Is a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Worth It? If you’re dreaming about helping patients restore their mobility and quality of life, and you’re exploring what it would take to become a physical therapist, you may be wondering, “Is a degree in physical therapy worth it?” The answer to this question depends, of course, on your personal career goals. Some people choose to become physical therapist assistants because only a two-year associate degree is required. It’s true that pursuing a doctorate takes time and effort; however, there are countless advantages to earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. To that end, let’s look at some of the factors that make a Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT) degree the best first step on an exceptional career Read more
School of Nursing | College of Health Sciences
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates
Location
- Distance learning
Format
- Online + an intensive (for FNP)
Program duration
- 2–5 trimesters
Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.
Add a second role specialty.
Our Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates provide individualized pathways for nurses to grow their careers. We offer our three role specialties as certificates: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), for those who seek to expand their clinical practice; Nurse Educator, for those called to teach the next generation of nurses; and Nurse Executive, for those working toward leadership positions. Our faculty-practitioners are experts in these role specialties.
These specialty curricula broaden your foundational knowledge, preparing you to take on more responsibility or change your career trajectory. They are designed for students who have completed at least an MSN and wish to add a second specialty. You can add a certificate to your current Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) coursework to increase your number of role specialties—or expand your knowledge base after completing your MSN or DNP degree to achieve your next career goal.
Post-Graduate Certificates at a Glance
Family Nurse Practitioner
role specialty
Online coursework + one required
on-campus clinical intensive
31 credit hours + 585 practicum contact hours
5 trimesters (1.7 years)Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.
Sept., Jan. & May start dates
Nurse Educator and Nurse
Executive role specialties
Online coursework + optional
on-campus immersions
12 credit hours
2 trimesters (0.7 year) Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.
Sept., Jan. & May start dates
How Our Certificates Stand Apart
We’re online + hands-on.
Courses are delivered online, with both synchronous and asynchronous elements. Alongside our online coursework, students earning their FNP certificate must complete two clinical intensives in our state-of-the-art Centers for Innovative Clinical Practice—a chance to practice skills and meet faculty and peers.
We offer a range of clinical practicum placements.
FNP certificate students must complete 585 practicum contact hours, working onsite with a preceptor who meets accreditation and state licensure requirements. (Practicum placements are determined by USAHS based on the student’s academic needs and to provide the best educational experience. Students should plan on the need to travel and on some occasions, relocate for practica.) Students in the Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive certificate tracks do not complete a practicum.
Our rich curricula bolster your qualifications.
Our Certificates follow the same in-depth course curricula as the role specialties in our MSN and BSN-entry DNP programs. The coursework prepares you academically to take the respective certification exams—though to sit for some exams, you may need more hours of experience.
Requirements and Program Information
How to ApplyPost-Graduate Nursing Certificates Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, a candidate must submit an online application, which includes the following:
- A Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Official transcripts from each college or university previously attended. An official transcript is one that is sent directly to the Admissions Office by the Registrar of the issuing institution or one forwarded in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.
- Evidence of an unrestricted/unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license in the state of residence
- Professional resume or curriculum vitae showing an equivalent of one full-time year of experience (2,000 hours) as a registered nurse by the start of the first practicum.
- Essay demonstrating scholarly writing of approximately 500 words describing the applicant’s short- and long-term career goals and plans to achieve those goals.
- Two professional references; one should be from a nurse educator familiar with your ability to do academic work and one should be from an immediate supervisor (e.g., nurse manager), preceptor, or mentor familiar with your clinical skills. Professional references from peers or personal relationships are not acceptable.
- A comprehensive background check requiring fingerprints and drug screen to be administered after acceptance into the program and at the applicant’s expense. A felony charge and or conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the certification examination or to attain state licensure.
- An original copy of a degree credentialing evaluation from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) if applicant completed his or her education in a foreign country.
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates Curriculum
Curriculum
Students in the Post-Graduate Certificates complete 12 credit hours when they choose either the Nurse Educator, or Nurse Executive certificate. The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certificate is a 31-credit-hour program.
Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate
| FNP Role 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 Family I REQUIRED INTENSIVE | 3 |
| NUR 7571 FNP Role Practicum I (180 contact hours) ♦ | 4 |
| NUR 7575 Primary Health Care of Family II | 3 |
| NUR 7572 FNP Role Practicum II (180 contact hours) ♦ | 4 |
| NUR 7585 Primary Health Care of Family III | 3 |
| NUR 7573 FNP Role Practicum III (225 contact hours) ♦ | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours for Family Nurse Practitioner Role Specialty | 31 |
Nurse Educator Post-Graduate Certificate
| Nurse Educator Specialization | 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 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours for Nurse Educator Post-Graduate Certificate | 12 |
Nurse Executive Post-Graduate Certificate
| Nurse Executive Specialization | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| HSA 7200 B Foundations of Healthcare Administration B | 3 |
| HSA 7250 Human Resource Management & Organizational Behavior for Healthcare Administration | 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 Role Specialty | 12 |
♦ Course requires practicum hours X Close
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates Tuition & Fees
Total program tuition and fees for the 2022-2023 academic year are as follows.
| Educator and Executive Post-Graduate Certificates | Tuition and Fees |
| School Expenses | |
| Tuition | $8,842.00 |
| Program Fees | $668.00 |
| Books & Associated School Expenses | $666.66 |
| Total Program Direct Expenses | $10,176.66 |
|---|
Choose your program and the campus you are interested in attending to see the tuition and fee estimates. All tuition and fee numbers are subject to change.
Total program tuition and fees for the 2022-2023 academic year are as follows.
| Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate | Tuition and Fees |
| School Expenses | |
| Tuition Approximately - 31 credit hour program | $25,259.00 |
| Program Fees | $1,670.00 |
| Books & Associated School Expenses | $2,550.00 |
| Total Program Direct Expenses | $29,479.00 |
|---|
Choose your program and the campus you are interested in attending to see the tuition and fee estimates. All tuition and fee numbers are subject to change.
*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.
X ClosePost-Graduate Nursing Certificates Accreditation and State Approvals
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Nurse Executive Specialty
Accreditation & Disclosure on Licensure
We are currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Post Graduate Nursing Certificate with specialization in Nurse Executive program from the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, 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, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Additionally, the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Nurse Executive Role Specialty program is not designed or intended to lead to professional licensure in any state.
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.
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Nurse Educator Specialty
Accreditation & Disclosure on Licensure
We are currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Post Graduate Nursing Certificate in Nurse Educator from the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, 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, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Additionally, the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Nurse Educator Role Specialty program is not designed or intended to lead to professional licensure in any state.
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.
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.
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate with a Specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner
Accreditation & Disclosure on Licensure
USAHS is currently accepting applications for enrollment in the Post Graduate Nursing Certificate with a Specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner specialization for residents in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. 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. The map below identifies the states from which the University is now accepting applications for the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate (FNP).
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 practicum experiences. For states denoted in blue, USAHS has determined the program prepares students for professional licensure in those states. USAHS has not made a determination regarding whether the Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate with a specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner satisfies the requirements for professional licensure in the states denoted in gray.
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.
Higher Education State Approvals
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.
CCNE Accreditation
The Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate program with a specialization in Family 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
Note on Certification Exam
Graduates must hold a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from a family nurse practitioner program accredited by the CCNE or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) in order to be eligible for the Family Nurse Practitioner national certification exam which is required in order to practice as a certified FNP-BC in most states. The Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate program with a specialization in Family 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.
Note on Licensure, Authorization, Endorsement, or Other State Credential Necessary to Practice as a Nurse Practitioner
Most states require that graduates pass the Family 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 family nurse practitioner program accredited by the CCNE or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) in order to be eligible for the Family Nurse Practitioner national certification exam, which is required in order to practice as a certified FNP in most states. The Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate program with a specialization in Family 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 Certificate with a Specialization in FNP program is 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 field 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 practicum experiences. For more information about the requirements to practice, students should contact the appropriate Board of Nursing or state agency.
Program Data
USAHS’ official cohort default rate is 0.5% for FY2017
The Following Programs Participate in Title IV Federal Student Loans (paper copies of disclosures are available upon request):
Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate – FNP
X CloseUpcoming Nursing Events
ThursdayJuly 28, 2022
Nursing (MSN, DNP, FNP) Webinar – 4PM PT
SaturdayAugust 20, 2022
St. Augustine Campus Post Professional Summer 2022 Commencement – 2PM ET
ThursdayAugust 25, 2022
