Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Primary Care Postgraduate Certificate
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Program at a Glance
- Focus on promoting holistic health care to adults and children in a family setting.
- Onsite clinical practice experiences allow you to apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting.
- Start when it's convenient for you and complete most of your coursework online.
- The postgraduate certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
How Do I Get Started?
We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.
Course Effort
15–18 Hours per Week
Course Length
10-Week Terms
Average Completion
1.5 years
Of Full-Time Study
Credits Required
60
(40 Semester Credits)
Cost per Credit
$420
Family Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Postgraduate Certificate Overview
If you're a registered nurse interested in advancing your career, consider earning a postgraduate FNP certificate online at Purdue Global. Courses in our online family nurse practitioner program address how to promote and provide primary care as a member of an interprofessional team and how to improve the availability of evidence-based, culturally relevant health care in diverse communities.
You'll study how to diagnose and manage patients' acute and chronic health problems as well as ways to serve as an advocate for patients
Clinical Practice Experience
Apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting. As part of the postgraduate certificate program, you will participate in a series of clinical practice sessions at a health care facility or clinical site to gain valuable real-world experience.
See the University Catalog for policy and degree plan information specific to this program.
Contact an Admissions Advisor for more information about the number of hours needed to complete the clinical requirement.
Note: At this time, residents of the following states and territories may not enroll in this program: Hawaii, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Guam, and Puerto Rico. In addition, international students are not eligible to enroll in this program.
The postgraduate APRN certificate programs at Purdue Global are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.CCNEAccreditation.org).
Purdue University Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Admissions Requirements
A master's degree with an upper-level major in nursing and an approved criminal background check is required. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your master's degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Additional requirements apply. Refer to the program-specific policy page in the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.
Ways to Save
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Financial Aid
Title IV federal financial aid is available for many of our degree programs.
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Corporate Partner Benefits
Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.
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Military Tuition Reduction
55% reduction per credit for current servicemembers, 38% per credit for veterans for undergraduate programs.
Program Cost Estimator
Calculate your estimated tuition and ways to save.
Prepare for Certification
Upon completion of the postgraduate FNP certificate program, you may be eligible to sit for family nurse practitioner certification exams offered by the following organizations:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
After earning your FNP certification, you may be academically eligible for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in any state in which the program is available for enrollment.*
Faculty With Real-World Experience
Our faculty has decades of nursing experience and brings real-world knowledge to the classroom. Many hold doctorates or advanced nursing certifications; all faculty members possess at least a master’s degree.
What Courses Will I Take?
The family nurse practitioner certificate program is focused on helping you develop the skills to evaluate the health and wellness of individuals, families, and their communities.
See All Nursing CoursesSample Courses
- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
- Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
- Primary Care Across the Life Span
- Primary Care of Women's Health
- Primary Care of Children and Adolescents Health
Program Requirements
- Core Credits60
- Total Credits60
FNP Career Opportunities
Nurse practitioners (NPs) function as primary providers to specialized groups of patients. Responsibilities may include diagnosing and treating patients, ordering tests, interpreting results, preparing treatment plans, and prescribing medication (in many states).
Family NPs can serve in many different work environments including family practice, retail health locations, convenient care facilities, nursing care facilities, and universities.
Top 5 Skills Employers Are Looking for:
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Coordination
Top Jobs With This Degree
Labor market, salary, and projected growth information are supplied by Emsi. Average salary range is based on national data. Projected growth represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2018–2030) at the state level and is based on your geographic location. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, and opportunities for employment. Purdue Global cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional certification or licensing may be required to work in certain fields.
Get to Know Our Faculty
Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.
View Nursing Faculty Directory
98%
Faculty members who have advanced degrees
50%
Faculty members who hold a doctorate
237
Faculty publications in 2020–2021
More Than 36,000
Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2020–2021
Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, September 2021. 2020–2021 academic year.
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School Brochure
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NOTES AND CONDITIONS
*Nursing Licensure: Graduates who pass the relevant certification exam may be academically eligible for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in any state in which the program is available for enrollment. Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states; please refer to Licensure and State Authorization for additional information on licensure, state authorizations, and program availability. The University cannot guarantee students will be eligible to sit for or pass exams.
Please note that most states require nurses to be nationally certified and to have completed an accredited graduate nursing program in order to obtain licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse. Each national certification provider and state Board of Nursing will have eligibility requirements in addition to these educational requirements, such as passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they are eligible for state Board of Nursing approval and certification as an advanced practice registered nurse in their state. Students can obtain additional information from their state's Board of Nursing, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).