Certificate in Nursing
The Certificate in Enrolled Community Health Nursing is a two-year programme offered exclusively by the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) across selected campuses in Kenya. It trains students to provide basic healthcare services with a focus on community-based health interventions, disease prevention, and primary healthcare delivery. The programme is accredited by the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) under the Nurses Act Cap 257.
Year 1 covers foundational nursing sciences including anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, nutrition, and basic medical-surgical nursing. Students also learn communication skills, patient care, and health promotion. Year 2 focuses on community health nursing, midwifery practicum, specialised nursing procedures, paediatric care, mental health nursing, and communicable disease management.
Clinical practice is integrated throughout the programme, with students rotating through antenatal wards, post-natal wards, labour wards, paediatric wards, surgical and medical wards, operating theatres, and community health settings. The programme follows a modular structure with end-of-semester examinations.
Entry requirements are a KCSE mean grade of C- (minus), with C- (minus) in English or Kiswahili and Biology or Biological Sciences, plus D+ (plus) in any one of Chemistry, Physics or Physical Sciences, or Mathematics. The programme is available at 18 KMTC campuses including Garissa, Isiolo, Kitui, Bomet, Chemolingot, Kabarnet, Kangema, Kapenguria, Kilifi, Lamu, Loitokitok, Mandera, Marsabit, Msambweni, Narok, Tana River, Trans Mara, and Wajir.
Upon completion, graduates are eligible for enrolment and licensing by the Nursing Council of Kenya as Enrolled Community Health Nurses (KECN). Career opportunities include positions in public health clinics, community health centres, dispensaries, and non-governmental organisations, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
The programme plays a critical role in expanding healthcare access in Kenya, with many campuses located in arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) counties. The Beyond Zero Initiative partners with KMTC to offer scholarships for this programme, prioritising candidates from ASAL counties and vulnerable groups willing to serve in their communities upon graduation.
- Duration
- 2
- Public, up to
- Ksh 122,200
- Job market
- High
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Practicalities
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Attachment
- 0 months
- Average class
- 50 students
- Award
- Certificate
What you study
10 subjects- Anatomy and Physiology
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Nutrition
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Community Health Nursing
- Midwifery
- Paediatric Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
- Communicable and Vector-Borne Diseases
Modules
10 in the programmeAnatomy and Physiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Structure and function of the human body with relevance to nursing practice.
Microbiology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Basic microbiology covering pathogens, infection control, and prevention.
Pharmacology I
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Principles of pharmacology, drug classifications, and administration routes.
Medical-Surgical Nursing I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamentals of medical and surgical nursing care including patient assessment.
Nutrition
Year 1Semester 22 creditsCore
Principles of nutrition and diet therapy relevant to patient care.
Community Health Nursing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Community-based healthcare delivery, health promotion, and disease prevention.
Midwifery Practicum
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Antenatal, labour, and post-natal care practicum in hospital settings.
Paediatric Nursing
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Nursing care of children including immunisation and growth monitoring.
Mental Health Nursing
Year 2Semester 22 creditsCore
Principles of mental health nursing and psychiatric care.
Communicable and Vector-Borne Diseases
Year 2Semester 22 creditsCore
Management of communicable diseases including HIV, TB, and malaria.
Specialisations
Community Health Nursing
Focus on community-based healthcare delivery and primary healthcare.
Midwifery
Antenatal, intrapartum, and post-natal care in community settings.
Paediatric Nursing
Nursing care of children including immunisation and growth monitoring.
Mental Health Nursing
Basic psychiatric nursing care in community and facility settings.
A day as a student
A typical day combines morning lectures on nursing sciences or pharmacology with afternoon clinical rotations in hospital wards, where students practise patient assessment, medication administration, wound care, and health education under supervision.
The trade offs
In its favour
- Lower entry requirements make nursing accessible to more Kenyan students.
- High demand for enrolled nurses in rural and underserved communities.
- Clear upgrading pathway to diploma and eventually degree level nursing.
Against it
- Lower salary cadre compared to diploma and degree-level registered nurses.
- Limited to KMTC as the sole accredited training institution in Kenya.
- Must pass NCK licensure examination before enrolment and practice.
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 349 health sciences coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
KMTC self-spon 122K Y1/118K Y2 (kmtc.ac.ke). Private: unverified.
The Beyond Zero Initiative offers full scholarships for this programme, prioritising candidates from ASAL counties and vulnerable groups. HELB loans and KUCCPS government subsidies are also available.
Funding options
HELB Loan
KUCCPS Government Placement
Beyond Zero Initiative Scholarship
Scholarships
3 recordedHELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in accredited programmes at KMTC.
Beyond Zero Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 160,200Kenyan
Full scholarship for candidates from ASAL counties and vulnerable groups. Includes a handwritten essay requirement.
KUCCPS Government Subsidy
SubsidyKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students placed by KUCCPS receive subsidised tuition fees at KMTC.
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
- KCSE mean grade
- C-
- Alternative entry
- Holders of relevant qualifications may apply through the KMTC upgrading pathway.
English or Kiswahili
C-
Biology or Biological Sciences
C-
Chemistry or Physics or Mathematics
D+
How you are assessed
3 componentsEnd of Semester Examinations
Written examination50% of the mark
Module examinations covering nursing sciences, pharmacology, and medical-surgical nursing fundamentals.
Clinical Practice Assessment
Practical assessment30% of the mark
Continuous assessment of clinical competencies during ward rotations and community health practicum.
NCK Licensure Examination
Written examination20% of the mark
National licensure examination administered by the Nursing Council of Kenya, consisting of 4 papers.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) under the Nurses Act Cap 257. Graduates must pass the NCK licensure examination and be enrolled and licensed before practising. KMTC is the only institution in Kenya accredited to offer this certificate programme.
Accredited by
Nursing Council of Kenya
ProfessionalRequired
KMTC is the only accredited institution for this programme. Graduates must pass the NCK licensure examination and be enrolled before practising.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesEnrolled Community Health Nurse
High demandKsh 360,000 to Ksh 540,000
Provides basic nursing care in public health clinics, dispensaries, and community health centres.
Nursing Assistant
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 480,000
Supports registered nurses in hospital wards and clinical settings.
Caregiver (NGO)
Moderate demandKsh 360,000 to Ksh 600,000
Works with NGOs providing community-based healthcare in underserved areas.
Upgraded Diploma Nurse (after upgrading)
High demandKsh 480,000 to Ksh 720,000
After completing a KMTC upgrading programme, progresses to registered nurse level.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates are in high demand in public health clinics, community health centres, and NGOs, particularly in rural and underserved communities across Kenya.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist Assistant (Junior)Health Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Tools you will learn
WHO Clinical Guidelines
ReferencePrimary
Kenya Ministry of Health Protocols
Reference
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
A certificate in nursing is not a real nursing qualification.
Graduates are enrolled and licensed by the Nursing Council of Kenya as Enrolled Community Health Nurses, a legally recognised cadre under the Nurses Act Cap 257.
Certificate nurses cannot upgrade to diploma level.
KMTC offers upgrading programmes that allow enrolled nurses to progress to diploma level with relevant working experience.
Certificate nurses are limited to rural postings only.
While many serve in underserved communities, enrolled nurses work across all healthcare settings including urban hospitals, clinics, and NGOs.
The programme is available at many institutions.
KMTC is the only institution in Kenya accredited by the Nursing Council of Kenya to offer the certificate in nursing programme.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Certificate in Nursing are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.