Career Advancement: Education

Nurse educators are pivotal in preparing the next generation of nurses, and ensuring nurses have the skills, knowledge and competencies in all domains of nursing practice. If you are interested in a career in nursing education, explore the following resources.

While qualifications may vary from school to school, in order to become a clinical instructor within schools of nursing (ie: clinical associates), some general qualifications needed include:

• Holding a current practicing license with CRNBC
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nursing
• Strong clinical background, at least two to three years
• Experience in mentoring and teaching
• Master’s degree often preferred

Explore the following link:

• Clinical Instructor Certificate Course

In order to become a nurse educator within a higher education institution (ie: lecturer, adjunct professor) or within the health authorities, typical qualifications include:

• Holding a current practicing license with CRNBC
• Holding a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN)
• Master’s degree (usually preferred in nursing, however many educators have graduate degrees in other related fields).
• Experience in mentoring and teaching
• Expertise in a clinical area
• Evidence of scholarship

If you are interested in an educator role, visit the various job postings within each educational institution and/or health authority, or contact the employer to explore the specific qualifications needed to be a successful candidate.

• Multiple schools of nursing offer graduate programs designed to prepare RNs and NPs for a career in education. Visit the websites of schools of nursing to learn more about their graduate programs.
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Northern B.C.
  • University of Victoria
  • Athabasca University
  • Thompson Rivers University

Other Courses:

Some schools of nursing also require the following certifications:

• Provincial Instructor Diploma (Vancouver Community College)
• Canadian Nurse Educator Certification Program (Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing)