Used to define quality in nursing education, the AACN Essentials outline the necessary curriculum content and expected competencies of graduates from baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. AACN is dedicated to providing resources and support to facilitate this shift in nursing education. Whether you're an educator, student, or healthcare professional, explore this microsite to stay informed and engaged as we shape the future of nursing education together.
This video is an essential starting point for those new to The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. It provides a comprehensive overview of the Essentials website, guiding you through key resources and tools for implementing competency-based education (CBE). Watch now to take your first steps with confidence.
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Share Your Learning Strategies via AACN’s Teaching Resource Database
August 6, 2025 To showcase innovative approaches to competency development aligned with the 2021 Essentials, AACN created a searchable Teaching Resource Database containing learning strategies, recommended content, and assessment options that faculty can consider when adapting their programs. Faculty can search for content by Domain, competency, and sub-competency, which will help with locating the right resources to meet program needs. Faculty are encouraged to visit the database on a regular basis, as new resources are added on an ongoing basis. To submit your learning strategies, click here. For tips on using the Teaching Resource Database and adding your new content for consideration, watch this video featuring Dr. Kristin Ashford from the University of Kentucky.
Recently Added Resources
Just Announced: Regional Workshop Focused on Coaching and Competency Assessment
July 30, 2025 Register now for an interactive AACN workshop for faculty and practice partners engaged in implementing the 2021 Essentials. On September 30, AACN will host a regional event in Philadelphia, PA titled Advancing Curricular Transformation Through Coaching and Competency-Based Assessment Strategies. Following a review of the tenets of competency-based education (CBE), attendees will develop a system of formative and summative assessment for their nursing programs focused on individualized learner progression and feedback. Participants will focus on creating meaningful experiential learning opportunities and using artificial intelligence to design and refine assessment rubrics. Special emphasis will be placed on developing coaching strategies that support student-centered learning and progression within a CBE framework. Register now.
Accelerate Your Learning on CBE and Essentials Implementation
July 23, 2025 Faculty interested in or currently integrating the 2021 Essentials into their nursing programs and transitioning to competency-based education (CBE) are encouraged to explore AACN’s archive of on-demand webinars. Offered as a free AACN member benefit, these webinars cover topics highly relevant to faculty engaged in implementation efforts, including curriculum redesign, learning assessment, and collaborating with practice partners to enhance clinical education. Visit the Essentials webinar page for more details. Recently aired webinars include:
From Prebrief to Debrief: Building Conversation Competence in Simulation
July 16, 2025 Facilitating healthy conversations is a key skill for faculty to build as they approach delivering information to students during experiential learning activities. Produced in collaboration with Laerdal Medical, AACN debuted three sets of videos focused on prebriefing, coaching, and debriefing at Transform 2024 during the pre-conference simulation workshop. Now available for free, these teaching tools provide examples of successful conversations and ones with room for improvement, as well as scripts and discussion points. Watch the introduction and get started here.
AACN’s Journal Seeks Manuscripts on CBE Implementation and Assessment
July 9, 2025 The Journal of Professional Nursing (JPN) is AACN’s peer-reviewed journal, which serves as the leading source for scholarly publications related to the 2021 AACN Essentials and the transition to competency-based education (CBE). JPN is currently seeking manuscripts focused on how schools are moving to adapt their programs using the new model and framework outlined in the Essentials, including new approaches to teaching and learning assessment. To discuss your manuscript idea, contact editor Dr. Patricia Morton at Trish.Morton@utah.edu. For an updated list of Essentials-related articles published in JPN and other leading journals serving the academic nursing community, click here.
Resources to Elevate Your Understanding of Competency-Based Education
July 2, 2025 AACN is committed to providing faculty development focused on competency-based education (CBE). A content-rich website has been created to highlight the latest learning resources, including more than 60 on-demand webinars and conference sessions on CBE, learning assessment, and Essentials implementation. Special highlights include:
AACN encourages faculty to visit this website often for the latest announcements related to new resources and upcoming learning opportunities. Access the CBE web resource here.
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Curriculum Redesign
June 25, 2025 Offered as part of our Essentials webinar series, AACN will explore Nurses as Co-Designers: Shaping AI to Transform Nursing Education on June 26 from 2:00-3:00 pm (ET). Attendees will consider the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to augment clinical reasoning, reflective learning, and systems-level insight in clinical and classroom settings. The presenters will share practical examples from Emory University and Georgia Tech for using AI as a tool for advancing nurse-led pedagogy aligned with the AACN Essentials. Participants will be introduced to a roadmap for initiating AI co-design efforts within their own institutions and will engage with a panel of experts to explore myths, lessons, and next steps for faculty across all levels of tech familiarity. Action pathways and resources to support immediate implementation will be discussed. Register now. For details on dozens of additional webinars to help with Essentials implementation that are available on demand, click here.
Register Now for an Online Faculty Workshop Focused on Essentializing Your Curriculum
June 18, 2025 Back by popular demand, AACN is hosting a virtual program for faculty seeking strategies, resources, and solutions for adapting their nursing programs to meet the 2021 Essentials. Titled Essentializing Your Curriculum: Moving Forward with Competency-Based Education (CBE), this workshop provides an introduction to CBE, in-depth training on curricular transition, and instruction on how to use AI to develop assessment rubrics based on progression indicators. Held November 17 and 18 from 12:00-4:00 pm (ET), the two-day event features instruction from AACN’s Essentials Coaches and experts with the Competency-Based Education Network. Participants will engage in collaborative learning through virtual breakout rooms to apply concepts and develop practical solutions. Click here to register. Seats are limited to allow for more personalized instruction.
New Essentials Workshop Focused on Coaching and Competency Assessment
June 11, 2025 AACN is pleased to announce a new interactive workshop for faculty and practice partners engaged in implementing the 2021 Essentials. On December 3, AACN will host a regional workshop in Anaheim, CA as a pre-conference event to Transform 2025 titled Advancing Curricular Transformation Through Coaching and Competency-Based Assessment Strategies. Following a review of the tenets of competency-based education (CBE), attendees will develop a system of formative and summative assessment for their nursing programs that is focused on individualized learner progression and feedback. Participants will focus on creating meaningful experiential learning opportunities and using artificial intelligence to design and refine assessment rubrics. Special emphasis will be placed on developing coaching strategies that support student-centered learning and progression within a CBE framework. Register now.
Integrating the Essentials and IPEC Competencies in Nursing Programs
June 4, 2025 As part of our Essentials webinar series, AACN will explore Transforming Nursing Education: Integrating the AACN Essentials and IPEC Core Competencies on June 11 from 1:00-2:00 pm (ET). This webinar will explore the recently revised IPEC Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (2023) and the AACN Essentials (2021), highlighting their development and significance in nursing education. Attendees will learn how nursing programs have successfully integrated these frameworks to promote collaborative practice, with speakers sharing insights on enhancing integration through school-based interprofessional programming and partnerships with practice partners across the healthcare community. Register now. For details on dozens of additional webinars to help with Essentials implementation that are available on demand, click here.
View all Updates
September 30, 2025 | Philadelphia, PA Advancing Curricular Transformation Through Coaching and Competency-Based Assessment Strategies
November 10, 2025 | Virtual Workshop The Power of Coaching: Transforming Faculty Feedback for Competency-Based Success
November 17-18, 2025 | Virtual Two-Day Workshop Essentializing Your Curriculum: Moving Forward with Competency-Based Education
December 3, 2025 | Transform 2025 Pre-Conference | Anaheim, CA Advancing Curricular Transformation Through Coaching and Competency-Based Assessment Strategies
What Higher Education Leaders Need to Know About the AACN Essentials
Essentials Competency Assessment Framework