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.

Apply by 1/3/25
Start class 1/13/25 Apply Now

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.

Total Tuition $27,429
Program Duration As few as 22 months
Credit Hours 36

Accreditation

CCNE Accredited

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).

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Need More Information?

Call 800-985-7215

Call 800-985-7215

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.

Tuition Breakdown:

Total Tuition $27,429
Per Credit Hour $578
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#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.

SessionProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment Due
Fall 18/19/248/7/248/12/248/16/248/19/24
Fall 210/16/2410/3/2410/8/2410/11/2410/16/24
Spring 11/13/251/3/251/7/251/10/251/13/25
Spring 23/17/253/5/253/10/253/14/253/17/25
Summer 15/12/254/30/255/5/255/9/255/12/25
Summer 26/30/256/18/256/23/256/27/256/30/25

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 1/3/25
Class Starts 1/13/25
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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 Education
302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099

[email protected]

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.

Students must take the following courses:
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course aims to cultivate APRNs' skills and knowledge for comprehensive patient evaluation through in-depth study, hands-on practice, and case-based learning. Students learn to conduct patient-centered, safe, and high-quality holistic health assessments while interpreting diagnostic data in patients across the lifespan.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
In this course students learn the APRN pharmacological management of patients across the lifespan. Students learn the management of pharmacotherapeutics across all major drug classes. Outcomes include appropriate selection, administration, education, and interventions for pharmacological therapy. Emphasis is given to the psychosocial, cultural, ethical, and legal aspects of pharmacological management. Pre-req: MSN 610
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course explores the history and role of Advanced Practice Nurses. This includes an overview of the role of the Advance Practice Nurse as a Provider, Consultant, Educator, Researcher, Collaborator, Leader and Administrator. Selected legal, practice, and ethical issues are explored. Nursing theory is incorporated into the course.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A systems-based approach designed to study the physiology and pathophysiology relating to human health. Integrative regulatory mechanisms responsible for homeostasis and cellular adaptation will serve as the foundation for clinical assessment, decision-making, and management in clinical practice.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Interactive course covering topics related to the primary care of adults, specifically examining the ears, eyes, nose & throat, neurological, psychosocial, dermatological, musculoskeletal, and abdominal systems. Pathophysiology, principles of health promotion and disease prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of common health problems within these systems will be presented.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Interactive course covering topics related to primary care of adults, specifically examining the renal, women’s health & gynecology, fetal development, preconception & prenatal, men’s health, hematological, immunological & respiratory systems. Pathophysiology, principles of health promotion, disease prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of common health problems within these systems presented.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Interactive course covering topics related to primary care of adults, specifically examining cardiac and endocrine systems, palliative care, minor emergency care, and common laboratory and diagnostic tests. Pathophysiology, principles of health promotion and disease prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of common health problems within these systems will be presented.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This interactive course focuses on the management of common illnesses affecting and pharmacological management of geriatric patients. Students incorporate principles of health promotion, disease prevention, pathophysiology, and assessment to develop therapeutic management and evaluation strategies for geriatric patients.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course addresses the role of the primary care nurse practitioner in well-child supervision and the clinical management of common pediatric health problems. This advanced pediatric course will integrate principles of child development, pathophysiology, pharmacology, epidemiology, genetics, and cultural considerations in the primary care of children.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
The first in a series of courses comprised of a supervised FNP clinical course in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
The second in a series of courses comprised of a supervised FNP clinical course in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
The third in a series of courses comprised of a supervised FNP clinical course in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
The fourth in a series of courses comprised of a supervised FNP clinical course in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
The fifth in a series of courses comprised of a supervised FNP clinical course in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
The sixth in a series of courses comprised of a supervised FNP clinical course in a variety of primary care settings. Students will engage in health promotion, problem identification, management of acute and chronic illnesses, integration of advanced assessment, and management of pharmacological and other therapeutic interventions. Pre-req: MSN 654L
Students must take the following course, totaling 3 credit hours, as part of the Post-Master's FNP Certificate online practicum.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Practicum synthesizing content from all previous courses in the Advanced Practice Nurse majors. This culminating experience will result in a project synthesizing all previous learning. Pre-reqs: MSN 623, MSN 629, MSN 654L

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