Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Program

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner 

If you want to care for adult patients with acute, critical, or chronic illnesses, then the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) post-graduate certificate program may be the best fit for you.

You’ll learn differential diagnosis, disease management, therapeutic interventions, and more.

Here’s what else you need to know about the AGACNP post-graduate certificate:

• Comprises 21 credits and 600 clinical hours
• Can be completed in 2 semesters and 1 summer session
• Costs about $24,000

View the required courses and the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program Plan of Study (PDF) for more info.

Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist 

Are you driven to give direct care to adult patients and work with nursing systems and organization? 

The AGCNS post-graduate certificate:

• Comprises 16 credits and 480 clinical hours
• Can be completed in 3 semesters
• Costs about $18,000

View the required courses or the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Program Plan of Study (PDF) for more info.

Family Nurse Practitioner 

If you enjoy working with people of all walks of life, look no further than the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) post-graduate certificate program.

Here’s what else you need to know about the FNP post-graduate certificate:

• Comprises 24 credits and 600 clinical hours
• Can be completed in 2 semesters
• Costs about $27,000

View the required courses or the Family Nurse Practitioner Program Plan of Study (PDF) for more info.

Nurse Educator 

Want to combine your passions for nursing and teaching? The Nurse Educator (NE) post-graduate certificate program: 

• Comprises 12 credits and 180 clinical hours
• Can be completed in 1 semester
• Costs about $14,000

You’ll learn how to teach in either an academic or healthcare setting, how to design your curriculum, how to be an effective instructor and evaluator—and more.

View the required courses or the Nurse Educator Program Plan of Study (PDF) for more info.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 

Are you passionate about helping others of all ages who have behavioral and mental health problems and disorders? 

The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) post-graduate certificate program:

• Comprises 24 credits and 600 clinical hours
• Can be completed in 3 semesters and 2 summer sessions
• Costs about $27,000

All PMHNP post-graduate certificate students are also required to be on campus for the NURS 679 Immersion course the first 3 days of spring semester.

View the required courses or the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (PDF) for more info.

Expected Program Outcomes

The post-graduate certificate programs are designed so that each student will be able to:

1. Integrate scientific underpinnings into clinical judgment and decision making while actively engaging in health policy within an advanced nursing role and/or specialty focus. 
2. Demonstrate competencies aligned with professional standards and state nurse practice acts, effectively integrating communication, clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, compassionate care and cultural awareness to enhance client outcomes. 
3. Collaborate effectively within interprofessional teams using effective communication to analyze complex practice and organizational issues to positively impact client health outcomes.  
4. Participate in evidence-based practice by aligning innovative approaches with high ethical standards within interprofessional teams to enhance the safety and quality of person-centered care to clients. 

Please note that the term “clients” includes learners, individuals, families, communities, populations, systems, and organizations.

These outcomes were approved by the Department of Graduate Nursing on March 24, 2025.