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Post Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online

Expand on your previous MSN education and acquire the skills needed to provide primary care to patients of all ages.

Apply by: 4/27/25
Start class: 5/19/25
Apply Now

Program Overview

Why consider the Post Master's FNP Certificate online program.

$23,721.25 Total Tuition
As few as 16 months Duration
35* Credit Hours

Empower patients to maintain and improve their health throughout their lives with a Post Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online from William Paterson University.

If you are an MSN graduate interested in changing or advancing your career, this FNP certificate program is designed to help you increase your impact as a nurse through the development of your leadership skills and the quality of care you provide. You will advance your knowledge of nursing theories, related sciences and humanities, and methods of inquiry in the delivery of healthcare services.

Designed to be flexible for working nurses, this Post Master’s FNP Certificate online covers nursing research strategies, population health, legislation and social policy, advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment of pediatric, adult, and childbearing clients. Upon completion of this program, you will be eligible to sit for the FNP certification exam.

Upon completion of this post master’s FNP program, you will be able to:

  • Apply advanced knowledge of nursing theories, related sciences and humanities, and methods of inquiry in the delivery of healthcare services
  • Develop leadership and communicate effectively using the collaborative approach to improve quality care
  • Analyze changes in the healthcare system through the design and implementation of health-related projects that strengthen outcomes in the healthcare delivery system
  • Apply evidence, research, and theory to improve health services
  • Apply current health information and technologies to advance the quality and accessibility of care
  • Advocate for healthcare policies and systems to improve healthcare
  • Analyze systems' responses to health and illness to improve the promotion, restoration, and maintenance of health that reflect respect across diverse cultures
  • Engage in advanced nursing care to individuals, families, communities, and clinical populations
Upon completion of this post master’s FNP program, you will be able to:+
  • Apply advanced knowledge of nursing theories, related sciences and humanities, and methods of inquiry in the delivery of healthcare services
  • Develop leadership and communicate effectively using the collaborative approach to improve quality care
  • Analyze changes in the healthcare system through the design and implementation of health-related projects that strengthen outcomes in the healthcare delivery system
  • Apply evidence, research, and theory to improve health services
  • Apply current health information and technologies to advance the quality and accessibility of care
  • Advocate for healthcare policies and systems to improve healthcare
  • Analyze systems' responses to health and illness to improve the promotion, restoration, and maintenance of health that reflect respect across diverse cultures
  • Engage in advanced nursing care to individuals, families, communities, and clinical populations

Prepare to deliver primary care services in various settings, such as:

  • Private Practice Clinics
  • Internal Medicine Offices
  • Community Clinics
  • Mobile Clinics
  • Long-Term Care Facilities
  • Specialty Clinics
  • University Student Health Centers
  • Rehab Centers
  • Home Care
  • Prisons and Jails
Prepare to deliver primary care services in various settings, such as:+
  • Private Practice Clinics
  • Internal Medicine Offices
  • Community Clinics
  • Mobile Clinics
  • Long-Term Care Facilities
  • Specialty Clinics
  • University Student Health Centers
  • Rehab Centers
  • Home Care
  • Prisons and Jails

Also available:

$23,721.25 Total Tuition
As few as 16 months Duration
35* Credit Hours
CCNE accredited logo

The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master's degree in nursing, post-master's degree certification in adult gerontology and family nurse practitioner, and DNP programs at William Paterson University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (ccneaccreditation.org). Expires June 30, 2030.

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Need More Information?

Call 833-960-0139

Call 833-960-0139

Tuition

Discover how pay-as-you-go makes tuition budget friendly at WP.

The William Paterson University Post Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition. Tuition includes a nursing course fee that provides student access to "UpToDate for Nursing," as well as other software, reducing the overall cost of course materials.

Tuition breakdown:

$23,721.25 Total Tuition
$677.75 Per Credit Hour
View additional tuition information +

Program Per Credit Hour Per Course Per Program
Post Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate $677.75 $2,033.25 $23,721.25

Tuition breakdown:

$23,721.25 Total Tuition
$677.75 Per Credit Hour

Calendar

Upcoming dates for our online graduate certificate program.

William Paterson University online Post Master's certificate programs are delivered in a flexible format ideal for working professionals with accelerated coursework and six start dates each year.

Now enrolling:

4/27/25 Apply Date
5/19/25 Class Starts

View full calendar  + 

TermStart DateApp DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineClass End DateTerm Length
Summer I5/19/254/27/254/30/255/9/255/14/257/6/257 weeks
Summer II7/14/256/22/256/24/257/3/257/9/258/31/257 weeks
Fall I9/8/258/17/258/20/258/29/259/3/2510/26/257 weeks
Fall II11/3/2510/12/2510/15/2510/24/2510/29/2512/21/257 weeks

Now enrolling:

4/27/25 Apply Date
5/19/25 Class Starts

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

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Admissions

Preview the admission criteria for this online Post Master’s FNP Certificate program.

We've streamlined the admission process for the online FNP post master's certificate program to help you get started right away. Please read the admission requirements, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them.

The requirements include:

  • MSN from an accredited institution
  • RN license, valid and unencumbered
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Resume
View all admission requirements +

You must meet the following requirements for admission to the Post Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online:

  • Submit online application and $50 application fee
  • Resume
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with official graduate nursing transcripts
  • An active, unencumbered RN license in the state where you practice
  • Currently employed as an RN
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA

Official transcripts and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to:

Email address: [email protected]

Mail address:

Office of Graduate Admissions & Enrollment Services
Morrison Hall 102
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470

Courses

Look at the courses for the Post Master's FNP Certificate online program.

For the Post Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online, you must complete 35 credit hours and 680 clinical hours. The total number of credit hours needed and the time to completion may be less, depending on the specific courses taken in the prior master’s program. Courses needed will be evaluated on an individual basis during the admission process.

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
An in-depth study of the pathogenesis of major conditions affecting clients across the lifespan, including children, child-bearing women and young adults, adults and older adults. Assessment of complex clinical situations will be analyzed along with laboratory and diagnostic data to provide a rationale for nursing management decisions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
This course includes the study of history taking, physical exam and laboratory/diagnostic techniques that support the assessment and diagnosis of young adults, adults, and older adults by the advanced practice nurse. The course allows the student to develop the cognitive and psychomotor skills required to perform a comprehensive health assessment including health history and physical examination of the young adult, adult, and older adult and to address common healthcare problems seen in a primary care community setting.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
This course provides students with information that will enable them to apply clinical pharmacotherapeutics to client care. Standard and new drugs; drug delivery systems in pharmacotherapy; age-and illness-related modifications across the lifespan; and drug and food interactions are emphasized. The legal and regulatory aspects of drug administration with the prescriptive authority of the advanced practice nurse will be explored.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Required for the adult/gerontology and family nurse practitioner tracks. Emphasis is on age-appropriate health screening, health maintenance, and health promotion. The management of selected acute/chronic healthcare problems of the young adult, adult, and older adult are addressed including: EENT (ears, eyes, nose, throat), hematological, cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and neurological system disorders. Development of advanced practice nursing and interdisciplinary plans of care based on research evidence, legal, political and ethical considerations, and the use of information technology will be addressed.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Required for the adult gerontology and family nurse practitioner tracks. Emphasis is on age-appropriate health screening, health maintenance, and health promotion. The management of selected acute/chronic healthcare problems of the young adult, adult, and older adult are addressed including dermatological, genitourinary, woman’s health, hematological and immune disorders, mental health, and emergency problems. Special emphasis is given to the management of the young adult and older adult. Development of advanced nursing and interdisciplinary plans of care using research evidence, critical thinking, legal, political and ethical considerations will be emphasized. The efficacy of alternative and complementary therapies will be explored.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
This course is required for the advanced clinical practice track. Emphasis is on management of selected acute/chronic healthcare problems of pediatric and childbearing clients. Developmental needs will be addressed, as well as HEENT, hematological, cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, dermatological, genitourinary, immune system and mental health problems specific to these populations. Special emphasis will be on the management of the pregnant/ante partum/postpartum woman. Development of advanced nursing and interdisciplinary plans of care using research evidence, critical thinking, legal, political and ethical considerations will be emphasized. This is the third and final course in a series of three advanced nursing clinical management courses.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
This course includes the study of history taking, physical exam and laboratory/diagnostic techniques that support the assessment and diagnosis of the pediatric and childbearing client by the advanced practice nurse (APN). The course allows the student to develop the cognitive and psychomotor skills required to perform a health and physical assessment on infants, children, adolescent, adult and child bearing women and to address common healthcare problems seen in a primary care community setting.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Provides an opportunity for advanced nursing practice nurses e.g. nurse practitioner to demonstrate role competencies. Interdisciplinary theories and research are synthesized and applied in the delivery of primary care, management and/or educational outcomes to diverse populations. Clinical practicum requires a minimum of 170 supervised hours in healthcare settings, institutions and/or academic institutions. Seminars, which are two and one half-hours every other week, enable students to integrate learning.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
This course is required for students in the nurse practitioner tracks. Students are expected to initiate health promotion, assess, make clinical decisions, and manage care in consultation with appropriate healthcare providers for young adults, adults, and older adults. Preceptorships will be held in variety primary care settings across diverse populations. Clinical practicum requires 170 supervised hours. Seminars, which are two-and-one-half hours every other week, enable students to integrate learning.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Required for the advanced practice track – family nurse practitioner. Students are expected to apply and synthesize knowledge and skills of health promotion, health maintenance, and clinical management of common acute and chronic healthcare problems of pediatric and childbearing clients. Preceptored clinical practicum requires 170 supervised hours.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
The roles and competencies of the family nurse practitioner is addressed. For family nurse practitioners, various roles will focus on managing care of neonates, infants, children, young adults, pre an post-natal women, adult, and older adults. The practicum will provide students with experience in their functional role within a variety of health care settings with diverse populations. Clinical practicum requires 170 supervised hours. Seminars, which are two-and-one-half hours every other week, enable students to integrate learning.

*Students without pre-requisite foundation courses may require additional credits.

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