Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Program Overview
The post-graduate APRN Certificate program prepares students entering with a MSN or DNP for advanced practice nursing role as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). A gap analysis of the students transcript will determine an individualized curriculum plan. The online format allows flexibility. Students will be required to participate in on-campus experiences throughout the specialty track courses.
The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Post-Graduate APRN Certificate prepares nurses with the clinical expertise and leadership skills needed to provide comprehensive primary care across the lifespan. Students will gain advanced practice nursing skills and competencies to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals in the primary care setting.
- Consists of 22 credit hours and 2+ years of full-time study (6 credits per semester over ~4 semesters pending gap analysis)
- Select courses include required on-campus experiences to ensure hands-on, high-quality clinical preparation.
The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-Graduate APRN Certificate prepares nurses with the clinical expertise and leadership skills needed to provide mental health care across the lifespan. Students will gain advanced practice nursing skills and competencies to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals experiencing mental health conditions.
- Consists of 23 credit hours and 2+ years of full-time study (6 credits per semester over ~4 semesters pending gap analysis)
- Select courses include required on-campus experiences to ensure hands-on, high-quality clinical preparation.
Benefits
To meet the needs of the working professional, the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate is offered online with access to coursework 24/7. Other benefits include:
- Collaborating with a Graduate Placement Coordinator to facilitate quality clinical and practicum experiences
- Dynamic online learning environment with faculty and peer support
Career Opportunities
Nurse practitioner
- Increased scope of practice as an advanced practice nurse
- Owning an independent practice
- Providing quality, evidence-based and compassionate health care
- Improving patient and community health outcomes
Curriculum
The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate courses include 22-23 credit hours of graduate-level coursework with highly-qualified nursing education faculty members. The courses are:
Family Nurse Practitioner Track
- NURG 7180 Transition to Clinical for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NURG 7300 Pediatric Primary Care Principles and Practice
- NURG 7310 Adult Primary Care Principles and Practice
- NURG 7320 Older Adult Primary Care Principles and Practice
- NURG 7980 Transition to Practice for Advanced Nursing Practice Nursing
View the Academic Catalog for complete certificate and track requirements.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track
- NURG 7160 Psychopharmacology & Diagnostic Reasoning
- NURG 7180 Transition to Clinical for Advanced Practice Nursing
- NURG 7600 Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Care
- NURG 7610 Psychotherapeutic Principles and Practice
- NURG 7620 Pediatric Psychiatric Mental Health Care Principles and Practice
- NURG 7630 Adult & Older Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Care Principles and Practice
- NURG 7980 Transition to Practice for Advanced Nursing Practice Nursing
View the Academic Catalog for complete certificate and track requirements.
Accreditation
The post-graduate APRN certificate program at Ashland University is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
Certification Disclosure:
Graduates of the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) track are qualified to seek national certification through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Graduates of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track are qualified to seek national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Financial Aid Disclosure:
Approval for financial aid is pending.
Licensure Disclosure
The Ashland University Post-Graduate APRN Certificate meets the requirements to apply for licensure and is authorized in the following states and U.S. territories: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
The Ashland University Post-Graduate APRN Certificate does NOT meet the requirements to apply for licensure and is NOT authorized in the following states and U.S. territories: Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Delaware, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, the Virgin Islands, Washington and Wyoming.
If a student’s permanent residence is in a state or territory that is not authorized and does NOT meet the requirements to apply for licensure, they can only enroll in the Post-Graduate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Certificates if they agree that, upon graduation, they intend to seek employment in a state that meets the requirements to apply for licensure. Students must sign a formal attestation form.
If a student’s state of residence changes during the enrollment in the graduate nursing program the student may be at risk for residing in a state that does NOT meet the requirements to apply for licensure. Students must sign a formal attestation form.
Admissions Requirements
- Earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing with a minimum 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale).* Applicants with a GPA <3.0 (>2.50) may apply and be considered for admission) with evidence for academic success.
- Submission of official transcript from an accredited baccalaureate degree in nursing program and Master of Science in Nursing program. Transcripts must show completion of undergraduate statistics course.
- Submission of active, unencumbered registered nurse licensure in the United States.
- Submission of two academic or professional letters of recommendation (faculty or employer supervisor).
- Completion of essay questions to be evaluated on overall content and writing competence.
- RN work experience (one year of experience preferred).
- Interview with Department of Nursing Graduate Admission & Progression Committee (Upon request).
*Students that have earned an ADN to MSN must submit an official transcript from a Master of Science in Nursing Program.
