How to Become a Nurse Educator in California

If you’re a nurse or aspiring nurse who has a knack for guiding others, a nurse educator role might be right for you. Nurse educators play an integral role in training other nurses and helping to improve the quality of patient care.

Whether you’re interested in designing and implementing educational programs, developing curriculum, or advocating for policies that support the nursing profession, there are many opportunities to make a lasting impact within this career path.

If you’re interested in becoming a nurse educator in California, this career guide focuses on the steps for completing your goal.

Once you have completed the adequate level of education and (if you choose) get certified, you can start working as a nurse educator. This role is available in a variety of settings, including universities and other educational institutions as well as in clinical settings such as hospitals and community health organizations.

To maintain continuity in your nurse educator role, you will need to stay on top of your renewal dates. Your California RN license must be renewed every two years (with the exception of your first renewal, which may be a shorter period of time), and your CNE certification must be renewed every five years.

You can renew your CNE certification by maintaining practice requirements and fulfilling professional development requirements or re-taking the CNE examination, according to the CNE candidate handbook.