School of Nursing
Locations: Distance learning
Formats: Online + an intensive (for FNP and PMHNP-PC)
Program duration: 2-6 trimesters*
See Requirements & Program Details
*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, traditional vs. accelerated pathway, credits transferred and other factors.
Our Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates provide individualized pathways for nurses to grow their careers in clinical advanced practice, nursing administration or nursing leadership. We offer four of our five role specialties as certificates:
The specialty curricula of our post-graduate certificate program in nursing broaden your foundational knowledge, preparing you to take on more responsibility or change your career trajectory. They are designed for nursing students who have completed at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and wish to expand their knowledge base to achieve their next career goal. Our faculty-practitioners are experts in these role specialties.
We offer two entry paths for the PMHNP-PC certificate. If you’re already an APRN, choose the APRN-entry path, with fewer credit hours and a shorter expected time to completion. If you are not yet an APRN, choose the non-APRN-entry path.
To be considered for admission, a candidate must submit an online application, which includes the following:
Students in the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates program complete 12 credit hours when they choose either the Nurse Educator or Nurse Executive certificate. The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certificate is 31 credit hours, while the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner–Primary Care certificate is 28 credit hours for licensed APRNs and 37 credit hours for others.
| FNP Post-Graduate Certificate Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| NUR 7610 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 7560 Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| NUR 7580 Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis | 3 |
| NUR 7570 Primary Healthcare of the Family I REQUIRED INTENSIVE | 3 |
| NUR 7571 FNP Role Practicum I (180 contact hours) ♦ | 4 |
| NUR 7575 Primary Healthcare of the Family II | 3 |
| NUR 7572 FNP Role Practicum II (180 contact hours) ♦ | 4 |
| NUR 7585 Primary Healthcare of the Family III | 3 |
| NUR 7573 FNP Role Practicum III (225 contact hours) ♦ | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours for Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate | 31 |
Path 1: APRN-Entry
If you are already an APRN, your course of study will be 28 credits, which should take 5 trimesters, or 1.7 years. Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.
| PMHNP-PC Post-Graduate Certificate Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| NUR 7310 Advanced Neurobiology and Psychopathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 7315 Advanced Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| NUR 7330 Psychotherapy for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practice | 3 |
| NUR 7350 PMHNP: Acute and Chronic Management of Child/Adolescent with Psychiatric Mental Health Conditions | 3 |
| NUR 7541 PMHNP Role Practicum I Child & Adolescent Populations (180 contact hours) ♦ | 4 |
| NUR 7375 PMHNP: Acute and Chronic Management of the Adult and Older Adult with Psychiatric Mental Health Conditions | 3 |
| NUR 7542 PMHNP Role Practicum II Adult and Older Adult Populations (180 contact hours) ♦ | 4 |
| NUR 7543 PMHNP Role Practicum III Diverse/Special Populations (225 contact hours) ♦ | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours for PMNHP-PC Post-Graduate Certificate | 28 |
Path 2: Non-APRN-Entry
If you are not already an APRN, your course of study will be 37 credits, which should take 6 trimesters, or 2 years. Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.
| PMHNP-PC Post-Graduate Certificate Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| NUR 7610 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 7560 Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| NUR 7580 Advanced Health Assessment and Differential Diagnosis | 3 |
| NUR 7310 Advanced Neurobiology and Psychopathophysiology | 3 |
| NUR 7315 Advanced Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| NUR 7330 Psychotherapy for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practice | 3 |
| NUR 7350 PMHNP: Acute and Chronic Management of Child/Adolescent with Psychiatric Mental Health Conditions | 3 |
| NUR 7541 PMHNP Role Practicum I Child & Adolescent Populations (180 contact hours) ♦ | 4 |
| NUR 7375 PMHNP: Acute and Chronic Management of the Adult and Older Adult with Psychiatric Mental Health Conditions | 3 |
| NUR 7542 PMHNP Role Practicum II Adult and Older Adult Populations (180 contact hours) ♦ | 4 |
| NUR 7543 PMHNP Role Practicum III Diverse/Special Populations (225 contact hours) ♦ | 5 |
Total Credit Hours for PMNHP-PC Post-Graduate Certificate | 37 |
| Nurse Educator Post-Graduate Certificate Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| NUR 7100 Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, Pharmacology for Nurse Educators | 3 |
| EDF 7175 Foundational Theories in Education | 3 |
| EDF 7161 Program and Curricular Design for Health Science Education | 3 |
| EDF 7050 Teaching Methods in Higher Education (22.5 indirect contact hours) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours for Nurse Educator Post-Graduate Certificate | 12 |
| Nurse Executive Post-Graduate Certificate Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| HSA 7200 B Foundations of Healthcare Administration B | 3 |
| HSA 7250 Human Resources Management & Organizational Development in Healthcare | 3 |
| IPE 7133 Strategic Planning in Healthcare Administration | 3 |
| HSA 7236 Accounting, Finance, and Economics for the Healthcare Leader | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours for Nurse Executive Post-Graduate Certificate | 12 |
♦ Course requires practicum hours
Total program tuition and fees for the Fall 2023 academic term are as follows.
| Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive Post-Graduate Certificates | Tuition and Fees |
| School Expenses | |
| Tuition | $9,334.00 |
| Program Fees | $800.00 |
| Books & Associated School Expenses | $666.00 |
| Total Program Direct Expenses | $10,800.00 |
|---|
Total program tuition and fees for the Fall 2023 academic term are as follows.
| Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate | Tuition and Fees |
| School Expenses | |
| Tuition Approximately – 31-credit program | $24,113.00 |
| Program Fees | $2,250.00 |
| Books & Associated School Expenses | $1,590.00 |
| Total Program Direct Expenses | $27,953.00 |
|---|
Total program tuition and fees for the Fall 2023 academic term are as follows.
| PMHNP-PC Post-Graduate Certificate, APRN-Entry | Tuition and Fees |
| School Expenses | |
| Tuition Approximately – 28-credit program | $21,780.00 |
| Program Fees | $2,250.00 |
| Books & Associated School Expenses | $1,590.00 |
| Total Program Direct Expenses | $25,620.00 |
|---|---|
| PMHNP-PC Post-Graduate Certificate, Non-APRN-Entry | Tuition and Fees |
| School Expenses | |
| Tuition Approximately – 37-credit program | $28,780.00 |
| Program Fees | $2,700.00 |
| Books & Associated School Expenses | $1,908.00 |
| Total Program Direct Expenses | $33,388.00 |
|---|---|
*For additional details on the Cost of Attendance for your program, please refer to the University Catalog/Handbook. Students might incur additional costs for their program, including, but not limited to, costs associated with intensives, practica, and/or optional immersions.
We are currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate with a Nurse Executive specialty from the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
USAHS is currently not accepting applications from states where the institution does not have state authorization. However, prospective students are encouraged to check back in the near future as the program may be offered in additional states. Current and admitted students are also advised to monitor this page for any updates prior to relocating to another state, as this can have an impact on continued enrollment in the program.
The Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Nurse Executive Role Specialty program is not designed or intended to lead to professional licensure in any state.
We are currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate with a Nurse Educator specialty from the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
USAHS is currently not accepting applications from states where the institution does not have state authorization. However, prospective students are encouraged to check back in the near future as the program may be offered in additional states. Current and admitted students are also advised to monitor this page for any updates prior to relocating to another state, as this can have an impact on continued enrollment in the program.
The Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Nurse Educator Role Specialty program is not designed or intended to lead to professional licensure in any state.
CCNE does not accredit non-APRN post-graduate nursing certificate programs. As such, the USAHS Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate program specializations in Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive programs are not accredited by CCNE.
USAHS is currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Post- Graduate Nursing Certificate with a Family Nurse Practitioner specialty for residents in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming.
USAHS is currently not accepting applications from states where the program does not meet state licensure requirements and/or where the institution does not have state authorization. However, prospective students are encouraged to check back in the near future as the program may be offered in additional states. Current and admitted students are also advised to monitor this page for any updates prior to relocating to another state, as this can have an impact on continued enrollment in the program and the ability to be placed for on-the-ground activities or practicum experiences.
The map below identifies the states from which the University is now accepting applications for the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate with an FNP specialty. For states denoted in blue, USAHS has determined the program satisfies the educational requirements for professional licensure in those states. USAHS has not made a determination regarding whether the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate with a Family Nurse Practitioner specialty satisfies the educational requirements for professional licensure in the states denoted in gray.
USAHS has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following locations: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. USAHS is currently not accepting applications from states where the program does not meet state licensure requirements and/or where the institution does not have state authorization.
It remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to practicum experiences, licensing or certification, authorization or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. For more information, students should contact the appropriate state licensure board to understand state licensure requirements as regulations vary from state to state.
USAHS is currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Post- Graduate Nursing Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner* specialty for residents in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
USAHS is currently not accepting applications from states where the program does not meet state licensure requirements and/or where the institution does not have state authorization. However, prospective students are encouraged to check back in the near future, as the program may be offered in additional states. Current and admitted students are also advised to monitor this page for any updates prior to relocating to another state, as this can have an impact on continued enrollment in the program and the ability to be placed for on-the-ground activities or practicum experiences.
*Currently approved as “Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care” by Florida CIE; name change pending
The map below identifies the states from which the University is now accepting applications for the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner* specialty. For states denoted in blue, USAHS has determined the program satisfies the educational requirements for professional licensure in those states. USAHS has not made a determination regarding whether the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate -Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner* specialty satisfies the educational requirements for professional licensure in the states denoted in gray.
USAHS also has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following locations: American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
It remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to practicum experiences, licensing or certification, authorization or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. For more information, students should contact the appropriate state licensure board to understand state licensure requirements, as regulations vary from state to state.
*Currently approved as “Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care” by Florida CIE; name change pending
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences holds licensure/authorization to operate a physical campus in three states — California, Florida and Texas. Please refer to the Licensure page for more detailed information. The University has additional state approvals and exemptions to provide distance education. Please visit the State Licensure page for more detailed information.
The Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate program with specializations in Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner* at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Nurse practitioner graduates must hold a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from a nurse practitioner program accredited by the CCNE or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) to be eligible to take the necessary role specialty national examination to be certified as a nurse practitioner, which most states require in order to be licensed to practice as an NP. Graduates should take the exam that aligns with their role specialty: FNP-BC or FNP, or PMHNP-BC or PMH-BC. The Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate program with specializations in Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner* at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Most states require that graduates pass a nurse practitioner national certification exam in order to apply for licensure or other credentials to practice as a nurse practitioner in a state. Graduates must hold a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from a nurse practitioner program accredited by the CCNE or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) in order to be eligible for an NP national certification exam; national certification as an NP is required for licensure to practice as an NP in most states. Graduates should take the exam that aligns with their role specialty: FNP-BC or FNP, or PMHNP-BC or PMH-BC. The Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate program with specializations in Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner* at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. While the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates in nurse practitioner programs are designed to lead to licensure, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential necessary to practice as a nurse practitioner, it is the prospective student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to nursing practice in the state in which he or she intends to practice and/or resides as requirements vary widely.
Prospective students are advised that relocation to another state may impact their ability to complete on-the-ground activities, practicum experiences and/or obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credentials in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate. USAHS makes no representations or guarantee that completion of coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential, including prescriptive authority, where requirements may vary between different states. Additionally, current and admitted students are also advised to monitor this page for any updates prior to relocating to another state, as this can have an impact on continued enrollment in the program and the ability to be placed for on-the-ground activities and practicum experiences. For more information about the requirements to practice, students should contact the appropriate Board of Nursing or state agency.
Notice to State of Washington Students”: is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to conduct practice experiences in the state of Washington for MSN/Nurse Educator, MSN/Nurse Executive, MSN/FNP, MSN-entry DNP, DNP/FNP, and Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate (FNP) program tracks. Learn more.
*Currently approved as “Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care” by Florida CIE; name change pending
The Following Programs Participate in Title IV Federal Student Loans (paper copies of disclosures are available upon request):
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate – FNP
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate – PMHNP (APRN Entry)
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate – PMHNP (Non-APRN Entry)
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