There is an increasing demand for teachers who are capable of preparing nurses and consumers for a radically different and ever-changing health-care environment. Alternative ways of meeting student and health-care consumers' needs for education, besides face-to-face instruction, are vital to the delivery of cost-effective nursing education and health care. Teachers in nursing who have clinical expertise are needed to educate diverse populations of learners who live, work, and play in a wide variety of settings.

This certificate program is designed as a post-baccalaureate option for nurses who teach in diverse settings. Nurses who want to work in staff development, patient/family education, academic nursing education, or in any setting where teaching and learning takes place, will find these courses helpful. Courses are offered with flexible scheduling and some online availability to make it easy to enroll if students are employed part- or full-time.

The program provides an understanding of the processes of teaching and learning, the factors that influence teaching and learning in nursing, and the current and futuristic roles of teachers in nursing.

The goals of this program are to:

• Prepare individuals with knowledge, attitudes, and skills in teaching diverse populations (individuals and groups) in a variety of settings,
• Prepare future teachers of nurses and health-care consumers who know how to help others "learn how to learn" in a rapidly changing health-care delivery environment, and
• Provide individuals with a foundation for role development in the area of nursing education.

Graduates of this certificate program will be expected to:

• Develop educational programs in response to the learning needs of health professionals and health-care consumers,
• Assess, implement, and evaluate clinical and non-clinical educational offerings, and
• Collaborate with others in the development of programs that are responsive to the changing educational needs of the times.

Admission:

The courses within this program are open to nurses who have a baccalaureate degree in nursing or with permission of the instructor. Program certificate requirements include completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours of course work, 12 of which are specified courses taken at UAB in the School of Nursing, and a three-credit-hour elective course approved by the Coordinator of the Certificate Program. All course work for the Teaching in Nursing Certificate must be completed within four years.

Admission Requirements:

1. Earned baccalaureate degree in nursing or permission of instructor.  (Official transcript showing date bachelor’s degree was awarded is required.)

2. Licensure as a registered nurse in the state in which you practice.

3. Three personal reference forms (forms attached).

4. Personal interview with Coordinator of the appropriate Nursing Certificate option.

PLEASE NOTE:    Although not an admission requirement, OSHA training on Bloodborne Pathogens and TB Occupational Health, hepatitis B vaccination, CPR certification, and current RN licensure in the state in which the student will engage in clinical practice are required prior to enrolling in the teaching practicum course at the UAB School of Nursing.  (See attached information)

Also, medical clearance is required prior to registration. (download form at http://main.uab.edu/Sites/students/student-health-services/ )

Application Form                 Click here: Certificate Application

Key Concepts:

• Students may enroll in individual courses without completing the entire certificate program.
• Individual courses may be taken for academic credit and utilized to meet elective course requirements in the graduate program of studies at the UAB School of Nursing. Courses may transfer to other graduate programs, but to obtain the certificate in Teaching in Nursing, the learner must complete 15 credit hours, which includes 12 credits (four courses) specified below, plus three credits (elective) approved by the coordinator of the certificate program.

Upon completion of the required courses, students must notify the coordinator of the certificate program that she/he has successfully completed 15 credits toward a certificate in Teacher in Nursing. Verification of the completion of the work will be done by the Office of Student Affairs in conjunction with the coordinator of the Teacher in Nursing Certificate program. The courses will be noted on the student's academic transcript, and the UAB School of Nursing will award a certificate verifying completion of program requirements.