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Postgraduate Certificates in Nursing

student nurse on laptop

About the Program

Expand your knowledge and credentials with a postgraduate certificate. Prepare for advanced practice in leadership, education and clinical practice.

We feature collaboration and placement with over 200 established partnerships in a variety of local and regional clinical settings. Our clinical preceptors are engaged, caring healthcare professionals who provide an invaluable piece of our students’ clinical education.

Online Certificate Options

Program coursework is delivered online and includes a field-based practicum. The postgraduate clinical nurse leader certificate is focused on integrating the vital work of clinical nurse leaders into any health care setting. This certificate program is designed for nurses who currently hold a master's degree in nursing education, nursing administration or clinical nurse specialist.

Courses for the certificate are designed to meet the national AACN requirements for the student to become a  certified clinical nurse leader and assist students to meet the following CNL competencies: critical thinking, communication, health assessment, nursing technology and resource management, health promotion, risk reduction and disease prevention, illness and disease management, information and health care technologies, ethics, human diversity, global health care, health care systems and policy, provider and manager of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care and member of a profession.

The program of study is individualized. Interested applicants are advised to contact the graduate nursing department to discuss options. For required courses and more information, see the clinical nurse leader curriculum plan.

Admission Requirements

Program coursework is delivered online and includes a field-based practicum. The postgraduate nurse educator certificate program prepares graduates to utilize theories of teaching and learning in a variety of nursing education settings. Graduates are prepared to plan, implement and evaluate nursing education programs. Graduates may be eligible to earn national certification as a certified nurse educator. Individuals must meet eligibility requirements before they can take the exam.

The program of study is individualized. Interested applicants are advised to contact the graduate nursing department to discuss options. For required courses and more information, see the nurse educator curriculum plan.

Admission Requirements

Program coursework for the FNP is delivered online; select classes may require on-campus visits. Students complete a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical practice preceptorship in a variety of settings, including mandatory practice in rural settings. Graduates of the postgraduate family nurse practitioner certificate program are prepared to deliver evidence-based direct patient care at an advanced practice level to individuals across the lifespan in primary care settings with an emphasis on rural healthcare.

Students who have completed graduate nursing courses in pharmacology, pathophysiology and advanced health assessment may be able to apply those courses towards certificate requirements. Graduates are eligible for certification as a family nurse practitioner from either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification Board (AANPCB).

The program of study is individualized. Interested applicants are advised to contact the graduate nursing department to discuss options. For required courses and more information, see the family nurse practitioner curriculum plan.

Admission Requirements

Program coursework is delivered online and includes 540 clinical hours. The postgraduate psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certificate will prepare you to effectively care for patients with complex psychiatric and physical health needs. Advanced nursing practice in psychiatric mental health covers both outpatient and inpatient care, children through elderly individuals and mild depression and anxiety to significantly disabling conditions including substance abuse, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia. This certificate prepares graduates to provide much needed high-quality mental health care to all populations and conditions in a variety of rural and urban settings.

Students who have completed graduate nursing courses in pharmacology, pathophysiology and advanced health assessment may be able to apply those courses towards certificate requirements. Graduates are prepared to sit for the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification exam through American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

The program of study is individualized. Interested applicants are advised to contact the graduate nursing department to discuss options. For required courses and more information, see the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner curriculum plan.

Admission Requirements

Program coursework is delivered online and includes 540 clinical hours. Advanced nursing practice in adult-gerontology acute care focuses on providing advanced nursing care to adult, older adult and elderly patients with acute, chronic and critical conditions. This certificate builds upon the Family Nurse Practitioner degree, and prepares graduates to work in many different clinical settings providing advanced nursing care to patients in critical conditions, with chronic or episodic illnesses and/or with acute medical needs. These settings include but are not limited to clinics, physicians’ offices, hospitals, retirement homes, hospices and private practices.

Students who have completed graduate nursing courses in pharmacology, pathophysiology and advanced health assessment may be able to apply those courses towards certificate requirements. Graduates are prepared to sit for ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC®) certification exam.

The program of study is individualized. Interested applicants are advised to contact the graduate nursing department to discuss options. For required courses and more information, see the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner curriculum plan.

Admission Requirements

At the completion of the program, the graduate will successfully demonstrate the following outcomes:

  • Display competence within the legal scope of practice for chosen specialization.
  • Evaluate and utilize research within advanced nursing practice.
  • Integrate cultural learning into nursing practice to effectively tailor health care to the diverse lifestyles of clients.

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate

  • Assess, diagnose, and treat patients appropriately throughout the lifespan who present to primary care for acute and chronic health conditions.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the professional and legal aspects of the family nurse practitioner role.
  • Develop patient centered treatment plans that demonstrate understanding of physical assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacologic principles and integrate cultural, socioeconomic, and spiritual factors.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate

  • Assess, diagnose, and treat patients appropriately throughout the lifespan who present to psychiatric mental health settings for acute and chronic health conditions.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the professional and legal aspects of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner role.
  • Develop age-appropriate treatment plans for patients with mental health problems and psychiatric disorders that incorporate psychosocial and physical assessment, pharmacologic standards, are based on therapeutic relationship strategies, and integrate cultural, socioeconomic, and spiritual factors.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate

  • Demonstrate skills and knowledge specific to the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) role.
  • Function in an acute care setting providing acute care to adults, older adults, and elderly patients with acute, chronic, and critical conditions.