Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Primary Care Postgraduate Certificate

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12
Total Courses
$420
Cost Per Credit
1.5 years
Average Completion*
15–18 hours
Weekly Course Effort

Family Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Certificate Overview

It’s time to take the next step in your nursing career. Earn your FNP certificate and advance as a primary care provider serving adults and children in a family setting.

  • Learn how to diagnose and manage patients' acute and chronic health problems as well as ways to serve as a patient advocate.
  • Take courses online and start your certificate whenever it's convenient for you.
  • Gain hands-on experience through local onsite clinicals that allow you to apply what you’ve learned in a real-world setting.
  • Prepare to obtain valuable family nurse practitioner certifications.
  • Learn from faculty with decades of nursing experience.
  • Be ready to make an impact by improving the availability of holistic, evidence-based, culturally relevant health care in diverse communities.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

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, and Guam. In addition, international students are not eligible to enroll in this program.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

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CCNE Accredited

The postgraduate APRN certificate programs at Purdue Global is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.CCNEAccreditation.org).

Purdue 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. 

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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.

Sample 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
See All Nursing Courses

Program Requirements

12
Core Courses
12
Total Courses
60
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Admissions Requirements

A master's degree with an upper-level major in nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and an approved criminal background check is required. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows your degree completion with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher 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.

View Admissions Requirements

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Pursue Certification

Prepare to sit for family nurse practitioner certification exams offered by:

  • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
  • American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)

After earning your FNP certification, you may be academically eligible for licensure as an APRN in any state where 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.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Grants and Loans

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

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Possible Behavioral Interview Questions for This Field of Study

  • Share an example of a time when you had to shift priorities quickly. How did you handle that situation?
  • Describe a time you motivated your team to achieve results. What was your approach?
  • Tell me about a situation where you had to manage competing priorities during your program such as clinicals, coursework, and personal responsibilities. How did you stay organized and meet your goals?

Sample Skills Developed and Used in This Field

  • Accountability
  • Care Coordination
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Decision Making
  • Ethical Standards and Conduct
  • Electronic Medical Record Management
  • Leadership
  • Ethical Standards and Conduct
  • Nursing Care
  • Nursing Practices
  • Primary Care
  • Problem Solving
  • Treatment Planning

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Download the School Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about our nursing programs and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

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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.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

58%

Faculty members who have terminal degrees

477

Faculty publications in 2024–2025

More Than 44,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2024–2025

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, August 2025. 2024–2025 academic year.

NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

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 Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific licensure information. 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).