist
Nursing Professional Development Specialist
Patient Education Coordinator

Second MSN Degree Option

Applicants that have a Master’s degree in concentrations such as Education, or Administration requiring 30 credits or more to complete required courses in a NP concentration should consider applying for a second Master’s degree. Second MSN degree applicants should complete the application process (via GradCAS) by the Feb 15th annual deadline to be considered as part of the Fall NP entry admission cohort. A minimum of 30 credit hours is required to earn a second MSN degree from FAU.
Once accepted, a gap analysis will be completed to determine each student’s plan of study. Based upon the gap analysis Second MSN applicants may be considered for a fall or spring admission and are accepted on a space-available basis. Students must provide syllabi and/or course descriptions from other institutions for all transfer courses. Fall or spring admission may be considered.

FAQ

Does the MSN program require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogy Test (MAT)?
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores or Miller Analogy Test (MAT) are not required. Effective 2023, the GRE and MAT are not accepted for applicants who do not have a minimum GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Is clinical experience required prior to applying to the program?
No, clinical experience is not a minimum admission requirement.

Is there a full-time option for the MSN program NEDU concentration?
Yes, this concentration can be pursued on a part-time or full-time basis.

Is there a fully on-line option for the MSN program NEDU concentration?
No, the curriculum is hybrid, a mixture of on-line and in person courses.

Are students responsible for securing their own clinical sites / preceptors?
No, we will find a clinical site and preceptor for you, however please note that all of our clinical sites are located in South Florida only (Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties).

Can MSN students work full time while enrolled in this concentration?
Many of our students work full-time or part-time while matriculating through the program, however, sometimes students may make adjustments to their work schedules once they are enrolled in practicum courses.

How can I improve my application?
In general, Graduate Program Applications can be improved by paying close attention to:

Writing ability
Resume
Experience in nursing relevant to the desired concentration
Evidence of contributions to the profession, leadership experiences, and/or participation in professional organizations
National Certification
Community service activities/Leadership