Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing
Duration | 1 year full-time, 1 year part-time |
Location | Online |
Next start term | Term 1, 2024 |
Study mode | Online |
Course code | CL16 |

Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing is an innovative course designed for those who want to develop their knowledge, confidence, and nursing competence in the clinical setting. The course is a discipline-based degree with two core units covering Patient Deterioration and Clinical Governance, and two further units from your chosen major. Majors available include Generalist, or Gerontology.
You'll gain advanced nursing knowledge and skills based on contemporary national and international evidence relevant to the beginning registered nurse, and you'll apply these in your own clinical setting. The combination of online delivery with group discussions, the use of current international and national research, and review of standards of care in the clinical settings will enhance learning and development of key clinical skills required in professional practice. You will have the opportunity to enhance your professional nursing attributes including autonomy, accountability and critical reflection.
Career Opportunities
This course provides Registered Nurses with a nursing-specific post-graduate qualification. As a graduate, you can enjoy a range of opportunities including:
- enhanced competency and confidence as a registered nurse;
- increased financial remuneration from some employers; and
- a solid foundation to work towards nursing leadership roles in clinical specialties, management, education or research.
Structure & Availability
Course Structure
This course consists of two core units and two units from your chosen major; Gerontology or Generalist nursing.
Graduate Pathways
If you enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway 1, you must study two core units. If you enter via Pathway 2, you must study four units.Â
Pathway 1 (Graduate Program with Recognised Health Services)
Gerontology Major:
If you are enrolled in the Partnered Graduate Program Pathway and studying the Gerontology Major, you must not enrol in:
- NURS20170 -Â Patient Deterioration in the Clinical Setting, and
- NURS20169 -Â Nursing and Clinical Governance
Credit for these two units may be applied at the completion of the two gerontology major units (DCHA20003, HAGE20001) and your industry Partnered Graduate Program.
Generalist Major:
If you are enrolled in the Partnered Graduate Program Pathway and studying the Generalist Major, you must not enrol in:
- NURS20171 -Â Nursing and Professional Practice 1, and
- NURS20172 -Â Introduction to Developing Specialty Practice
Credit for these two units may be applied at the completion of NURS20170, NURS20169, and your industry Partnered Graduate Program.
Pathway 2 - Standard Course Structure
If you are studying the standard course structure, you will complete two core units and two units from your chosen major; Gerontology or Generalist nursing.
Unit information
For information on the units, you could study as part of this course, visit the Handbook and select the "Course Structure" tab.Credit transfer information
If you have already completed study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.Online Availability
Intake | Locations |
---|---|
Term 1, 2024 | Available Online |
Term 2, 2024 | Available Online |
MAJORS | UNITS | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|---|
Generalist | 2 | |
Gerontology | 2 |
This course has been designed to complement students who are completing an approved graduate program or undertaking the minimum clinical hours with a relevant Health Service.
Requirements
Recommended study
NA
To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must supply:
- Evidence of current registration as a Registered Nurse with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); and
- A letter of employment demonstrating you are currently employed in Australia with an approved clinical partner for new graduates; or
- A letter of employment demonstrating current employment in Australia as a Registered Nurse, detailing a minimum of 16 hours per week, in a clinical setting.
Letters of employment must be presented on a company letterhead and be signed and dated by a delegated authority. Please ensure that the letter contains your full name, position title, duties performed, hours per week, and length of service.
English Language Proficiency Requirements:
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University. Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
- A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
- An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or
- Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years full time with a minimum overall GPA 4.0
Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below:
- An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall & minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
- An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study and must appear on a single result certificate.
If you are an International student, please visit International students English requirements for further information.
Each student will be assessed individually.
Fees & Scholarships
2023 Indicative Fees
Fee Type | Fees |
---|---|
International Indicative First Term Fee | A$15,360 |
International Indicative First Year Fee | A$15,360 |
Please note the following important information:
- Fees are in Australian dollars (A$).
- Fees are indicative only and do not cover additional costs such as textbooks, accommodation, visa applications, OSHC, general living etc.
- Fees are based on a full-time study load and the final fee payable will be determined by your selection of units and if any credit was awarded for recognition of prior learning.
- The University reserves the right to amend fees at any time during the course. Fees are reviewed yearly and may increase in the following year to enable CQUniversity to continue to provide quality services and facilities to students.
- Courses are subject to change at the discretion of the University.
- It is your responsibility to make yourself aware of the entry requirements and prerequisites of the courses you wish to undertake.
- The typical annual fee shown provides an estimate of the tuition fees for the first year of the course in the same academic year. This estimate assumes a full-time study load of 4 units per term (based on two terms).
- Students not on an Australian student visa can only undertake courses online from an overseas location.
- Courses undertaken online may be studied on a full-time or part-time mode.
- International students studying on-campus in Australia may take no more than 33 per cent of their entire course by online education, and this option cannot be taken in its entirety during a compulsory term (Term 1 and Term 2).
Please refer to our international course fees page.
Scholarships are not available for this course.
How to apply
Our easy to use online application system for international students will guide you through the process of applying for a course at CQUniversity Australia.