Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner (PM)

The Byers School of Nursing Post Master's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate Program allows Master's-prepared nurses to expand their scope of practice to include care of individuals across the lifespan. The program includes didactic and clinical experiences that focus on the primary care needs of individuals, families, and communities. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the national Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam.

Post Masters Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner Program Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate personal, collegial, and collaborative approaches that enhance the family nurse practitioner's effectiveness in working in an interprofessional manner.
  2. Synthesize theoretical, scientific, and contemporary clinical knowledge for the assessment and management of both health and illness states, health promotion, health protection, disease prevention, and treatment of all patients including those with multiple chronic conditions.
  3. Ensure quality of care through consultations and collaboration with other professions.
  4. Analyze situations to improve health outcomes for patients, communities, and systems by overseeing and directing the delivery of clinical services within an interprofessional system of health care.
  5. Translate knowledge and psychomotor skills to enhance patients ‘ability for self-care through advocating, modeling, and teaching.
  6. Demonstrate a commitment to the implementation, preservation, and evolution of the family nurse practitioner role as well as build interprofessional relationships to provide optimal care to the patient.
  7. Provide culturally competent care with respect to cultural and spiritual beliefs and make health care resources available to patients from diverse cultures.

Global Experiences

While enrolled in the program, students may participate in the Byers School of Nursing’s global experience(s). The student is advised to seek more information on global experiences from the Office of Global Learning.

Certificate Academic Guidelines

Admission Policy

Participants enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program must comply with the Byers School of Nursing Graduate admission requirements.

Program Delivery

The Family Nurse Practitioner program is offered using a distance learning methodology* and requires students to be on campus for two intensives.

Registration Procedures

Before or during the first half of the first semester, students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisors to map out a curriculum plan. For the remainder of the program students are responsible for registering for their own classes. The process is as follows:

  • Graduate students may register online by accessing the Cavalier Center. Before registering for courses, students should consult with their academic advisor to ensure timely progress towards degree completion. 

*Online refers to the definition from the Higher Learning Commission: Distance-delivered courses are those in which all or the vast majority (typically 75% or more) of the instruction and interaction occurs via electronic communication, correspondence, or equivalent mechanisms, with the faculty and students physically separated from each other.