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Jun 05, 2026
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DRAFT 2026-2027 Graduate Catalog
Nursing (D.N.P.) - Clinical Nurse Leader Specialization
Location(s):
Online
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 Return to: Programs and Degrees (Listed Alphabetically by Degree)
Program Coordinator/Contact
Cami Veire, Nursing Advisor and Graduate Specialist
Graduate Nursing
SDSU Sioux Falls Campus (STC)
2300 N Career Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
605-367-8400
Program Information
The Nursing (D.N.P.) - Clinical Nurse Leader Specialization program prepares nurses to assume advanced roles as Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) to transform clinical practice as expert clinicians and leaders, focusing on rural and underserved populations.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and postgraduate advanced practice registered nurse certificate program at South Dakota State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
South Dakota State University College of Nursing Healthcare Simulation Center has full accreditation by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare in teaching/education. This status will be granted from Oct. 25, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2027.
Certification and Licensure
Students must provide evidence of professional registration by submitting a copy of the most current RN license.
Upon completion of the Clinical Nurse Leader Specialization, students may be eligible for the following certifications:
| National Certification Eligibility |
Certifying Body |
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Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)*
*requires graduation from a CNL master’s education program or a student in their last term of a CNL education program that meets the criteria delineated in the CNL Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse LeaderSM Education and Practice are eligible to sit for this certification examination.
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Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) |
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Available Options for Graduate Degrees
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Post Master’s to DNP: 28 Credit Hours
- B.S.N. to DNP: 64 Credit Hours
Total Required Credits: 28 (Post Master’s to DNP)
Total Required Credits: 64 (B.S.N. to DNP)
Additional Admissions Requirements
GRE: Not required
TOEFL iBT: 4
TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
IELTS: 6.5
Duolingo: 110 Additional Admission Requirements for Master’s to Doctor of Nursing Practice In addition to meeting the Graduate School admission requirements, applicants for graduate study for the Master’s to Doctor of Nursing Practice – Clinical Nurse Leader Specialization must have: - Current, unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the United States or its’ territories prior to enrollment in first graduate nursing course.
- 1500 hours of documented nursing practice experience prior to taking Advanced Physical Assessment (Lifespan).
- Completed and verified application to the Graduate Nursing program via NursingCAS website.
- Completed Compliance requirements: Clear Background check, clear FBI rolled fingerprint, clear drug screen, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, ACLS certification for FNP specialization, professional liability insurance, influenza vaccine, and TB test.
- Interview assessment reviewed by graduate faculty.
For Master’s to DNP applicants who completed their higher education within the United States: - Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing- or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education-accredited program with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0-point grading system.
- Master’s degree in nursing (from an Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing- or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education-accredited program) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0-point grading system.
For Master’s to DNP applicants who completed their higher education outside the United States: - A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a bachelor’s degree in nursing (within the United States education system) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0-point grading system.
- A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a master’s degree in nursing (within the United States education system) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0-point grading system.
Additional Admission Requirements for Bachelor’s to Doctor of Nursing Practice In addition to meeting the Graduate School admission requirements, applicants for graduate study for the Bachelor’s to Doctor of Nursing Practice – Clinical Nurse Leader Specialization must have: - Current, unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the United States or its’ territories prior to enrollment in first graduate nursing course.
- 1500 hours of documented nursing practice experience prior to taking Advanced Physical Assessment (Lifespan).
- Completed and verified application to the Graduate Nursing program via NursingCAS website.
- Interview assessment reviewed by graduate faculty.
- Completed Compliance requirements: Clear Background check, clear FBI rolled fingerprint, clear drug screen, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, ACLS certification for FNP specialization, professional liability insurance, influenza vaccine, and TB test.
For applicants who completed their higher education within the United States: - Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
For applicants who completed their higher education outside the United States: - A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (within the United States Education System) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point grading system.
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