CERTIFICATE: Educational Services

ENDORSEMENT: School Nurse

(a) The school nurse endorsement authorizes the holder to perform nursing services and to teach in areas related to health in public schools in grades preschool through 12.

(b) To be eligible for the standard certificate, a candidate shall hold a current New Jersey registered professional nurse license issued by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing, hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, hold current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED) certificates and complete either a Department-approved college curriculum for the preparation of school nurses or a program of studies that includes:

1. A minimum of 30 semester-hour credits chosen from the areas listed below. The candidate shall complete the requirements in (b)1i through vii below and may take elective credits in any area in (b)1i through x below.

i. A minimum of six semester-hour credits in school nursing, including school health services, physical assessments, organization and administration of the school health program and clinical experience in a school nurse office;

ii. Human growth and development;

iii. Health assessment

iv. Fundamentals of substance abuse and dependency;

v. Special education and/or learning disabilities;

vi. Methods of teaching health in grades preschool through grade 12 including curriculum development;

vii. Public health including such areas as public health nursing, community health problems and communicable disease control;

viii. Human and intercultural relations. Studies designed to develop understanding of social interaction and culture change, including courses such as the following: urban sociology, history of minority groups, intergroup relations, and suburban and inner-city problems;

ix. Guidance and counseling; and

x. School law including legal aspects of school nursing; and

2. Student teaching including experience in both the school nurse office and in the classroom.

Candidates in possession of a written evaluation completed by the Office prior to January 20, 2004 will have five years from January 20, 2004 to complete the requirements set forth in the written evaluation.

6A:9-13.4 School nurse/non-instructional

(a) The school nurse/non-instructional endorsement authorizes the holder to perform nursing services in public schools in grades preschool through 12. This certificate does not authorize the holder to teach in areas related to health.

(b) To be eligible for the standard educational services certificate with a school nurse/non-instructional endorsement, a candidate shall hold a current New Jersey registered professional nurse license issued by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing, hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, hold current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED) certificates and complete either a Department-approved college curriculum for the preparation of school nurses or a program of studies that includes:

1. A minimum of six semester-hour credits in school nursing, including school health services, physical assessments, organization and administration of the school health program and clinical experience in a school nurse office;

2. Human growth and development;

3. Health assessment

4. Public health, including such areas as public health nursing, community health problems and communicable disease control;

5. Fundamentals of substance abuse and dependency;

6. Special education and/or learning disabilities;

7. Human and intercultural relations. Studies designed to develop understanding of social interaction and culture change, including courses such as the following: urban sociology, history of minority groups, intergroup relations, and suburban and inner-city problems;

8. Guidance and counseling; and

9. School law including legal aspects of school nursing.

(c) An emergency certificate may be issued to a candidate who holds a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and a current New Jersey registered professional nurse license and current CPR/AED certificates. The candidate shall present evidence of study in public health nursing and child and/or adolescent growth and development and verification of matriculation into a State-approved school nurse/non-instructional program. The study must appear on the transcript of a regionally accredited four-year college or university.

Subchapter 13

Requirements for Educational Services Certification - School Nurse: Educational Services Certificate

6A:9-13.3 School Nurse and 6A:9-13.4 School Nurse/non-instructional may be found by going to http://www.state.nj.us/education/code/title6a/chap9. At the conclusion of this document please note a list of colleges/universities offering certification programs in New Jersey.

APPROVED PROGRAMS:

LIST OF INSTITUTIONS OFFERING SCHOOL NURSE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

Caldwell College
Felician College
Kean University
Monmouth University
New Jersey City University
Rutgers University, Newark
Rowan University
Seton Hall University
William Paterson University

          State of New Jersey
          Department of Education
          CN 500
          Trenton, NJ 08625-0500
          609 292-4450