Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education

This certificate is designed to offer registered nurses (RNs) a flexible option with multiple opportunities to engage with and further develop pedagogical knowledge and practical skills, and to develop teaching proficiency in academic, clinical and community settings. The duration of the program is one year (full-time) or two years (part-time) and includes two online theory courses and two practicum courses (usually in-person).

Students will discuss insights into the philosophical underpinnings of various pedagogical approaches and opportunities for operationalizing these approaches in dynamic teaching and learning environments. Participants will critically reflect on their own experiences and perspectives on teaching and learning, while working collaboratively with experienced field guides to apply theoretical content in a variety of practicum settings.

Please refer to the UVic Graduate Calendar for admission and program requirements. Please see below for the course sequencing for either full-time (2 courses per term) or part-time (1 course per term) studies.

Explore the courses you will take

Prepare for your practice education

Students in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education are required to take two practice courses - NUED 573 Nurse Educator Practice I and NUED 574 Nurse Educator Practice II .

Placements may include:

  • acute care, community, or residential clinical settings
  • undergraduate nursing, practical nursing, or health care attendant programs
  • nursing organizations with education mandates

Continuing with the same educator over the two practice experiences is beneficial. For example, you may work with an educator to develop or revise a course, staff education module, or best practice guidelines in NUED 573 that would be offered in the subsequent term. You would then be involved in teaching that course/module/guidelines in NUED 574.

Please see the NUED 573 and NUED 574 competencies.

Your practice experiences must be separate from paid employment. While you may work with a colleague in your institution, you must not select someone in a supervisory relationship.

The practica coordinator and student will begin practicum planning 5-6 months before the practice course. You may be required to travel outside your local community to complete practice experiences and must arrange your transportation and accommodation. Any costs related to nursing practice experiences are the individual student's responsibility.

Ideally, you will be preceptored by an advanced practice nurse who has attained a Master of Nursing. Occasionally, joint field guide situations are utilized to accommodate the need for meeting clinical, research, leadership, consultation, and collaboration competencies. 

One month before the start of your practicum, ensure you have met and submitted the necessary school of nursing practica requirements.

For questions, please contact our practica coordinators at nursprac@uvic.ca.

Read about the program objectives

  • To provide engagement with pedagogical knowledge to support teaching proficiency in academic, clinical and community settings
  • To offer opportunities to operationalize the pedagogical content in real life teaching and learning settings (academic, clinical and community)