How to ApplyRequest Info
How to ApplyRequest Info
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Undergraduate Certificate inNursing Management

Summary Courses Careers Costs and Aid

Gain a better understanding of the administration of nursing services and learn to manage budgets, data, and nursing staff. The courses in this online certificate program give you the opportunity to acquire the latest techniques and skills, which you can apply in your health care organization.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

Apply by December 22 to start January 13

12 Credits$632/$678 per credit

Gain Skills to Expand Your Nursing Career

  • Appropriately staff for the delivery of effective patient care.

  • Use efficiency and productivity measures to evaluate the costs of delivering care.

  • Analyze issues and trends that will affect the future of nursing management. 

  • Evaluate and manage health care data.

  • Apply the latest techniques of personnel management and nursing leadership.

This certificate includes classes on data management, human resources, and organization — you can apply what you’re learning immediately to demonstrate your competency, leadership, and management potential. The program can also provide you with an understanding of the basics of health care organizations and administration.

Prescribed Courses (12 credits)

Students need to earn at least a "C" grade in all 4 courses to be eligible for the certificate.

  • 3
    credits

    Introduction to organizational theory and principles of practice in the administration of nursing services and patient care.

  • 3
    credits

    Analysis of information systems to manage nursing service organizations. Includes financial management, the budgeting processes, and productivity measurement.

  • 3
    credits

    Human resource management and related factors in nursing service organizations.

  • 3
    credits

    Focuses on the application of management principles in the role of the nurse manager.

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

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You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of health care organizations, depending on your goals.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Expand your clinical and technical abilities and gain the skills you need to successfully advance in your career. Potential career opportunities for graduates of the program include:

  • department manager
  • manager of health information
  • service manager
  • nursing manager

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

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From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career. These resources are beneficial whether you're searching for a job or advancing in an established career.

  • Opportunities to connect with employers
  • Career counselor/coach support
  • Occupation and salary information
  • Internships
  • Graduate school resources 

Upcoming Events

Virtual Open House (Afternoon Session)
Virtual Open House (Evening Session)
Transferring Credits to Penn State
Military Student Experience Webinar
Military Student Experience Webinar
Virtual Open House (Afternoon Session)
Virtual Open House (Evening Session)

Ready to Learn More?

Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.

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Learn more about this program

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Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State undergraduate certificate?

Apply by December 22 to start January 13. How to Apply 

Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.

Undergraduate Tuition

Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.

Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters.
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$632 per credit$678 per credit
12–19$7,678 per semester$8,288 per semester

2025–26 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026 semesters.
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$638 per credit$685 per credit
12–19$7,755 per semester$8,371 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

Paying for Your Certificate

Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.

Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.

Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.

Military Benefits

Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

Additional Cost of Attendance Details

To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements:

A Head Start toward a Bachelor's Degree

A figure walking on a path that includes a certificate part of the way through their progress

As you work to complete the nursing management certificate program, you can apply 6 of the certificate credits toward electives in Penn State's online RN to BSN degree. In addition, courses in the certificate program may satisfy continuing professional education requirements. 

Who Should Apply?

If you are a registered nurse who aspires to a supervisory role, this 12-credit online certificate program can help you demonstrate your initiative and learn management skills as you enhance the credentials on your résumé.

Prepare for National Certification

The curriculum in Penn State's online nursing management certificate will help prepare you for national certification, and you will receive a certificate from Penn State upon successful completion of the courses. However, you will still need to pass the official certification exam and meet all of the eligibility requirements in order to be awarded the national credential. 

Adult student doing course work online while a child plays nearby

Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals. Many students take one or two courses per semester.

Our online courses typically follow a 12- to 15-week semester cycle, and there are three semesters per year (spring, summer, and fall). If you plan to take a heavy course load, you should expect your course work to be your primary focus and discuss your schedule with your academic adviser. 

To Finish Your Certificate in Less than a Year

  • Take 3–4 courses each semester

To Finish Your Certificate in One Year

  • Take 2–3 courses each semester 

To Finish Your Certificate in Two Years

  • Take 1 course each semester

Timelines may vary based on course availability.

Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

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Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.

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Apply by December 22 to start January 13

Application Instructions

Deadlines and Important Dates

Complete your application and submit all required materials by the appropriate deadline. Your deadline will depend on the semester you plan to start your courses.

  • Spring Deadline

    Apply by December 22 to start January 13

  • Summer Deadline

    Apply by May 5 to start May 11

  • Fall Deadline

    Apply by August 17, 2025, to start August 25, 2025

Steps to Apply

  1. To apply for this program, you must be a high school graduate, or have completed your GED.

    Additionally, persons who want to enroll in any or all of these courses must be a currently licensed registered nurse.

  2. 2. Complete the application.

    Undergraduate Certificate Application

Admissions Help

If you have questions about the admissions process, email [email protected] or call 814-865-1146.

Customer service representative wearing a headset

Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.

For questions about admissions and applications, please contact World Campus Central:

World Campus Central
Phone: 814-865-1146
[email protected]

This certificate is offered through Penn State World Campus in collaboration with the highly respected Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. Our courses are taught by distinguished faculty who have special training and experience teaching in an online environment.

The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing has been designated a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing in recognition of the college’s work creating and sustaining environments that promote the pedagogical expertise of the faculty.

Faculty

  • M. Ellen Hollars

    • MSN, Penn State
    • BSN, Penn State

    M. Ellen Hollars provides instruction for Penn State World Campus nursing management certificate courses and independent study courses, teaches part-time as a clinical instructor for undergraduate nursing students, and serves as the COO of VNA Health System. Her research and practice interests include community health, home health and hospice, person-centered care, care collaboration, geriatric outcomes, and models of care delivery for home health. She has served community organizations in both a leadership and volunteer capacity, and she is passionate about teaching and helping new RNs and RNs pursuing their BSN degrees to be the best nurses that they can possibly be.

  • Mary Alyce Nelson

    • DNP, Penn State
    • MSN, Bloomsburg University
    • BSN, Villa Maria College

    Dr. Mary Alyce Nelson is the coordinator of the Penn State World Campus RN to BSN program and an assistant professor/undergraduate nursing coordinator at Penn State University Park. She has held various administrative roles in inpatient, outpatient, and educational settings, and her areas of expertise are mental health and health care leadership. Her research area of interest is alternative models of mental health treatment in rural outpatient clinics.

  • Tiffany Patton, RN

    • MSN, Nursing Education and Administration, Mountain State University
    • BSN, Penn State

    Tiffany Patton received her school nurse certification from Slippery Rock University. Her background is in geriatrics, medical-surgical, psychology, school nursing, and management. She is a student in the doctoral program through the College of Education at Penn State.

The words of the Nursing Sciences Building are shown on an awning hanging over the entrance.

Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State undergraduate certificate?

Apply by December 22 to start January 13. How to Apply 

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