Nurse Leader Certificate (Post-Master’s)

Program Location	Distance Education/Online
Program Credits	18 Credits
Program Length	3 Trimesters, 48 Instructional Weeks
Time to Complete	12 Months

_{WCU distance education programs may not be available to residents in all states.} 

_{Clinical Hour Requirement:  this track requires a total of 135 precepted clinical hours.}

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes: 29-1141.00, 25-1072.00, 11-9111.00, 15-1121.01

The West Coast University accredited online Post-Master's Nurse Leader Certificate prepares students to take a leadership role in health care organizations through these times of constant change and innovation, which demands highly qualified leaders with a well-rounded understanding of clinical, managerial, and business concepts. Students will learn the theories and concepts of leadership models, strategic planning and financial management, and will have opportunities to collaborate with other health care disciplines. The program prepares the nurse leader to lead processes and teams, and apply analytical and problem-solving skills on a daily basis to enhance the quality of patient care outcomes in a variety of settings.

Completion of this program would support eligibility requirements necessary to apply for certification with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Nurse Executive (NE-BC).

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Nurse Leader (Post-Master's) Certificate Program must:

1. Have graduated from an accredited master's or doctoral program in nursing.  
2. Provide proof of a current unobstructed Registered Nurse (RN) license from the United States.  
3. Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions recognized by the United States Department of Education.  Applicants submitting non-U.S. or non-English transcripts should refer to the International Admissions section of the catalog.  
4. Have a cumulative graduate GPA of 2.7. 
   1. Applicants with an undergraduate degree GPA of 2.5-2.69 may be considered for probationary admission after meeting the following admissions requirements:
      1. The applicant must provide a letter of intent.  
      2. The applicant must be approved for admission following an interview with the Program Dean/Director.  
      3. The applicant must satisfy program prerequisites. 
      4. A student admitted under the probationary admissions pathway must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all coursework attempted over the first trimester (two terms). Students who meet this standard will be converted to a full admit status and will be subject to the standard Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement for the duration of their program. Students failing to meet these requirements following the first trimester (two terms) will be withdrawn from the university.  
      5. Students accepted under the probationary admissions pathway will be considered regular students and eligible for Title IV, if the student otherwise qualifies for funding, for the first trimester of their program of study while completing the requirements for full admission to their program.
5. One year of direct patient care nursing experience within the past five years is preferred. 
6. English proficiency for all applicants whose first language is not English will be required.  Consult with Nursing and Student Affairs for any questions. 

Nurse Leader Certificate (Post-Master's) Curriculum

Nurse Leader Certificate (Post-Master's) Coursework

HA 550	Leadership Models for Health Care Managers	3
HA 540	Strategic Planning in Health Care Organizations	3
NURS 677	Intro to Healthcare Informatics	3
HA 520	Financial Management for Health Care Managers	3
NURS 594	Advanced Practice Theory: Nursing Leadership	3
NURS 595L-A	Advanced Practice: Nurse Leader Practicum I	1.5
NURS 595L-B	Advanced Practice: Nurse Leader Practicum II	1.5
Total Credit Hours:		18.0

Nurse Leader (Post-Master's) Certificate Program Costs

For program costs, please see the Distance Education Tuition and Fees section.