A stethoscope and pen resting on a medical report in a healthcare setting.

CNE® Certification Requirements

/ Exam Prep / By / August 20, 2025
Share

How to Get Your Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) Certification

Get moving toward the next chapter in your career by taking the following steps to earn your Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) certification.

Step 1: Make Sure You Qualify for the Exam

According to the National League for Nursing (NLN), you must meet one of the following sets of criteria:

First Option: Meet Both Criteria

  1. Licensure: Hold a current, active, unencumbered registered nurse (RN) designation in the country where you practice as a nurse educator.

  2. Education: Hold a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with a focus in nursing education.

OR

  • A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing plus a post-master’s certificate in nursing education.

  • A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing plus nine or more graduate-level credit hours in education courses such as Curriculum Development, Instructional Design, Principles of Adult Learning, Assessment/Measurement & Evaluation, Teaching & Learning, or Instructional Technology. (Note: Research or statistics courses do not count.)

Second Option: Meet All Three Criteria

  1. Licensure: Current, active, unencumbered RN license in the country of practice.

  2. Education: A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing that does not focus on nursing education.

  3. Experience: At least two years of employment in a nursing program at a college or university within the past five years.

Step 2: Apply for the Exam

Before applying, read the CNE® Candidate Handbook to familiarize yourself with testing policies and requirements.

When registering online, you’ll need:

  • RN license number and expiration date.

  • Credit card for payment (see fees below).

  • NLN member login and password (create one if you don’t have it yet).

  • Your NLN ID number (searchable on the NLN website).

Step 3: Know the Testing Fees

NLN Member Non-Member
Initial Testing $400 $500
Retesting $350 $450

Step 4: Schedule Your Exam

  • The CNE® exam is computer-based, administered by PSI, with more than 120 testing centers nationwide.

  • Once your application is approved, you’ll receive a confirmation of eligibility within about three weeks.

  • You’ll then have a 90-day window to schedule your test.

Step 5: Start Studying

Most candidates take 2–3 months to prepare. Be sure to use structured resources such as review manuals, practice questions, and test-prep apps.

👉 Explore exam prep options here: CNE® Exam Prep Products

Also, download the CNE® Candidate Handbook for the detailed test blueprint (outlining the six content areas) and a list of recommended texts and journals.

Resources

  • National League for Nursing. Certification for Nurse Educators.

  • National League for Nursing. Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) Candidate Handbook.

  • NLN Membership.

  • Test Center List – National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator Exam.

  • Wittmann-Price, R. A., Godshall, M., & Wilson, L. (2018). Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) Review Manual (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing.

👉 Learn more: Nurse Educator Certification Overview

Springer Publishing Editorial Staff
Follow
Latest posts by Springer Publishing Editorial Staff (see all)
Share

Must Read