Post-Graduate APRN Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program

Program Description 

The post graduate APRN FNP certificate program prepares nurses who have already earned a master’s degree, or higher, in nursing to sit for either the national certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).  

This is a 19-25 credit hour program. All courses are delivered via an online modality. Two courses are clinical, affording the student the opportunity to complete the 600 hours of supervised clinical practice in Prerequisites for registration in the specialty/population courses in either certificate program is evidence of competence in the following three areas: advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacotherapeutics, and advanced assessment. 

Post-Graduate APRN FNP Progression

Prerequisites to registration for the four specialty courses (NSG 712, 714, 720, & 722) in the program are evidence of completion of graduate level courses in the following three areas: advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacotherapeutics, and advanced assessment.

Fall  

Spring 

Summer 

Year 1 

NSG 706 Adv. Patho. 

 

Total Credits 

 

3 

NSG 701 Adv. Pharm 

NSG 705 Adv. Assessment 

Total Credits 

3 

NSG 712 Primary Care I  

Total Credits 

Year 2 

NSG 714 Primary Care 2   

NSG 720 Practicum 1  

Total Credits 

8 

NSG 721 Practicum 2  

 

 

Total Credits 

A minimum of 10 credits of Family Practicum (including Practicum 1 and 2) is required for graduation.  This equates to a total of 600 hours of supervised clinical experience.   

Total Program Credits 

19-25 

Clinical Placements

We ask that students actively collaborate with faculty in identifying preceptors for clinical practicum courses. Over the course of the final fall and spring semesters, students will need at least 570 direct clinical practice hours supervised by an advanced practice provider or physician who meets criteria and is approved by faculty.

Students will provide care for individuals and families across the lifespan experiencing acute and chronic health issues. The preponderance of clinical hours will be spent in a primary care clinic setting. Clinical experiences will incorporate healthcare considerations of social determinants of health as well as inclusion of health promotion and preventative care guidance. Students will utilize evidence-based practice and collaboration with other health professionals to optimize patient health outcomes.

Due to potential preceptor limitations, students may have to travel out of their local areas to their clinical sites and are required to provide their own reliable transportation.