Nursing
Advance your nursing career quickly and affordably at ACE. Whether you want to enter nursing administration, education or leadership, we have programs that will equip you with the skills you need to get there.
Skills and Knowledge Gained
An Ed.S. degree is an advanced practitioner’s degree unique to the field of education. Those who hold them stand out among their peers for their readiness to lead and deeper knowledge of nursing education.
Pursuing an Ed.S. degree can also be a great first exposure to the advanced level of scholarship a terminal degree requires. Those who complete an Ed.S. degree at ACE also enjoy the benefit of applying some coursework toward their future Ed.D. degree.
Here are some other skills and knowledge areas you gain from an education specialist program in nursing:
- Creation and evaluation of nursing curriculum
- Leveraging technology to enhance instruction
- Evidence-based decision making
- Effective program design
- Advocacy of policies to advance the field
- Leadership skills
Nursing Career Alignment
An education specialist degree in the field of nursing demonstrates that you have advanced skills as a nurse educator, skills that are currently in high demand. In a 2025 report, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing documented over 1,500 full-time faculty vacancies across a survey of 863 nursing schools.*
Education Specialist Degree in Nursing Admission
Along with ACE’s general admission requirements, prospective Ed.S. degree students must have a minimum of a master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. We may grant provisional admission for a GPA of 2.0. We also require evidence of an active, unencumbered RN license. Find detailed admission requirements for your program of interest on the program’s page.
*Source: Student Right to Know
Education Specialist Degree in Nursing FAQs
What is an education specialist (Ed.S.) degree in nursing?
An Ed.S. in nursing is a post-master’s level degree that focuses specifically on nursing education. It prepares you to create, implement, and evaluate curriculum and instruct nursing students using the latest teaching strategies. The knowledge and skills you learn can be utilized in either academic or professional development settings.
Does an education specialist degree in nursing lead to licensure or certification?
No, an Ed.S. in nursing does not lead to registered nurse licensure. It also does not automatically lead to any certifications within nursing education. It may help with eligibility for certain certifications, such as potentially fulfilling education requirements for the Certified Nurse Educator exam.
Can an Ed.S. degree in nursing lead to a doctorate?
Completing an Ed.S. degree on its own does not result in a doctorate. However, depending on the doctoral program you pursue, an Ed.S. degree can help you make progress toward an eventual doctorate. For example, at ACE, the coursework you complete as part of your Ed.S. degree can be applied toward our doctorate in education (Ed.D.) program. This means you could finish your Ed.D. much faster and more affordably than you otherwise would.
Is an Ed.S. in nursing worth it?
If you want to start or advance a career in nursing education, an Ed.S. in nursing is worth pursuing. It strengthens your qualifications for academic faculty or professional development positions. If you want to leverage your nursing experience into educating future nurses, an Ed.S. in nursing can help you do that.
*American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Accessed Feb. 11, 2026.