UCT-School Nurse Cert

The Villa Maria School, in cooperation with the School of Education, offers a post-baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) certificate for school nursing. The school nurse certificate program is open to registered nurses who have earned a BSN.

The purpose of this post-BSN certificate is to prepare nurses to meet the health care needs of children of all ages in diverse school settings. Health promotion, risk reduction, and health education are emphasized. The program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Please note that current PDE standards and regulations take precedence over any information described in this document. Should these standards and regulations change, Gannon University will change its requirements.

Admission Requirements

Licensed Registered Nurse

1. Completed application to Gannon University’s Villa Maria School of Nursing’s School Nurse Certificate Program.

2. Proof of licensure as a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.: Submit photocopy of RN license.

3. Currently hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited program with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate course work: Submit official BSN transcript.

Program and Certification Requirements

1. Admission, progression, and graduation requirements from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (Chapter 354) for School Nurse Certification require an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in all undergraduate and certificate course work.

2. 5 credits of NURS 428 School Nursing which contains 100 hours of supervised clinical experience with a certified school nurse. For admission to NURS 428 School Nursing the following are required:

   1. Holds a BSN. *

   2. Proof of valid CPR certification

   3. Proof of current PPD (tuberculin testing).

   4. Proof of completed health records.

   5. Proof of Act 33 and 34 clearances (child abuse and criminal)

   6. Complete all finger-printing requirements.

3. Support course requirement

   1. 3 credit hours of SPED 101 Special Education Overview

   2. 3 credit hours of EDCR 414 Sociology of Education

4. Proof of Licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a registered nurse exempts the student from taking the PRAXIS I exams.

Permanent Certification

Pennsylvania offers a Level II certification as a School Nurse when a graduate of a School Nurse Certification program has completed all requirements as specified in Certification Staffing and Policy Guidelines (CSPG). A Level I certificate is valid for a maximum of six service years in Pennsylvania. In most cases, courses taken toward School Nurse Certification count toward Level II certification as long as they have been taken after the date on which the initial BSN degree was granted.