Program Overview

---

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Graduate Certificate

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Graduate Certificate is a 21-credit post-graduate program designed to provide advanced practice nurses with preparation as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Upon completing the certificate requirements, students will be eligible to sit for national certification exams offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Board (AANPCB). Once nationally certified, the FNP is eligible to apply for licensure in all fifty states.

Overview

This program is designed for advanced practice nurses who wish to pursue a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The curriculum includes theory courses and practicum courses, which are taken concurrently.

Admission Requirements

• Admission to a graduate certificate program requires formal student application through the Graduate School admissions application system, including the required admissions application fee.
• Certificate programs will inform the Graduate School of their admission recommendation for an applicant. The final admission decision is made by the Graduate School.
• Early application to the certificate program is recommended; late application is possible, but may incur delays for certificate conferral related to time required for credit tracking.
• Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted into a certificate program.
• A master's or doctoral degree in Nursing from an accredited program providing preparation as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist.
• Certification in their current advanced practice registered nurse specialty as applicable.
• Completion with a grade of B or better of a graduate-level course in physiology/pathophysiology, pharmacology, and comprehensive assessment. Evidence of prescriptive authority in the state of Wisconsin will be accepted in place of graduate pharmacology.
• Current registration as a professional nurse in the state of Wisconsin.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation, two (2) of which are from persons most knowledgeable about the applicant's recent academic and work experiences.
• Personal interviews with a faculty member may be requested.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Personal statement that includes rationale for certificate study and career goals.
• One year of practice as an advanced practice nurse at the time of starting the certificate program coursework.

Credits and Courses

The Post-Graduate FNP certificate requires 21 credits, consisting of six courses. Theory courses are taken concurrently with practicum courses.

• Theory Courses:
  • NURS 767: Advanced Health and Illness Management for Family Nurse Practitioners I (3 credits)
  • NURS 768: Advanced Health and Illness Management for Family Nurse Practitioners II (3 credits)
  • NURS 769: Advanced Health and Illness Management for Family Nurse Practitioners III (3 credits)
• Practicum Courses:
  • NURS 757: Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum I (4 credits)
  • NURS 758: Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum II (4 credits)
  • NURS 759: Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum III (4 credits) Total Credits: 21

Additional Requirements

Allowance for Transfer Credit

If approved by the FNP Option Coordinator and the DNP Program Director, one 3-credit course from an accredited institution other than UWM may be transferred to meet requirements of the certificate program.

Completion Requirements

Certificate program progression requirements will be consistent with the School of Nursing requirements for progression in graduate-level programs. Students must complete all courses with at least a B- or better and a cumulative GPA of a 3.00 or greater.

Time Limit

It is expected that students will complete the certificate in one year from the time of enrollment.

Certificate Conferral

The certificate will be awarded upon successful completion of the requirements (i.e., once all grades for the certificate courses are officially recorded with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater). Successful completion of the certificate program will be noted on the student's transcript.

Articulation with Degree Programs

1. Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
   • Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
   • All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree.
   • Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
2. Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
3. A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
4. Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.