Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Hybrid
MPath – Marian’s engaging online education platform
Take the next step in your nursing career!
Program Features
- Certificate program is open ONLY to Wisconsin licensed RNs
- Hybrid program includes a mix of 100% online courses & on-campus components
- Program requires 15-30 credits, depending on the student
- Students finish in 24-36 months
- Program is presented in MPath 15-Week Semester format
- Graduates qualify to take a national certification exam to be a Family Nurse Practitioner
Who Should Earn an FNP Certificate?
Students have diverse goals associated with earning their FNP certification. Regardless of your personal motivation, Marian’s skill building, post-graduate program will prepare you to apply for ANCC or AANPCB national certification. This program is good for those who want to:
Become a Certified FNP
- Students with national certification in another nurse practitioner population (such as pediatrics)
- Students with an MSN degree, such as in Nurse Educator or Nurse Administrator who want to become an FNP
- MSN or DNP prepared RNs who now want to develop their competencies as Family Nurse Practitioners but do not wish to earn another master’s degree
- RNs who want to become a Family Nurse Practitioner to broaden their career opportunities
Address Lapsed or Retired Certification
- Nurses with retired certification can qualify to sit for the FNP certification exam by completing the Marian certificate program
- Nurses with lapsed certification can qualify to sit for the FNP certification exam by completing the Marian certificate program
Why Choose Marian University?
Marian University’s Post-Graduate FNP Certificate program is part of a nursing legacy that has been offering quality nursing education for more than 45 years.
MPath Online Program Schedule: 15-Week Semester
Meeting the Educational Requirements of the APRN Consensus Model
Certified and practicing APRNs complete a minimum of 510 practicum hours while non-certified and/or practicing APRNs complete a minimum of 675 practicum course hours. Practicum learning objectives differ per practicum course, but students can expect to:
- Become competent in providing direct care to a variety of patients.
- Learn how to use history taking and assessment skills to develop differential diagnoses.
- Select and interpret diagnostic tests.
- Propose evidence-based pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies.
- Learn to provide health promotion.
- Demonstrate cultural competencies.
- Appropriately document care.
- Understand how to assign appropriate billing codes.
- Excel within interprofessional teams.
- Self-reflect on professional growth.
Marian’s dedicated clinical placement coordinator supports students in coordination of placement and other needs once students have selected a clinical site. Students complete practicum hours in Wisconsin within primary care clinics, family medicine practice, internal medicine practice, pediatric practice, urgent care settings, and some specialty clinics depending on the needs of the student.
Students enrolling in certificate programs do not qualify for federal financial aid but should check with employers for programs that may help pay for certificate tuition and expenses.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master’s degree program in nursing at Marian University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Marian University reviews applications on an individual basis, taking into consideration varied clinical and educational backgrounds. Application requirements include:
- MSN or DNP from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited program
- Wisconsin Registered Nurse (RN) license – unencumbered
- Official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended
- 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the MSN or DNP degree
- Two completed professional references
- Course exceptions:
- Graduate level across the lifespan Pathophysiology – within the past 3 years
- Graduate level across the lifespan Advanced Health Assessment – within the past 3 years (this may be waived depending on applicant’s certification and work experience)
- Graduate level across the lifespan Advanced Pharmacology – within the past 3 years (this may be waived depending on applicant’s certification and work experience)
- Portfolio includes:
- Updated resume
- Copies of national nursing certifications, specifically APRN certification
- Descriptions of relevant APRN work experience including patient populations, roles and responsibilities, and duration of experience
- Goal statement describing your reasons for pursuing a Post-Graduate FNP certificate
As part of the application process students submit a portfolio that will be used as the basis for a gap analysis focused on your prior education, APRN certification, and experience. The results of this gap analysis determine your individual study plan including coursework and faculty-supervised clinical hours. The completion of required didactic courses and clinical hours can be flexible depending upon waived and/or transferred credits hours.
