Application Timeline

Post Graduate Certificate candidates may apply for admission at any time during the year. However, application by the early application dates will enhance your potential for admission and for arranging financial assistance.

Early Application Dates:

  • Priority Date #1 : December 1
  • Priority Date #2 : February 1
  • Priority Date #3: March 15

Final Deadlines:

  • Spring Start: December 1
  • Summer Start: May 1

Applications submitted after the early application dates will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Processing time may take up to 3-4 weeks.

Speak to a Graduate Admission Counselor

Contact the Graduate Admission Team for questions about the application process.

Schedule Phone Appointment

Application Process

Click on each item in the list below to view the instructions in an expanded section, and then follow the steps to submit your application. If you have questions, you can schedule a phone appointment with the Graduate Admission Counselor.

Create your application account

Create your account

  • Create your PLU application account at choose.plu.edu/apply.
  • Select ‘Pacific Lutheran University Application 2025’, then ‘Graduate Application 2025’ & ‘Create Application’
  • You’ll select your program on Page 2 of the application.

Complete application & submit all required supporting items

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

  • Transcripts from ALL colleges/universities you’ve attended
    • You may upload official OR unofficial transcripts to the application, or send them to gradadmission@plu.edu.
      • If you are a PLU student or alum, you do not need to submit your PLU transcripts.
    • Note: While we will accept unofficial transcripts at the application stage for domestic students, you must submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities before you enroll in a PLU graduate program.
    • If you are an international applicant, you must submit official transcripts with the credential evaluation. See the International Applicants section for more information.
  • Statement of professional goals.
    • The essay should be two pages, double-spaced, 12pt font, Times New Roman. Please upload your statement in a Microsoft Word or PDF file.  Please address the following questions:
    • How will the Post Graduate Certificate meet your career goals?
    • How will becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner meet your career goals?
    • What knowledge do you have of the NP role you are applying for?
    • Have you had any experience with the role and what aspects of the role appeal to you professionally?
  • Professional Resume/CV
  • Recommendation Form/Letter
    • Your recommendation may be either academic or professional.
    • The application system will send an email to your recommender, after which they must submit the PLU Graduate Recommendation Form. They will have the option to also include a letter of recommendation.
  • Application Fee
      • Pay the non-refundable $80 application fee.
      • Note: The application fee is waived for all PLU students and alumni.

Provide other documents

Background Check (if admission is offered)

This is not a part of the online application. You will be invited to complete the background check via CastleBranch if admission is offered. School of Nursing will provide you the instructions at that time.

Additional Materials for International Applicants

In addition to the documents listed in the above sections, please also submit the following materials:

  • Credential Evaluation – If you attended a school or earned your degree outside of the United States, you are required to submit your coursework to World Education Services (WES) for a course-by-course US equivalency report. This report should then be sent directly to NursingCAS from the evaluation service along with the official transcripts sent by the schools. Visit World Education Services (WES) website to follow its instructions and arrange for your documents to be delivered to WES.
  • English translation is also required if the documents are in a language other than English. Translation must be provided by a university, government official, organization, or a certified translation service, example: American Translators Association.
  • Proof of English proficiency
    • Submit official TOEFL or IELTS score report through NursingCAS. Score requirements can be found here.

In order to be sent a form I-20, admitted international students must:

  • Pay the enrollment deposit (if admitted)
  • Submit a Passport picture page
  • Submit the Declaration of Finance form and Proof of financial support dated within 12 months. English translation is required if the documents are not issued in English.