Academic Nurse Educator Certification: Twenty Years of Growth in Support of Excellence in Nursing Education

It hardly seems possible. Last year, 2025, was the 20th anniversary of the Academic Nurse Educator Certification Program, with the first pilot of the certification exam given at the NLN Education Summit in Baltimore in 2005. In the past 20 years, the NLN Certification Program has grown exponentially to now having certified nearly 18,000 nurse educators. To walk a bit down memory lane, the CNE® was established in 2005. The Certified Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE®cl), as well as international testing, was initiated in 2018. Certified Novice Educator (CNE®n) certification began in 2022. And now in development is the certification for practical/vocational nurse educators (CNE®pv). The growth of the program has been fantastic to watch. In 2023, a task group consisting of eight PN/VN nurse educators and one practical nurse currently working in the role examined the role of PN/VN educators and assessed the literature for the development of competencies and task statements. The literature was sparse, but over the course of several meetings, the group found seven pertinent articles and used them to formulate competencies and task statements. The final copy, completed in December 2023, required validation and was posted on the NLN website in survey form for member response for 30 days. The ratings of activities and comments were reviewed by the task group, and a few items were revised. The NLN Board of Governors reviewed the competencies and voted to pass them on to the CNE Board of Commissioners for consideration in developing a certification exam with the competencies and task statements serving as a test blueprint. To create the exam, a major effort went into finding PN/VN nurse educator item writers. Test items are still being collected and will be categorized according to the blueprint for assembly in the certification exam; it is hoped that the PN/VN certification examination will be launched in 2026. Eligibility criteria will be determined by the CNE Board of Commissioners, and all materials, parallel to the current handbooks, are being developed. NEW EDITION OF SCOPE OF PRACTICE The Scope of Practice for Academic Nurse Educators (4th ed.) has been updated and will be released in February (https://nln.lww.com). It will contain competencies and task statements related to all roles in nursing education, including PN/VN roles, along with a list of published articles regarding certification. The previous editions of this book have been an important tool for master’s in nursing education programs and for educators seeking certification. NLN PN/VN FACULTY INITIATIVE The PN/VN Faculty Initiative was created by the NLN to strengthen and support faculty who teach in practical and vocational nursing programs. LPN/LVN education is a vital part of preparing the nation’s nursing workforce. This initiative supports the advancement of excellence in practical and vocational nursing education and focuses on providing faculty with the tools, visibility, and professional development they need to thrive in their roles. Currently, the PN/VN Faculty Initiative is developing a series of webinars to address topics specific to PN/VN education and faculty needs. These sessions are designed to highlight effective teaching strategies, share insights from educators in the field, and create opportunities for collaboration among PN/VN faculty nationwide. The certification initiative at the NLN continues to build toward the broader goal of expanding resources and creating more spaces for connection, all in support of excellence in nursing education.