Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate
Program available in Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Nevada and Colorado
Post-Master’s FNP Certificate Program Overview
Prepare for advanced practice as a primary care provider by pursuing the online and evening post-master’s FNP certificate at Grand Canyon University. Gain confidence in making critical decisions in health promotion, diagnostics and disease management when working with diverse patient populations, from children to seniors. The post-master's FNP certificate online program is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, with in-person evening class options also available.
Acquire core competencies and apply evidence-based research to optimize patient, family and community health. The management of common, acute and chronic conditions is examined through the lens of culturally and spiritually diverse environments. You will work through an intensive program of classroom instruction and hands-on, on-campus learning experiences.
Earn Your Post-Master’s FNP Certificate From an Accredited Nursing Program
The online and evening post-master’s FNP certificate program at GCU is designed to align with the standards established by the following entities:
- American Nursing Association (ANA): Scope and Standards of Practice
- Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC): Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice
- National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
For more information on the accreditation of nursing programs and other university licensures, please visit our University Accreditation and Regulations page.
Learn Advanced Concepts and Principles in GCU’s Post-Master’s FNP Certificate Program
Combining the convenience of online learning with select on-campus experiences, GCU’s post-master’s FNP certificate echoes real-world scenarios and encourages stimulating peer discussions within a collaborative and academically rigorous setting. Learners are supported as they embrace the principles of servant leadership, ethical decision-making and sound diagnostic reasoning. This post-master’s FNP certificate covers several core competencies for nurse practitioners, including the following:
- Comprehensive primary care management, including health promotion, counseling, screening and patient education
- Performance and interpretation of head-to-toe health assessments, as well as focused assessments for chief complaints
- The basic concepts and principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and their practical implication in clinical practice
- Advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles, including understanding normal function and interpreting changes in normal function
- Well visits across the lifespan and the development of the nurse-patient relationship for optimum patient education, counseling and screening
In addition to classroom instruction, the online FNP certificate program requires in-person experiential learning activities, including a 675-hour supervised clinical/practicum. Students complete the supervised clinical/practicum within a family health-focused clinical site or community-based primary care setting.
The post-master’s FNP certificate also includes two separate on-campus experiences. You will complete a three-day on-campus experience, followed by a two-day on-campus experience during FNP 690. During the latter experience, you will be educated on the scope of practice, prescriptive authority and how to prepare for the National Certification Board exam.
Advance Your Nursing Career With a Post-Master’s FNP Certificate
The post-master’s FNP certificate program prepares graduates to work with diverse patient populations and courses can be taken either online or in person in the evenings. Graduates may choose to pursue opportunities in chronic disease management or acute care. The emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention is well-suited to family care practice settings. Graduates may decide to pursue employment in specialized areas, such as pediatrics or geriatrics. Opportunities in postsecondary nursing instruction may be an additional option for post-master’s FNP graduates.
GCU’s post-master’s FNP certificate online may prepare graduates to take the Family Nurse Practitioner board certification exam through the AANPCB or the ANCC. Additional requirements may apply to graduates planning to practice in certain states.
Post-Master’s FNP Certificate FAQs
The post-master’s FNP certificate online and evening courses at GCU are generally 16 weeks long. This FNP certificate program also requires 675 hours of supervised clinicals and two on-campus experiences at GCU. A total of 37 credits are required to complete the FNP certificate program.
Students applying to the post-master's FNP certificate program at GCU must hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students must also have a current unencumbered, unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) and show proof of at least two recent years of relevant and professional work experience as an RN. Student will be required to submit a letter of intent during the application process.
Nurses who earn a post-master’s FNP certificate have the opportunity to broaden their scope of practice. Post-master’s FNP certificate graduates are eligible to sit for the certification exam. Once the exam is successfully passed and certification is achieved, FNP graduates will be able to pursue work that provides comprehensive primary care for patients and families.
A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is an advanced practice nurse who specializes in family care. FNPs can work alongside or in place of a doctor to diagnose, treat and manage illnesses. They work closely and build long-term relationships with patients and their families. To become an FNP, you need certifications, licenses, clinical training and a master’s degree at minimum.
Some FNPs choose to pursue the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree which is the highest degree in the nursing field. DNPs may choose to specialize in a specific patient population or take on leadership roles in emergency departments, hospitals, clinics or other healthcare or academic settings. Some DNPs will bring their expertise back to their practice as FNPs in family care.
The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions at GCU offers a few ways for experienced RNs to advance to the role of primary care provider. Many of our ambitious nursing students pursue the Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree to prepare for a more advanced position within the nursing profession. For those students who have goals to lead or teach in this field, the terminal Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is the natural next step in the nursing career path.
No, a postgraduate certificate is a short educational program designed to give students specific skills in a particular subject. These certificates are typically geared for students who already have a master’s degree and have been working professionally in a relevant field. Certificate programs are often shorter in length and require fewer credits for completion.
To become a licensed nurse and use a title such as FNP, most states require national certification among other requirements, such as completion of an accredited master’s degree program. There are many different certifications for nurse practitioners, including those from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).1
Certification requires passing a national exam and periodic renewal. Certification is different from a certificate program which is a tailored learning program in a particular subject. Certificates can help provide advanced knowledge and skills but are not required to become a nurse.
1 Retrieved from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife or Nurse Practitioner, in November 2021
Core Courses
Course Description
This course focuses on advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles across the life span. This course is used to guide the advanced nursing practice learner in understanding normal function and interpreting changes in normal function that result in symptoms and diagnostic markers indicative of illness. Emphasis is placed on the following systems: cellular environment and inflammatory changes; fluids, electrolytes and acid-base balance; genetics, genetic diseases, and the role of the environment; stress, disease, and the development of neoplasms; hematology and alterations in immunity. In addition, the physiology and pathophysiology of the endocrine, pulmonary, renal, digestive and integumentary, cardiovascular and lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, and neurological systems, including mood disorders, are addressed. Prerequisite: NUR-590.
Course Description
This course focuses on the basic concepts and principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and their practical implication in clinical practice across the life span. This course also places an emphasis on the strong influence of physiological variables (age, ethnicity, or pregnancy) and pathological conditions (hepatic or renal insufficiency, cardiac dysfunction) on drugs’ pharmacological response. An in-depth understanding of the relationship between patient’s physiological/pathological variables and pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics can provide additional insight for practitioners in predicting potential drug interactions, and thus will provide additional guidance in prescribing strategies. This course also includes clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; clinical toxicology; and pathology and pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular, psychiatric, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal, bone and joint, infectious, reproductive, and dermatological disorders. Prerequisite: NUR-631.
Course Description
This course builds upon the learner's undergraduate and clinical assessment skills, offering advanced health assessment content to provide the foundation for the advanced practice nursing role across the life span. This course addresses the completion and interpretation of a head-to-toe assessment in addition to focused assessments for chief complaints that include physical, psychosocial, spiritual, risk, and functional assessments in diverse populations and across age groups. Learners learn a systematic method of diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision making to establish differential diagnoses. Prerequisites: NUR-631, and either NUR-632, NUR-633, or NUR-635.
Course Description
This course covers preventive health care practices and integrates cultural and spiritual considerations, environmental factors, genetic influences, and national public health objectives. Emphasis is placed on development of the advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship to enhance the effectiveness of patient education, counseling, and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes. Learners explore concepts relevant to primary care, including family systems theory and developmental theory. Learners are also introduced to well visits across the life span and build upon advanced health assessment skills in assessing the well child, adolescent, woman, and man. Specific emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic reasoning and interpretation and the development of differential diagnoses based on clinical practice guidelines. Learners examine professional and patient community resources and evaluate the use of integrative healing strategies in assisting patients to achieve health goals using evidence-based research. This course includes a required 3-day, on-campus experience. Prerequisite: NUR-634.
Course Description
This course covers preventive health care practices and integrates cultural and spiritual considerations, environmental factors, genetic influences, and national public health objectives. Emphasis is placed on development of the advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship to enhance the effectiveness of patient education, counseling, and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes. Learners explore concepts relevant to primary care, including family systems theory and developmental theory. Learners are also introduced to well visits across the life span and build upon advanced health assessment skills in assessing the well child, adolescent, woman, and man. Specific emphasis is placed on clinical diagnostic reasoning and interpretation and the development of differential diagnoses based on clinical practice guidelines. Learners examine professional and patient community resources and evaluate the use of integrative healing strategies in assisting patients to achieve health goals using evidence-based research. This course includes a required 3-day, on-campus experience. Prerequisite: NUR-634.
Course Description
This course focuses on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of individuals with common, acute, and chronic conditions across the life span within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Evidence-based research is utilized to develop comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning to guide clinical decision making. Management of patient illness includes ordering diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-630.
Course Description
This course deepens its focus on the three levels of prevention and comprehensive primary care management of individuals with common, acute, and chronic conditions across the life span within a culturally and spiritually diverse environment. Learners integrate evidence-based research in the development of comprehensive, cost-effective, least invasive, quality health care. Care includes health promotion counseling, screening, and patient education to optimize patient and family health. Learners further advance their critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills to guide clinical decision making in the management of patient illness. Learners also further develop their competence in ordering appropriate diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological and nonpharmacological integrative healing therapies, collaborating with other health professionals and community agencies, and pursuing appropriate follow-up. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-652.
Course Description
This practicum course is the final synthesis of the theoretical and clinical foundation of advanced practice nursing in the primary care management of individuals and families across the life span. Emphasis is placed on scope of practice, roles, contract negotiation, prescriptive authority, licensure, certification, and credentialing. Updates on legislation and health policy are incorporated utilizing multidimensional clinical case studies. Learners also examine ethical issues that arise in clinical practice. This course includes a required 2-day, on-campus experience. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-654.
Course Description
This practicum course is the final synthesis of the theoretical and clinical foundation of advanced practice nursing in the primary care management of individuals and families across the life span. Emphasis is placed on scope of practice, roles, contract negotiation, prescriptive authority, licensure, certification, and credentialing. Updates on legislation and health policy are incorporated utilizing multidimensional clinical case studies. Learners also examine ethical issues that arise in clinical practice. This course includes a required 2-day, on-campus experience. Practicum/field experience hours: 225. Prerequisite: FNP-654.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.