Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership Online

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the certificate total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Increase Your Knowledge and Earn a Nursing Leadership Certification That Can Help Set You Apart

Are you an advanced practice nurse or nurse leader and interested in going further in your career? Maybe you want to pursue your Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), but you’re not ready to take on a full doctorate. Liberty University’s Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership is designed to give you a valuable credential in your field and prepare you for doctoral studies.

With this certificate, you can gain valuable knowledge in your field that can help you advance in your career and stand out among your peers. You will be taking doctoral-level nursing courses that can help you develop your research skills and your knowledge of theoretical application for nursing practice. Upon completion, this certificate can fully transfer into our DNP program or stand alone as an advanced credential in nursing.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership.

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600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership?

At Liberty, our mission is Training Champions for Christ. In keeping with that mission, we strive for excellence in all that we do. By earning your executive certificate from Liberty University, you will receive the following benefits:

Flexibility | Each of your certificate courses is offered in a 100% online, 8-week format with 8 different start dates throughout the year. You can complete your certificate at your own pace while continuing to devote time to your family, work, and community.
Professors | Our professors are distinguished individuals who have worked in the field of nursing for years and earned terminal degrees. They are ready to partner with you as you complete your certificate and help you achieve academic, professional, and spiritual growth.
Transfer Opportunities | An exciting part about this executive certificate is that you can transfer all 21 credits directly into one of our doctoral degrees. This certificate allows you to get a jumpstart on your doctorate without committing to the program right away.

What Will You Study in Our Clinical Leadership Courses?

As a nurse, you understand the importance of continued learning and innovative research. Our Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership is designed to provide you with some of the latest research ideas, applications, and information to help you continue to succeed and stand out as a leader among nurses.

Through this program, you can learn to translate evidence-based research into practice to improve patient safety and quality of care. You will also develop the skills needed to lead inter-professional teams and drive innovations to improve healthcare, systems, and policies.

Potential Career Opportunities

Our Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership can help you prepare for several career paths. Depending on your current knowledge, education level, and experience, there are many different positions that could benefit from our accredited certificate:

Clinical researcher
Healthcare manager
Nursing administrator
University professor

Some of these occupations may require a doctorate. That’s why Liberty created executive certificates that can seamlessly transfer into one of our corresponding doctoral programs. So if you are looking to further your studies after completing your clinical leadership certificate, you will be able to transfer all 21 credits into our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)!

Required Courses

NURS 700 – Advanced Nursing Research
NURS 715 – Theoretical Application for Advanced Practice Nursing
NURS 716 – Applications of Evidence-Based Care
NURS 718 – Informatics, Technology, and Trends for Transforming Health Care
NURS 721 – Leadership, Policy, and Ethics
NURS 732 – Interprofessional Collaboration and Outcomes Management for Quality in Health Care
NURS 834 – Health Care Operations and Financial Management

Course guides available upon request

Certificate Information

Certificate Completion Plan

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Executive Certificate Full Time	$610/Credit
Executive Certificate Part Time	$675/Credit
Military Executive Certificate	$375/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

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Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for the Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (sealed, unopened copies or via a direct electronic transcript system). Admission requires that you have transcripts showing a regionally or nationally accredited MSN degree accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). A master’s degree in nursing with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Admission to this program requires the following additional items to be sent in:
- Active, unencumbered RN license. Applicants must hold RN license in the state that the practicum will occur within one of the 50 United States. RN licensure number and state where license was issued will be required in the application. If a past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admission Review Committee for further explanation.
- If applicable: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license and associated professional certification. Note: APRN Licensure & Certification is only required if an applicant is currently licensed in an advanced practice nursing (APRN) specialty.
  - Nurse Leaders are not required to provide a license/certification, but can “self-report” that they are a Nurse Leader, and the Nursing Department will make a final determination. However, certification is preferred.
  - Active Practice Nurses will need to submit active, unencumbered APRN licensure and professional certification.
  - If a past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admission Review Committee for further explanation.
  - A copy of the certification form must also be provided, in addition to the license. Please submit a copy of your license and certification to luoverify@liberty.edu.
  - Maryland students may submit a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) license in place of an APRN.
- If applicable: Clinical APRN Education: Nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists are required to have the advanced practice core. Graduate transcripts must reflect that the applicants have successfully passed a graduate-level health assessment, graduate-level pathophysiology, and a graduate-level pharmacology.
- Writing Sample
  - A document using APA rules of grammar. First person is permitted; APA formatting (i.e. title page, headers) is not needed. Return completed writing sample luoverify@liberty.edu. Entire document should be 1,500 words minimum and 3,000 words maximum.
    - A document discussing introduction and world view, professional experience/ goals, and vision for professional practice.
  - Please also provide the following:
    - Name of present or most recent employment and position
    - Length of Employment (Indicate in MM/DD/YY to MM/DD/YY. If still employed, write ‘current’ as the end date)
- Practicum Hour Verification Form
  - If the student completed the Master of Science in Nursing at Liberty University, he or she can email the School of Nursing (DNP@liberty.edu) who will complete the Practicum Hour Verification Form on their behalf.
- American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers with AED. Copies must be submitted to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Department Admission Review approval required – upon all documents being received on the checklist, the application will be sent for admission review by the department. Review times can vary due to several factors but they will be completed as soon as possible.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Supplemental Acceptance Steps

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $375 per credit hour for Executive Certificate courses
Roll credits into the corresponding doctoral degree
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership Charting a New Direction In Nursing Leadership

Increase Your Knowledge and Earn a Nursing Leadership Certification That Can Help Set You Apart

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership?

What Will You Study in Our Clinical Leadership Courses?

Potential Career Opportunities

Required Courses

Certificate Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for the Executive Certificate in Clinical Leadership

Admission Requirements

Supplemental Acceptance Steps

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Military

Frequently Asked Questions

What program is this designed to complement?

Are you ready to change your future?

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