Level Up Your Nursing Career: From Practitioner to Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)

Are you thinking about becoming a Certified Nurse Educator? 

Great idea! Becoming a Nurse Educator allows you to share your experience and knowledge with the next generation of nurses. Helping them develop the skills and building the confidence they need to succeed in the real world and the challenges that come with it.

From Nurse Practitioner to Nurse Educator: Steps to Achieve Competency

Embark on the rewarding journey to becoming a Certified Nurse Educator using these tips from Dr. Sellars Educate!

1: Gain Experience

Some nursing programs may require at least two years of work experience. So it is crucial that you acquire experience as a Nurse Practitioner first. Whether it be at a hospital or in a community setting, more experience under your belt will be beneficial in the long run. This will not only enhance your skills and knowledge but also provide you with real life examples to give to your future students.

2: Advanced Education (optional)

As a Nurse Practitioner, you are already halfway there to becoming a CNE! Having already acquired a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) you can start preparing for the exam. You can also choose to seek out a PhD in Nursing, though it is not a requirement for the CNE exam. It is all up to you, and what you think is best at this time in your professional career!

3: Exam Preparation

Once you have the experience or required education, you can begin to prepare for the exam. Passing the CNE exam is a critical part of your journey. After years of education, practical, and hands on experience, you're almost at the finish line. Your success on the exam depends on how well you prepare for it. It’s important that you take your time to effectively prepare and not rush the process. Take the first step to explore a key competency, Facilitate Learning, about the role of the Nurse Educator to support the learning process. And as you study it is crucial to keep the National League for Nursing (NLN),  8 core competencies for Nurse Educators in mind.

Useful study methods include:

• Reviewing the test blueprint on the NLN website

• Reviewing NLN Core Competencies

• Enrolling in CNE Exam Review courses

• Creating a Study Schedule and staying consistent

• Joining a Study Group

• Review Thought-Provoking Questions

4: Exam Day

The final step of this journey is taking the exam. The passing rate reported by NLN in 2023 was only 64%. Make sure to get good rest the night before, so you can take it head-on. 

Join Us!

Dr. Sellars Educate offers a plethora of programs to help you prepare and pass the CNE Exam. 

Take advantage of resources such as Monthly Bootcamps, Live Masterclasses, Study Workbooks, and more!