Graduate Certificate in
AI Ready
Healthcare Empowerment (CARE)
Lead the Future of AI in Health Care!
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming health care across predictive analytics, remote monitoring, and clinical decision support. The Certificate in AI Ready Healthcare Empowerment (CARE) from the University of Arizona College of Nursing trains nurses and other health care professionals to use AI tools in clinical practice, innovation, research, and leadership.
This pioneering program targets AI applications in nursing and health care clinical practice, an area with limited formal training opportunities. Delivered flexibly online, CARE prepares working professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to lead in AI-enabled health care settings.
Why earn the CARE certificate?
- Lead the future of health care! Acquire practical skills to incorporate AI into patient care, health care systems, and clinical decision-making.
- Hands-on experience with AI tools and clinical case studies taught by nationally recognized U of A faculty.
- Develop marketable skills by building expertise in AI tools and digital technologies that are transforming health care delivery.
- 100% Online! Flexible for working professionals. Primarily asynchronous learning with a few strategically scheduled live sessions.
- Open to non-degree-seeking students!
Program Goals
The CARE certificate develops essential and practical AI skills that prepare graduates for:
- AI-integrated clinical practice
- Health care innovation and research
- Leadership in AI-ready health care settings
- Roles in health care technology
What You’ll Learn
Our program focuses on an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines nursing, health care, and engineering, where you'll explore:
- AI-driven data analytics to improve health outcomes
- Machine learning in clinical decision-making
- AI tools that enhance clinical communication
- Ethical and legal issues in health care AI
- Sensor technologies and AI hardware utilized in healthcare systems
- Innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship in AI-powered health care
The certificate consists of three graduate-level courses totaling nine credits.
Course 1: AI Foundations in Healthcare, NURS 516
- AI basics and health care applications
- AI-powered data analytics
- Clinical decision support and communication tools
- Ethical and legal issues in healthcare AI
Course 2: Digital Health Foundations
- Sensor technologies
- AI computation platforms
- AI ecosystems in health care
- Hardware-enabled AI applications
Course 3: Innovation-based learning for Leadership and Entrepreneurship
- Identifying unmet health care needs
- Innovation and solution development
- Health care technology regulatory considerations
- Prototype development and entrepreneurship
Skills You’ll Develop
- Using AI tools in clinical decision-making
- Leveraging AI-driven data analytics to improve health outcomes
- Understanding AI technologies used in health care systems
- Assessing ethical and regulatory considerations in health care AI
- Leading AI-powered innovation in health care organizations
Eligibility:
To qualify for admission to this graduate certificate program, you must have at least a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
The inaugural cohort begins in Fall 2026. Courses are offered in sequence, one per semester (fall, spring, summer).
- NURS/ECE 516 – AI Foundations in Healthcare (3 units) | starts Aug. 24, 2026
- NURS/ECE 518 – Digital Health Foundations (3 units) | Spring semester 2027
- NURS/ECE 526 – Innovation-based learning for Leadership and Entrepreneurship (3 units) | Summer semester 2027
Career Outcomes
Graduates of this certificate will be equipped to apply AI in clinical and health care environments and to drive innovation in rapidly changing health care systems. This certificate enhances skills increasingly in demand across health care, technology, and research organizations. Potential career options include:
- AI-integrated clinical practice
- Health care technology and digital health roles
- Clinical innovation and transformation initiatives
- Health care data and AI-powered research
- Leadership roles in health care systems enabled by AI
You'll be well-equipped to assist health care organizations in implementing AI tools, enhancing patient outcomes, and guiding responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
APPLICATION PROCESS
1. Applicants must submit the University of Arizona Graduate College online application.
2. Applicants must also provide:
- TRANSCRIPTS
- Applicants must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary education institutions
- CV
- Applicants must submit their CV (PDF format preferred)
- 300 Word Paragraph
- Please explain briefly how this AI certificate will help you in your professional journey.
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Deadlines
- Application Open Now for NURS 516
- Priority Deadline: Aug. 1, 2026
- Final Deadline: Aug. 21, 2026
For more information contact:
Layla Salazar
Enrollment Coordinator, Doctoral Programs & Certificates
CON-OSAA@arizona.edu