School Nurse PK-12 Certificate

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Currently in Pennsylvania, completion of an approved School Nurse PK- 12 Certificate program is required to practice as a school nurse. The School Nurse PK-12 Certificate fulfills the educational requirements for the School Nurse Certificate (Education Specialist 1) issued by the PA Department of Education (PDE). 

This online School Nurse PK-12 Certificate from the School of Nursing, a 15-credit (three-term) curriculum, is designed for graduates of BSN programs and students and/or graduates of MSN, DNP, or PhD programs. This program will prepare registered nurses to meet the health needs of children of all ages in diverse school settings. The curriculum includes a School Nurse Seminar course that covers the true essentials of school nursing, taught by a certified school nurse. Practica are completed in diverse elementary and secondary school settings and include special needs students. Three nurse practitioner courses enhance students’ knowledge of health promotion and disease prevention in culturally diverse populations and their skills in working with psychiatric conditions. 

Upon completion of the School Nurse PK-12 Certificate curriculum, you will be eligible to apply for the School Nurse PK-12 Certificate (Education Specialist 1) issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). In addition to meeting PDE educational requirements, Pennsylvania requires certified school nurses to have a BSN and a valid RN license. (Visit education.pa.gov or your home state’s Board of Nursing website for state-specific requirements.) 

Curriculum Format

• Part time (3 terms)
• 15 credits (includes 120 practicum hours with a Certified School Nurse)
• Online

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the School Nurse PK-12 Certificate will be prepared to:

• Apply nursing knowledge, skills, and abilities in the care of school age children in diverse elementary and secondary school settings. 
• This program will help prepare school nurses who in the future may decide to take the National Certification Examination for School Nurses (NCSN). You must have completed 1000 hours working as a school nurse. This test is administered by the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN).

Admission Criteria

• Valid registered nurse license in US State/Territory or location where clinical experiences are performed
• BSN or higher nursing degree (from an ACEN, CCNE, or NLN accredited program)
• GPA ≥ 3.0 in the BSN or higher nursing degree
• Pre-admission interview
• Satisfactory resume
• Current Criminal Record Clearance (ACT 34 and ACT 73)
• Current Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (ACT 33)
• Complete online application
• International applicants: see https://www.nursing.pitt.edu/admissions/international-applicants and www.ois.pitt.edu
• Fall, Spring, and Summer term admission

Admission of International Applicants

Applications from international students are reviewed according to the admission criteria stated above, and admissions deadlines for all programs are available online. The on-line application must be completed in English.  See the School of Nursing International Applicants page for specific admission requirements for international applicants.