Candidates must be licensed at the Registered Nurse (RN) level or higher. The necessary education to obtain state RN licensure is offered in both an associate and bachelor's degree curriculum, which can be completed with full-time attendance in two to four years.
A combination of work experience and any type of master's degree is required for CNE designation. Those who hold a master's degree with a focus in nursing education must have at least two years of experience working in a full-time faculty role within the five years preceding the application. Those who have a master's degree not in the nursing or nursing educator scope must have an additional two years' full-time teaching work experience to qualify to sit for the CNE designation test. This type of program is available online and in an on-campus format.
Under section 811(b) of the federal Nurse Reinvestment Act, those who plan to teach at a school of nursing following graduation can receive loan repayment assistance from the government and school for their advanced education for nurses degree program study.
Applicants who apply for CNE designation with a master's degree in nursing education are required to have a minimum of nine credit hours in non-statistic, education-specific courses. Completion of these courses prepares students for the day-to-day career tasks of a nurse teacher. Some acceptable courses include developing and evaluating a curriculum, adult learning principles, teaching and learning principles, student assessment and evaluation and instructional design or technology.
A doctoral degree in nursing can yield higher salaries and greater job opportunities for nurse educators. According to the Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow website, nurse educators with a Ph.D. have a starting salary $11,000 greater than their master's-level counterparts. A post-graduate degree is usually a requirement to earn tenure as an educator in a college setting.