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The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing provides you with advanced nursing knowledge and skills based upon contemporary national and international evidence relevant to the beginning Registered Nurse, and allows you to apply these within your own clinical setting.
This course is designed for those who want to develop their knowledge, confidence, and nursing competence in the clinical setting.
The combination of online delivery with group discussions, use of current international and national research, and review of standards of care in clinical settings will enhance the 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.
Tailor your studies with a choice of major:
Learn more about each major in the Structure & Availability section below.
There are two application pathways for entry to this course. Upon application, you will be required to identify which pathway you are applying for.
Applicants who are enrolled in a partnered graduate program at one of the following Health Services will be eligible to enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway One. Under this pathway, you may be eligible to receive credit for two core units.
You will be required to submit the following with your application:
If you are not currently enrolled in a partnered graduate program, you will need to apply via Pathway Two. This pathway requires you to have arranged access to work a minimum of 16 hours per week in a clinical setting with a Health Service.
You will be required to submit the following with your application:
Upon completion of this course, you may choose to continue your studies with our Master of Clinical Nursing.
Discover more about your online clinical nursing degree, offering significant fee savings for eligible students and seamless pathways to advance your clinical knowledge and experience. Click 'Explore Study Experience' for more information.
This course provides Registered Nurses with a nursing specific post-graduate qualification. As a graduate of this course, you can enjoy a range of opportunities including:
The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.
There are two pathways to enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing:
Applicants who are enrolled in a partnered graduate program at one of the following Health Services will be eligible to enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway One.
If you are not currently enrolled in a partnered graduate program, you will need to apply via Pathway Two. This pathway requires you to have arranged access to work a minimum of 16 hours per week in a clinical setting with a Health Service.
You must complete four units (24 credits):
The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.
If choose the Generalist Major, you will only study the two units listed below.
If you choose the Gerontology Major, credit for the below units may be applied at the successful completion of the Gerontology Major units and notification of the successful completion of your 12-month graduate partnered program.
You will study the two units listed below.
You will study the following two core units only:
Credit for the Generalist Major units below may be applied at the successful completion of the units above and notification of the successful completion of your 12-month graduate partnered program.
You'll complete the two core units and the two units listed below.
To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and the term you will study each unit, check out our course planners.
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.
If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies.
This course does not permit you to defer your offer and commence at a later date. If you are unable to commence in the term you receive an offer, you will be required to submit a new admission application to commence at a later date.
For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.
The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one academic year depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place. For a graduate certificate, this is usually four units studied full-time over one term or part-time over two terms. The indicative fee should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the Cost per Unit spreadsheet available on our Understanding Course Fees webpage.
Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Fee estimates for the following year are expected to be available in September each year.
With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course in 2025, you may be eligible for significant fee savings, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.
If you are not eligible for a CSP or if CSPs are full, you will be required to pay full fees.
You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees.
Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations.
Check what you need to do to apply to study this course.
Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.
Use the Apply button below to access our Apply Online portal and start your application.
CQUniversity acknowledges Traditional Owners and Custodians and pays respect to the Elders of all First Nations peoples of Australia.CQUniversity Australia is a trading name of Central Queensland University
ABN: 39 181 103 288
RTO Code: 40939
CRICOS: 00219C
TEQSA: PRV12073
