Nursing Post-Master’s Certificates

Post-Masters Certificates

The School of Nursing offers a Post-Master’s Certificate for the Family Nurse Practitioner or the Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner specialty.

Post-Master’s Certificate programs are designed for registered nurses who hold a master’s degree in nursing and seek preparation in a nurse practitioner specialty. These programs provide focused didactic and clinical education aligned with national nurse practitioner competencies and certification requirements. Admission is competitive and enrollment is limited.

Note: Plans of study are individualized based on prior academic coursework and clinical experience to ensure eligibility for certification while avoiding unnecessary duplication of content.

Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate

The Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate prepares nurses for advanced practice in comprehensive primary care across the lifespan. The curriculum emphasizes advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, management of acute and chronic conditions, and health promotion and disease prevention. Clinical experiences focus on patient-centered, evidence-based care in diverse primary care settings.

Successful completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate qualifies graduates to sit for national Family Nurse Practitioner certification examinations and, upon certification, to apply for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Washington State.

38 semester hours

• GNUR 501: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
• GNUR 502: Advanced Pharmacology (3)
• GNUR 503: Advanced Physical Assessment (4)
• GNUR 508: Transition to Practice (3)
• GNUR 509: FNP 1: Foundations of Primary Care (4)
• GNUR 510: FNP 2: Acute & Mental Health (4)
• GNUR 511: FNP 3: Gender & Lifespan Care (4)
• GNUR 512: FNP 4: Chronic Disease (4)
• GNUR 513: FNP Diagnostics & Procedures (3)
• GNUR 597: FNP Capstone: Complex Primary Care (6)

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate prepares nurses to provide comprehensive psychiatric and mental health care across the lifespan. Coursework includes advanced psychiatric assessment, psychopharmacology, individual, group, and family therapeutic interventions, and the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. Clinical experiences occur in inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings.

Successful completion of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate qualifies students to sit for national Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examinations and, upon certification, to apply for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Washington State.

38 semester hours

• GNUR 501: Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
• GNUR 502: Advanced Pharmacology (3)
• GNUR 503: Advanced Physical Assessment (4)
• GNUR 508: Transition to Practice (3)
• GNUR 514: PMHNP I Didactic & Clinical (4)
• GNUR 515: PMHNP II Didactic & Clinical (4)
• GNUR 516: PMHNP II Didactic & Clinical (4)
• GNUR 517: PMHNP IV Didactic & Clinical (4)
• GNUR 518: Psychopharmacology (3)
• GNUR 598: PMHNP Capstone (6)