Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates

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.

X Close

Curriculum

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.

♦ Course requires practicum hours

X Close

Total program tuition and fees for the 2022-2023 academic year are as follows.

Nurse Educator and Nurse Executive Post-Graduate Certificates	Tuition and Fees
School Expenses
Tuition	$9,062.00
Program Fees	$668.00
Books & Associated School Expenses	$666.00
Total Program Direct Expenses	$10,396.00

Students whose address on record is in California at the time tuition is first charged and/or who attend the California campus will be responsible for paying a one-time Student Tuition Recovery Fund non-refundable fee, pursuant to California Code of Regulations §76120.
Choose your program 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 program	$23,411.00
Program Fees	$1,670.00
Books & Associated School Expenses	$1,590.00
Total Program Direct Expenses	$26,671.00

Students whose address on record is in California when tuition is first charged and/or who attend the California campus will be responsible for paying a one-time Student Tuition Recovery Fund non-refundable fee, pursuant to California Code of Regulations §76120.
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.

PMHNP-PC Post-Graduate Certificate, APRN-Entry	Tuition and Fees
School Expenses
Tuition Approximately – 28-credit program	$21,145.60
Program Fees	$1,670.00
Books & Associated School Expenses	$1,590.00
Total Program Direct Expenses	$24,405.60

PMHNP-PC Post-Graduate Certificate, Non-APRN-Entry	Tuition and Fees
School Expenses
Tuition Approximately – 37-credit program	$27,942.00
Program Fees	$2,004.00
Books & Associated School Expenses	$1,908.00
Total Program Direct Expenses	$31,854.00

Students whose address on record is in California when tuition is first charged and/or who attend the California campus will be responsible for paying a one-time Student Tuition Recovery Fund non-refundable fee, pursuant to California Code of Regulations §76120.
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 Close

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 a Nurse Executive specialty 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 with a Nurse Educator specialty 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—Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty

Accreditation & Disclosure on Licensure

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, 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, 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 with an FNP specialty.

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 specializations in Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner–Primary Care 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

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–Primary Care 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 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–Primary Care 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.

Request Information

X Close

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 – PHMNP

X Close