Graduate Certificate in
Critical Care Nursing
Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing
On this page: Overview | Course rationale | Learning outcomes | Course structure | Entry requirements | Fees and scholarships | Apply
Upgrade your nursing career in Critical Care Nursing
The Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing is designed for registered nurses seeking to advance their knowledge and clinical skills in critical care environments. As patient care becomes increasingly complex, this course equips nurses with the specialised expertise required to manage critically ill patients using evidence-based, person-centred approaches.
This course is developed and delivered by experienced critical care nurses and educators. This course addresses the need for formal postgraduate education in critical care, recognising the growing acuity of patients and the complexity of interventions now common in settings such as intensive care, emergency departments, and cardiac units. Students will engage in contemporary learning that reflects current healthcare challenges, technological advancements, and national practice standards. This course is structured around three critical care streams—Cardiac, Emergency, and Intensive Care Nursing—reflecting the diversity and complexity of contemporary critical care settings.
Graduate certificate in Critical Care Nursing is approved by TEQSA at AQF level 8 and is aligned to Australian Critical Care College of Nursing practice standards. On completion of the course, the students are able to achieve graduate outcomes which will inform their professional practice as well as their nationally and internationally recognised post graduate qualifications.
Course rationale
This course is offered in three critical care streams: cardiac, emergency and intensive care nursing. It is informed by and structured to meet industry needs in the field of Critical Care nursing. Students are guided through advanced clinical knowledge that moves them beyond fundamental techniques in the provision of care within the critical care environment. Course design allows students to gain in depth understanding of critical care nursing and the role a specialist nurse plays in caring for critically ill people. Learning content in this course enables students to collaborate in comprehensive clinical care as a member of a multidisciplinary team responsible for managing complex life-threatening conditions. Critical thinking and problem solving is emphasized throughout the course enabling students to prioritise urgent health needs and to implement nursing interventions which optimise health outcomes for people in their care. On completion of the course the nurse is equipped with professional attitude, encompassing legal and ethical evidence-based practice, cultural sensitivity and commitment to lifelong learning.
Learning outcomes
This course is designed for registered nurses wishing to further their education in the practice of critical care nursing. It enables students to:
- Develop a sound theoretical base for specialist nursing practice in a dynamic, complex and demanding critical care environment
- Apply specialist level of clinical skills and abilities to optimise person-centred care delivery for critical ill people
- Analyse complex clinical problems using critical thinking, evolved reasoning informed by national and international best practice guidelines
- Discuss legal, ethical and cultural concepts related to providing holistic healthcare in a safe and cohesive critical care environment
- Evaluate critical care leadership and mentoring processes which enable dissemination of knowledge, enhancement of skills and participation in collaborative research and lifelong learning
- Critically analyse own role in fostering reflective practice and effective communication for continuous improvement of standards and quality in critical care
Course structure
The Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing is a one year course, consisting of four 10-week terms.
3 specialty streams are available: Cardiac, Emergency and Intensive Care. In each stream students will need to complete 4 units – 3 core and 1 specialty elective. One unit is studied per term.
Approximate hours of study are 12 – 15 hours per week.
Course progression for students commencing from January 2026
| Unit type | Unit name & pricing | Course codes |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 - Core | Advancing Professional Practice (340), Tier 2 | |
| Term 2 - Core | Advanced Applied Pathophysiology (in Clinical Practice) (344), Tier 1 | |
| Term 3 - Core | Principles of Critical Care Nursing (281)*, Tier 1 | |
| Term 4 - Specialty elective | Choose one specialty elective from the following:
|
|
| *Unit 344 is a prerequisite unit 281 **Unit 281 is a prerequisite for all elective units |
||
Course progression for students enrolled in 2025 and earlier
Students in the Critical Care Nursing courses prior to January 2026 will continue to follow the existing course progression structure.
| Unit type | Unit name & pricing | |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 - Core | Advanced Applied Pathophysiology (in Clinical Practice) (344), Tier 1 | |
| Term 2 - Core | Principles of Critical Care Nursing (281)*, Tier 1 | |
| Term 3 - Core | Advancing Professional Practice (340), Tier 2 | |
| Term 4 - Specialty elective | Choose one specialty elective from the following:
|
|
| *Unit 344 is a prerequisite unit 281 **Unit 281 is a prerequisite for all elective units |
||
Important dates including start and census dates can be found here.
Credit transfer arrangements
Students who successfully completed the Intensive Care Unit Transition to Specialty Practice (ICU TTSP) — delivered by NSW Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) — are eligible for a credit transfer of six (6) credit points.
This credit is equivalent to the unit 070 Intensive Care Nursing in the Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing.
Entry requirements
Admission to a graduate certificate course is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN’s general eligibility criteria.
All applicants seeking admission are required to:
- hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse equivalent qualification
- hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin
- meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) – please refer to the AHPRA website to download the standard
- have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience; and
- be currently employed in the clinical area of specialisation
Fees and scholarships
| Tiers | 2025 Member price (10% discount) | 2025 Non-member price | 2026 Member price (10% discount) | 2026 Non-member price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $2,403.00 | $2,670.00 | $2,460.60 | $2,734.00 |
| Tier 2 | $2,740.50 | $3,045.00 | $2,806.20 | $3,118.00 |
| Tier 3 | $3,539.00 | $3,932.00 | $3,623.80 | $4,026.00 |
| Tier 4 | $4,166.00 | $4,628.50 | $4,266.00 | $4,740.00 |
| *Graduate certificate / single unit of study fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change without notice | ||||
Fees are subject to change without notice.
ACN offers a flexible payment option allowing students to pay their fees on a term-by-term basis. Each term’s fees are due upfront, prior to term commencement.
FEE-HELP is also available for eligible students. Further information can be found here.
Want to save on course fees?
Being a part of the ACN community allows nurses to be the best they can be and strengthen the voice of nursing through a range of invaluable benefits, including 10% off graduate certificates and other education offerings, exclusive networking events, access to support and advice on ACN’s online engagement platform The Buzz, free online CPD courses and opportunities to be involved in shaping health care policy. Find out more and join our tribe today!
Find a scholarship to suit you
Discover our range of scholarships to support you to succeed in your studies regardless of your circumstances. Find ACN scholarships or ACN Foundation Grants and Awards.
Meet your Nurse Educator
Jenat Sakayanathan, Nurse Educator Higher Education
RN, BHS & MN, MN (Critical Care)
e: jenat.sakayanathan@acn.edu.au
» About me
Jenat is a critical care nurse who is very passionate about nursing. Clinically, she has experience working in various setting including Emergency, ICU, Rehabilitation and Community in both public and private health sectors. Academically, she holds a Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Nursing (USYD) and a Masters in Critical Care Nursing (UTAS). Jenat believes teaching is a process that facilitates acquisition and modification of knowledge that enables nurse to become critical thinkers. She thrives to create a supportive environment for nurses to learn and is passionate about empowering nurses to provide care that is of the highest quality.
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Hear from past students
Apply now
Please ensure you read all course information and make sure you meet entry requirements prior to commencing the application form.
Applications for enrolment will not be progressed until all relevant documentation has been received by Customer Services.
We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care professionals to study this course. If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person we encourage you to let us know in your application. If you require assistance with completing your application or support during the course, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Course codes:
10 008 2662 (January 2026 intake)
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Graduate Certificate attributes
Get valuable industry skills with a competitive edge. ACN supports our students to graduate with the following attributes:
1
Demonstrate enhanced professional, social and ethical understanding in a specialist area of practice.
2
Apply complex problem solving and information literacy skills to the development of evidence-based practice, research and policy reform.
3
Engage in behaviour that is culturally appropriate, safe and sensitive to the needs of people in their care.
4
Demonstrate an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal values, culture and knowledge to build trust and improve health outcomes.
5
Combine advanced communication skills with an awareness of global health determinants to independently and collaboratively lead and educate others.
6
Reflect and think critically to be better able to care for self, improve health outcomes, and influence safe and effective professional practice.
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We’re here to help you every step of the way
For general information please contact:
Customer Services
t: (02) 9745 7500
e: customerservices@acn.edu.au
More information
General information
Important dates
Clinical placements
Postnominals
Frequently asked questions
- A Graduate Certificate typically requires the completion of 4 units (equivalent to 6 months of full-time study) or 24 credit points.
- A Graduate Diploma generally involves 8 units (equivalent to 1 year of full-time study) or 48 credit points.
- A Graduate Certificate is an entry-level postgraduate qualification, offering foundational knowledge in a specific area. It's often used for career advancement, upskilling, or transitioning to a new field. It is ideal for those seeking to enhance specific skills or qualifications without committing to a longer program. While a Graduate Diploma builds on the foundational knowledge of a Graduate Certificate, providing a deeper understanding and more advanced skills in the subject area.
- A Graduate Diploma is more expensive than a Graduate Certificate because it involves completing twice the number of units.
Each unit is worth 6 credit points, with a total of 24 credit points for the course.
You need to complete four units to obtain a Graduate Certificate.
A Graduate Certificate includes four units. The total cost depends on the Tier levels of the units. For example, a course with three Tier 1 units and one Tier 2 unit in 2025 will cost $10,680. Members receive a 10% discount on course fees.
Learn more about membership, its benefits and how to join.
Each unit has a different cost, indicated by its Tier level. You can find the specific fee amounts for each Tier level in the fee schedule.
Once you have receive the offer letter and accepted the place, you will receive the invoice for the unit fees. You can pay via bank transfer (details provided in the invoice) or by calling (02) 9745 7500 during business hours (8:30 am – 5:00 pm) to pay over the phone.
No, Commonwealth Supported Places are not offered for Graduate Certificate courses. However, FEE-HELP is available for eligible applicants. To see if you are eligible for FEE-HELP, please go the Australian government Study Assist website.
No, Graduate Certificate courses and single units of study have fixed start dates. There are four terms per year: January, April, July, and October. Check the Important Dates section on the website for details.
The course is typically completed in one year (one unit per term. If you would like to take leave during your study, you can take up to three consecutive terms of leave if you have enrolled in at least one unit. However, you must finish the course within two years.
No, there are no exams. The course and assessments are delivered online. Please note some courses may require mandatory in-class attendance or (off-site) clinical placements. For more details, please see individual course pages.
No, once you are enrolled in the course, you can access the online learning platform anytime to access the course material, offering flexibility for students balancing work and family commitments. However, assessments are only available during specific periods and must be completed within the allocated timeframe. The online course is supported by course coordinators, unit coordinators, tutors, and library staff, who offer access to resources such as books, journals, and databases.
Note: The Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-entry) is an exception and has both mandatory on-campus classes as well as clinical placements.
