Nursing
Post-Graduate Certificate
Online Program
- Next Start Dates
- July 07, 2025
- October 06, 2025
Your Path to Post-Graduate Certificate Education
Lead the way for improved patient care and nurse collaboration with a Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate. Nurses are now able to expand their skills without being required to complete an additional degree. That means Master of Science (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree holders can focus on the courses in their desired specialization.
Program Details:
A combination of online courses and local clinicals provide the advanced experience critical in today’s nursing environment. Our online courses are not only flexible, but are also designed with Empowered Learning®, allowing you to:
- Manage your own pace with no weekly deadlines
- Learn through real-world projects
- Stay connected with faculty and peers
Springboard from your current MSN or DNP degree to a Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate that fits your goals.
Currently, this program is not eligible for participation in Title IV federal student aid programs. This program is not available in all states.
On this page:
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates
You can help shape the future of nursing with your choice of specialization. Your clinicals allow you to dive right into your new specialty, often with field experience in your current workplace or community.
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Nursing Leadership and Administration
You Bring
- An interest in leadership and the business side of nursing
- A passion for clinical excellence, innovative nursing practices and improved patient care
- Readiness to impact management and policy discussions
You'll Study
- Nursing leadership
- Administration and interdisciplinary collaboration
- Human resources/performance management
- Finances
Career Paths
- Chief nursing officer
- Director of nursing
- Nurse manager
- Nurse administrator
- Nurse executive
- Nurse compliance inspector
- Case manager
Specialization Courses
- Advanced Nursing Leadership // NGR 6801
- Focus on the abilities, strategies and decision-making skills that guide advanced nursing leadership.
- Meaningful Communication and Collaboration // NGR 6250
- Emphasize the importance of effective communication and building relationships to help facilitate leadership.
- The Business Side of Nursing // NGR 6100
- Provide the tools to evaluate healthcare economics as an essential part of nursing leadership development.
- Leadership and Management in Advanced Nursing Practice // NGR 6117
- Utilize newly-developed leadership knowledge and skills at an advanced nursing practice level in an indirect-care practicum.
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Nursing Education
You Bring
- A passion to train and educate current and future nurses for a role in hospital or academic settings
- A desire to assist in the career growth of current and future nurses, and help address nursing shortages
You'll Study
- Nursing leadership within an educational setting
- How to build pathways to create transformational learning
- Effective curriculum design
- Creative teaching strategies
Career Paths
- Director of education
- Nursing faculty
- Academic leadership
- Staff development leader in healthcare organizations
Specialization Courses
- The Role of the Nurse Educator // NGR 6701
- Learn the essential foundations of the nurse educator role and how to foster a positive learning environment.
- Curriculum Design and Program Evaluation // NGR 6300
- Analyze how to build a successful curriculum, evaluate programs, and align with evidence-based nursing education strategies and national guidelines.
- Nursing Education in the Classroom // NGR 6050
- Implement strategies to improve levels of achievement, with a practicum focusing on the role of the nurse educator and applying creative teaching strategies.
- Nursing Education in the Clinical Setting // NGR 6150
- Focus on the role of a clinical nurse educator, with a practicum centered on teaching strategies in a clinical environment.
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Healthcare Technology, Simulation and Informatics
You Bring
- A passion to transform healthcare through innovation
- A desire to improve quality care via better preparation
- A belief that data, simulation and technology innovation can grow nursing best practices and patient interactions
You'll Study
- The use of simulation in healthcare and nursing education
- Evolving opportunities in nursing informatics, where data and technology are leveraged to drive desired outcomes
- The latest and emerging healthcare-advancing technologies
Career Paths
- Chief nursing informatics officer
- Director of clinical Informatics
- Clinical analyst
- Nursing/clinical informatics specialist
- Clinical educator
- Simulation education specialist
- Simulation coordinator or technologist
- Director of innovation
- Innovation specialist
Specialization Courses
- Healthcare Technology // NGR 6820
- Examine the use of current health technology and consider the direction of future innovation.
- Simulation in Healthcare // NGR 6716
- Review best practices for simulation-based education (SBE), with the opportunity to design components of simulation experiences and operations.
- Informatics in Advanced Nursing Practice // NGR 6870
- Learn the foundations of nursing informatics, including standards of professional practice and use of evidence and theories specific to informatics.
- Integrating Technology // NGR 6840
- Show your skills in an indirect-care practicum experience. Take part in analyzing internal and external evidence, and provide solutions to real problems.
"Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates are great options for nurses that already have an MSN and are looking to expand their expertise in a new specialized field. The certificate can be accomplished in a relatively short time frame, focusing solely on those courses that are relevant to one’s area of interest."
Sheri Hartman, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC
Assistant Vice President of Nursing Systems
Built for Working Nurses
You can continue working while you earn your Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate. Check in on your smartphone and complete tasks on your tablet or laptop. With two start dates per year, you can start when it works for you.
Learning on Your Schedule
Online Empowered Learning courses allow you to learn by doing and manage your pace. Go faster when you can, and slower when you need to with no weekly deadlines.
Support at Every Turn
From 24/7 tech support, experienced faculty, graduate services advisors and career services to library and learning services with over 400,000 ebooks and electronic reference materials, we’re dedicated to a robust learning community.
Take the Next Step—Talk to Us!
Your Nursing Career Path
With the many Nursing programs at Rasmussen University, you can easily move from one level to the next, saving you time and money. In order to enroll for your Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate, you’ll need your MSN or DNP degree. If you don’t have one yet, let us help you get started.
-
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate
Next step if:
You want to pursue a new area of interest, increase your mobility between specialties and take your next step as a nursing leader.
Choose the specialization that best aligns with your interests and career goals:
- Nursing Leadership and Administration
- Nursing Education
- Healthcare Technology, Simulation and Informatics
Finish in as few as:
6 months1
Career Opportunities:
- Director of Nursing
- Director of Education
- Clinical Nursing Informatics Officer
- Chief Nursing Officer
Tuition & Savings
Do the Math:
We are committed to providing affordable tuition. Let’s break down the numbers so that you can see that your goals are achievable. With four start dates per year and a total of four courses, full-time students can finish their Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate in as few as six months1 for around $5,500.2
$276 cost per credit
x 16 total credits
_______________________
$4,416 total tuition
+ $1,095 total fees
(Nursing Education specialization has $1,290 in total fees)
_______________________
$5,511 estimated total program cost
(Nursing Education specialization has an estimated total program cost of $5,706)
The Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates are currently NOT eligible for participation in Title IV federal aid programs.
Other Ways to Save
Higher education should be a manageable investment. Talk to an admissions representative and learn how our online Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates can be more affordable. Military grants are available for those who quality. Your employer may also provide tuition support or reimbursement to help you fund your education.
Entrance Requirements
Students must hold an MSN or DNP from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher, possess a current unencumbered RN license that is valid in the United States and provide two professional letters of reference. This program is not available to residents of all states. Please speak with an admissions representative to determine your eligibility for enrollment. A cleared background check will be required for participation at practicum sites.
Talk to an Admissions Representative
What Should I Know Before I Enroll?
Help Paying for College
You’re not alone figuring out how to pay for college. Our admissions representative can help you find ways to save through scholarships and more.
Support at Every Turn
You’ll find the support you need to grow as a nurse from mentors and faculty in this program. Our library services, academic support and career planning teams are ready to help.
Dedicated Career Services
Job-search strategies, resume building, interview practice and employer networking—online and available anytime.
Where Can I Find a Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Near Me?
Our Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates are offered to residents in many states, but not all. Request more information to see if this program is available in your state.
- Online
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Florida
Florida Campuses
This is an online program, but students can enroll at one of these campuses.
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Kansas
Kansas Campuses
This is an online program, but students can enroll at one of these campuses.
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Minnesota
Minnesota Campuses
This is an online program, but students can enroll at one of these campuses.
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North Dakota
North Dakota Campuses
This is an online program, but students can enroll at one of these campuses.
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Wisconsin
Wisconsin Campuses
This is an online program, but students can enroll at one of these campuses.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The post-graduate APRN certificate program at Rasmussen University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street, NW
Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202-887-6791