Clinical Nurse Specialist Online Degrees: Exploring Top Schools
As a registered nurse (RN), you might want to pursue more job opportunities and command higher pay. This EduMed guide can help you take your first step to becoming a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and reach that goal. You’ll learn about schools that offer online/hybrid clinical nurse specialist programs, what you need to do to get accepted in a program, and what you will study after you enroll.
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Featured Online Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs
If you’re an experienced RN who wants to become a CNS, you don’t need to worry about not having enough time for your studies. Many schools understand the needs of nurses who are currently working and offer various benefits to make earning your degree feasible.
Features of online Clinical Nurse Specialist programs include:
- Flexible formats—courses can be online, hybrid (part online and part in person), or on campus
- Asynchronous learning opportunities—attending classes on your own schedule rather than at a set time
- Remote course components—such as virtual lectures, online groupwork, and other activities via learning management systems
- In-person clinical training hours in approved healthcare facilities
Depending on the program you choose, you might also need to participate in lab work or other in-person activities at your nursing school.
To learn more, explore these online CNS programs, paying close attention to curriculum, course formats, costs, and other features so you know what will be expected of you.
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Detroit Mercy’s Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist online program gives RNs the advanced skills and knowledge needed to provide a higher level of patient care.
The program prepares students to:
- Make health diagnoses
- Administer medications
- Implement non-medicinal interventions
- Perform advanced medical procedures
- Implement billing practices associated with advanced specialized care
In addition, the program helps registered nurses:
- Gain the leadership skills needed to take a managerial role in the workplace
- Assess a work environment and implement changes that make the delivery of care more efficient
- Gain advanced communication skills for advocacy and provision of equitable care
Duration: 16 to 36 months
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $48,504 (tuition and fees for on-campus residents)
Admissions Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited school
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- At least 2,000 hours of work experience as an RN
- Unencumbered nursing license
Curriculum:
- Assessment techniques
- Healthcare policy
- Economics
- Law
- Advanced pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center offers a Clinical Nurse Specialist master’s degree program. This program gives students the skills and knowledge they need to work as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), educator, researcher, and/or administrator.
Features:
- 40 credit hours of classroom instruction plus 672 clinical hours in a healthcare setting required
- Students learn advanced nursing theory and practice so they can have a substantial influence on patient care
- Qualifies students to take the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Adult Gerontology certification exam
Duration: 24 months
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $6,293.70 (tuition and fees for first-year residents)/$19,781.10 (tuition and fees for first-year non-residents)
Admissions Requirements:
- BSN from an accredited school
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- At least a C grade in prerequisite courses
- Current nursing license
Curriculum:
- Advanced adult gerontology concepts
- Immunological-related topics
- Neurological-related topics
- Digestive issues across the lifespan
- Hematological responses
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Dominguez Hills offers a Clinical Nurse Specialist master’s degree program. Students can choose a nursing specialization based on their interests and goals.
Features:
- Concentration options: adult, pediatric, or neonatal CNS practices
- Asynchronous learning to accommodate the needs of working RNs
- Mandatory on-campus meetings in some courses
Duration: 48 months
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $4,486.23 (tuition and fees for full-time students)
Admissions Requirements:
- BSN from an accredited school
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Completion of prerequisite courses
- Unencumbered and unrestricted nursing license
- Recent cute-care RN experience in adult-gerontology, neonatal, or pediatric care
Curriculum:
- Healthcare policy and economics
- Advanced nursing roles
- Nursing ethics
- Advanced pharmacology
- Concentration courses
- CNS residency
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FAQs About Online Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs
What types of CNS programs are available?
Online CNS programs offer various degrees to suit the needs of a range of academic levels. Types of clinical nurse specialist programs include:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): provides advanced training that nurses need to work as a CNS
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): helps learners reach the highest echelons of the discipline for work in high-level research, administration, and academia
- Post-master’s CNS certificate: helps RNs who already attended graduate school—but did not take CNS courses in their program—gain specialized skills they need to work as a clinical nurse specialist
Can I choose a specialization in a CNS program?
Yes; some CNS programs allow students to choose a concentration if they want to specialize in a specific nursing discipline. Examples include:
- Pediatric: provides advanced skills for the care of patients from birth to young adulthood
- Neonatal: focused on working with patients from birth through age two
- Adult-gerontology: designed for those who want to work with young and middle-aged adults, and geriatric patients
Is financial aid available for CNS programs?
Yes. Even if you enroll in one of the most affordable online nursing programs, you’ll likely need some help paying for your education. Many general and nursing-specific financial aid options exist, including:
- RN scholarships and grants available through colleges, professional associations, healthcare organizations, and government agencies
- Teaching and/or research assistantships, fellowships, or paid internships (may offer a stipend)
- Work-study programs through your school
These options are most attractive because they might help you graduate from nursing school debt-free. However, if you still need more money after getting these types of funding, student loans can help fill any holes.
For any Federal aid, you’ll need to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Should a CNS program be accredited?
Yes, it is imperative that you consider nursing school accreditation when choosing a program. Attending an accredited online CNS program is one of the most important steps you can take as a student.
Failing to do so can result in issues with transferring credits to other institutions, seeking certification, and competing for jobs after graduating.
Two programmatic accreditation agencies exist within the world of nursing:
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Do I need a license to become a clinical nurse specialist?
It depends on where you live and the CNS scope of practice in that state. Generally, though, you must earn an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license through your state board of nursing.
Some states do not have licensing requirements to practice as a clinical nurse specialist. For example, Mississippi does not recognize clinical nurse specialists as APRNs.
Along with a license, you’ll need to obtain a CNS certificate from a national credentialing agency after passing an exam. Certifications might include:
- ACCNS-AG (Adult-Gerontology)
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification (AGCNS-BC)
- ACCNS-P (Pediatric)
- ACCNS-N (Neonatal)
Expert Insight
Generally, clinical nurse specialists can diagnose, prescribe, and treat. This scope of practice requires advanced licensure (APRN). Some clinical nurse specialists, though, only fulfill teaching roles, such as those who provide family planning education in fertility clinics. In this role, they may not need an advanced license because they aren’t treating patients.
Career and Salary Outlook for Clinical Nurse Specialists
Before jumping headlong into a career as a CNS, it’s important to have realistic expectations of what to expect out of this career and how much money you can earn each year. The good news is, a CNS degree can be well worth the time and money you invest. Check out these benefits to becoming a clinical nurse specialist.
1—Strong Job Security:
Data from O*NET OnLine projected that roles for clinical nurse specialists would increase 6% to 8% between 2023 and 2033. Those numbers mean that approximately 194,500 new jobs should be created during that time period, which is faster than the average growth for all professions.
Reasons for this growth include:
- Ability of APRNs to perform tasks that were previously completed by physicians
- Greater emphasis on preventative healthcare
- Retirement of existing clinical nurse specialists
2—High Earning Potential:
In addition to healthy job growth, you can expect to earn a high salary after completing a CNS program. Professionals in this field can earn substantial salaries based on their expertise, experience, location, and the level of degree earned.
Data from Payscale shows that the average salary for a CNS is approximately $102,435 per year. The bottom 10% of earners bring home approximately $74,000, while the top 10% can command wages in excess of $132,000.
