Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Online
Gain the qualifications you need to grow your professional practice and provide primary care services to people of all ages with this accredited online nursing program.
Program Overview
Enrich your career with the online Post-Master’s FNP Certificate at NKU
Expand your professional nursing practice with the Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online from Northern Kentucky University. This accelerated certificate program is a valuable addition to your MSN and prepares you to provide a full range of primary healthcare services, make referrals, and serve as an educator, counselor, and advocate for patients of all ages.
The program's coursework emphasize patient interaction in primary care settings; the development of advanced skills in physical, cognitive, nutritional, and functional domains; and the integration of appropriate data and diagnostics so you can transition successfully into the role of an FNP. The comprehensive Post-Master's FNP Certificate online courses cover pediatrics through geriatrics, clinical residency, and a capstone to synthesize your learning. Once you complete the program, you will be prepared to take the FNP certification examination.
In this online program, you will:
- Prepare to manage your patients' conditions through health education, disease management, and preventative care
- Advance your understanding of treating psychiatric and mental health disorders through discussing psychopathopharmacological concepts and theories
- Collaborate in interactive courses covering the primary health issues and concerns of patients of all ages—children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly—to become the well-rounded practitioner families seek for care
- Use evidence-based practice to demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability while implementing change to improve healthcare outcomes
- Participate in a series of supervised clinical residencies and engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, and integration of advanced assessment
- Explore the history and role of an FNP as a provider, consultant, leader, and administrator as well as legal and ethical issues
- Demonstrate effective communication in order to facilitate nursing practice at an advanced level
- Prepare to manage your patients' conditions through health education, disease management, and preventative care
- Advance your understanding of treating psychiatric and mental health disorders through discussing psychopathopharmacological concepts and theories
- Collaborate in interactive courses covering the primary health issues and concerns of patients of all ages—children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly—to become the well-rounded practitioner families seek for care
- Use evidence-based practice to demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability while implementing change to improve healthcare outcomes
- Participate in a series of supervised clinical residencies and engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, and integration of advanced assessment
- Explore the history and role of an FNP as a provider, consultant, leader, and administrator as well as legal and ethical issues
- Demonstrate effective communication in order to facilitate nursing practice at an advanced level
As a graduate and certified family nurse practitioner, you will be prepared to practice in a variety of clinical settings, such as:
- Practice family clinics
- Urgent care clinics
- County and state health departments
- Primary healthcare
- Hospice facilities
- Physician practices
- Schools
- Practice family clinics
- Urgent care clinics
- County and state health departments
- Primary healthcare
- Hospice facilities
- Physician practices
- Schools
Also available:
Northern Kentucky University offers a variety of Nursing programs online. View our online healthcare programs.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, postgraduate APRN certificate, and Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs at Northern Kentucky University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Tuition
Learn online and save more with our affordable tuition
The Post-Master's FNP Certificate online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition for in-state and out-of-state students. Financial aid may be available to eligible students.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Required Fees | Total Program with Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Master’s FNP Certificate | $578 | $6,621 | $27,429 |
Tuition and fees subject to change at any time. Some fees are course-based and subject to change based on date student enters such course.
Tuition Breakdown:
#6 among Kentucky's Online Colleges
Ranked #6 among "The Best Online Colleges in Kentucky" by TheBestSchools.org (2022)
Calendar
Update your calendar with these important dates
The Post-Master's FNP Certificate online program is flexible and efficient for busy schedules, with accelerated courses that start multiple times a year. View the calendar to find the best start date for you, and be sure to submit your application, registration, documents and tuition by the corresponding deadlines.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/13/25 | 1/3/25 | 1/7/25 | 1/10/25 | 1/13/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/17/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/10/25 | 3/14/25 | 3/17/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/30/25 | 5/5/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/12/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 6/27/25 | 6/30/25 |
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Apply quickly and easily to our accredited family nurse practitioner certificate program
The admission process is the first step toward earning your Post-Master's FNP Certificate online. Before you apply, please review the Program Map to determine eligibility of this program in your state.
Admission Requirements:
- 3.0 GPA or higher on accredited MSN degree
- 1,000 clinical hours of practice as an RN
- Current and unencumbered RN license
Post-Master's FNP Certificate Online Admission Requirements
- Completed application for graduate admission
- $40 application fee paid
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate academic work
- Verification of your current, unencumbered RN license with expiration date in the state in which you are licensed and practice
- A criminal background check (state and federal) is required for admission to the program. Applicants are required to use PreCheck StudentCheck to purchase the background check. Instructions on how to purchase and initiate the background check can be found here.
- Master of Science in Nursing degree from an ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA-accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in MSN graduate coursework
- 1,000 clinical hours of practice as a Registered Nurse; fill out the verification form here
Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:
NKU Office of Graduate Education302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
During our application review, you may receive a request for syllabi for the courses listed below and/or program curriculum information, to ensure the courses you have taken in your master’s program are equivalent to the corresponding NKU course.
- MSN 610 – Diagnostic Reasoning & Advanced Physical Assessment*
- MSN 611 – Clinical Pharmacology & Intervention*
- BIO 669 – Advanced Human Physiology*
- MSN 612 – Role Development in Advanced Practice Nursing
*must be over the lifespan
Upon this review, if our faculty determine you do not have equivalent coursework, you may need to take those courses at NKU if admitted. Click here to search the syllabi for each of the courses above as taught at NKU.
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Courses
Review a summary of our online FNP courses
For the Post-Master's FNP Certificate online program, students must complete a total of 36 credit hours. These include nine core courses, six primary care clinical residencies with a total of 750 clinical hours, and 3 credit hours for a capstone project. All courses and clinical residencies are seven weeks in length.
