Background: Clinical faculty play a vital role in helping students apply in practice what they learn in classroom, skills lab, or simulation settings. One national expert (Gaberson, 2023) describes the role of clinical faculty as “where the rubber meets the road,” meaning that they guide students through real world situations, providing invaluable learning experiences. Evidence strongly supports preparing clinical educators to strengthen their confidence and competence and to enhance student learning. A successful statewide program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing builds on the 5Rs for clinical teaching: Role, Responsibilities, Resources, Realities and Relationships. Objectives: The goals of this faculty development program are to prepare competent clinical nursing instructors and to support national certification for eligible and interested participants. Methods: This well-established program, generously supported by NSP II grant funding, helps participants gain practical teaching-related knowledge and skills, and provides ongoing support for their taking NLN’s clinical educator certification exam (CNE-cl). Two-day virtual workshops are offered free of charge to clinical faculty across the state. Led by UMSON faculty in collaboration with a keynote expert and UMSONs outstanding standardized patient program, the workshop is delivered three times per year. The workshop culminates with a realistic simulation and debriefing experience that allows participants to practice new feedback skills in a safe, supportive environment. Results: The project team has been awarded $1.1 million over three competitive grant cycles, allowing nearly 600 clinical nursing faculty from dozens of programs and sites across Maryland to complete the program. Evening follow-up sessions offer ongoing support and encourage participants’ continual professional development. Sessions allow participants to share successes and challenges, pose questions to their peers, and practice test-taking strategies. Eligible participants who take and pass the CNE-cl exam receive funding to cover exam registration fees and preparation materials. During the current grant cycle, thirteen participants have successfully passed the certification exam and received $1,000. Conclusion: Participants give the program consistently high marks and provide positive comments on evaluations, and 100% of respondents state that they would recommend the program to their colleagues