Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

Admission Requirements

The following requirements must be met in order to be considered eligible for admission:

1. Candidates who hold a Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from a nursing program that meets one of these criteria:
   • Is programmatically accredited by an agency recognized by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or The NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA)
   • Is nationally accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and meet the University requirements for graduate study, listed in the General Catalog under Academic Information for Graduate Degrees.
2. Candidates must reside in either CA or TX.

All Post-Graduate FNP Certificate Candidates:

• Must provide proof of a current, active and unencumbered RN license in the State of residence.
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent, based on the grading scale approved at the calculating institution).
• Complete and submit the E-Resources Application.

Prior to the start of their specialization courses, all candidates must:

• Provide evidence of current, active professional liability and malpractice insurance coverage throughout the program.
• Provide evidence of specified immunizations, a report of a recent physical examination, a clear drug screen and background check and current BLS certification.

Additional Program Information

1. Candidates are required to meet with an Enrollment Advisor to review the process for applying to and acceptance into the Nursing program. The specifics described are: program of study, schedules of courses, and requirements for progression in the program. Note: Prospective students should review the E Resource MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate information before submitting the application.
2. Students should be proficient in operating a personal computer, including: demonstrated competency in standard computer operating systems and electronic filing systems, basic keyboarding skills, organizing and sorting electronic documents; demonstrated knowledge of standard computer applications to include Microsoft Word and Excel; familiarity with using internet browsers and standard email systems such as MS Outlook.
3. The Post-Graduate FNP Certificate program is delivered online and includes mandatory onsite components. All accepted applicants are required to attend a virtual program orientation. Additionally, students enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specializations must participate in three to four scheduled Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), which may be conducted either in person at a National University campus or virtually. The OSCEs are scheduled over two days and are combined with skills review sessions.
4. FNP and PMHNP practicum courses are designed as immersive experiences and take place in faculty-approved, in-person clinical settings with assigned preceptors. All preceptors are compensated by the program. Students may arrange their own preceptor, and National University will compensate the preceptor directly at the university rate. Students are not encouraged to individually pay for a preceptor.
5. Students who request a change in specialization after they have been admitted must submit a new goal statement addressing the new specialization area. All prerequisites must be met prior to admission into the new specialization. The new goal statement will be re-submitted via the Enrollment Advisor.
6. Students who withdraw from the Post-Graduate FNP Certificate program, who are discontinued due to lack of attendance, or who defer enrollment prior to starting the program will not need to reapply to their program if their original application was submitted within one year of the reapplication date. However, reapplication to the University may be required; please refer to the general catalog for applicable policies and procedures.
7. Students seeking readmission more than one year after their initial application must submit a new E-Resources Application, including all required documentation such as drug screening, background check, immunizations, and a physical examination. Note: Reapplication to the program does not guarantee acceptance, nor does it offer any preferential consideration.

Program Disclosure Information

The Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program is currently using guidelines that prepare eligible students to sit for the FNP national certification examinations offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Please see appropriate organization for more information.

This program is designed for nurses who hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), who wish to advance their knowledge, education, and skills to practice in an advanced practice role as a FNP.

This program is not available in all 50 States. Please see licensure website for up-to-date information on program licensure eligibility requirements for a state, please visit: https://www.nu.edu/licensuredisclosures/