Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) (post-MA)
Location: AU Online
Credits for Degree: 44 semester credits
Standard Mode of Instruction: Low Residency
Standard time to completion: 24 months
Program Overview
The post-master’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate Program prepares nurses to provide primary family healthcare with an emphasis on social justice and health equity using a holistic caring framework in an increasingly complex environment. This certificate program is designed for nurses who hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) degree who wish to advance their knowledge, education, and skills to practice in an advanced practice role as an FNP. The Program’s emphasis is to foster the FNP’s abilities to critically think, make differential diagnoses, use evidence-based findings to improve healthcare outcomes, and be accountable for the provision of healthcare to diverse individuals and families in the areas of health promotion, disease prevention, management of acute and chronic health conditions, and primary care. The FNP provides clinical management of primary care conditions in various clinics and community-based settings. Graduates are eligible to sit for the FNP national certification examinations offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Required Science Core Courses
All nurse practitioner curricula require the student to have documented that they have taken courses in Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Physical Health Assessment within the last 5 years. Upon application for admission to a Post-Graduate Certificate program, students must demonstrate that they have had these courses prior to matriculation. If a student is unable to demonstrate that they have taken these courses, they will be required to complete them prior to starting courses in the certificate’s major.
Furthermore, for initial licensure in Ohio as an Advanced Practice Nurse with prescriptive authority, the student must demonstrate that they have taken Advanced Pharmacology no later than 5 years prior to applying for licensure. If the Advanced Pharmacology of record is older than 5 years, then the student is required to take Advanced Pharmacology prior to starting courses in the certificate’s major.
Time Limit for Completion of Post-Graduate Certificate
After a student has been admitted to a Post-Graduate Certificate major, continuous progress toward completion of the certificate is expected. The time limit for completion of the certificate is three (3) years and is computed from the first date credit is recorded on the University’s transcript until the certificate requirements are completed. All students may petition for an extension of the time limit. Petitions requesting an extension of the time limit may be submitted to the Graduate School of Nursing and Health Professions Curriculum Committee via email to the Department of Nursing. Extensions may be considered: (1) if any unusual circumstances beyond the control of the student caused failure to meet the time limit policy, and (2) contingent on space available in the current class.
Curriculum
The FNP major prepares the student for a role in primary care as an advanced practice nurse with the population focus across the lifespan. Students are prepared to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Certification Examination for Family Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) for Family Nurse Practitioners. For national board certification to apply to a state board of nursing to practice as a family nurse practitioner, passing only one of these exams is required.
Students completing this curriculum are awarded a Certificate of Completion, which is not a graduate degree. As such, Post-Graduate Certificate students should check with a financial aid counselor about the applicability of student loans to this program.
Current Tuition and Fees
University Tuition and Fees
Return to: