Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Online
Prepare to become a Family Nurse Practitioner and take on the responsibilities of caring for patients of all ages across all stages of their lives.
Program Overview
Here’s what you need to know about our Post-Master’s FNP Certificate Program Online
Expand on your master’s-level education in nursing with the Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online program from St. Thomas University. Develop the credentials to become a successful primary care provider and supply a wide range of family-focused health care services for children, adults, women, and the elderly in a variety of settings including private practice, outpatient clinics, and hospitals.
Enhance your ability to work independently and collaboratively with other health care professionals to provide the best possible outcomes for patients in this Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program. Gain the confidence to make critical judgments in all areas of health care, by ordering tests and analyzing results, developing treatment plans, and prescribing medications.
Increase your FNP leadership skills and learn about the financial aspects of advanced practice. Be prepared to empower patients to maintain healthy lifestyles.
Learning Outcomes
- Integrate advanced knowledge in nursing, related science, and leadership skills that will emphasize ethical and critical decision-making to promote safe, high quality, cost effective, and culturally appropriate care across diverse settings
- Incorporate evidence-based research to resolve practice problems and improve knowledge
- Construct processes for self-accountability of professional growth, adopt lifelong learning, and practice safely and effectively within your chosen specialty to maintain health and improve patient outcomes
- Establish an environment of advanced practice that is conducive to the development of effective interactions with patients, other disciplines, and other entities in communities
- Advocate for policies that lead to improved health outcomes for populations and the improvement of the quality of the health care system at the local, regional, state, national, and global level
- Demonstrate competence in the communication, collaboration, and consultation to advance interprofessional teams
- Integrate clinical prevention and health promotion strategies to maintain optimal health and improve patient health outcomes
- Apply advanced knowledge gained from nursing and other related sciences to practice as a competent health care provider
- Integrate advanced knowledge in nursing, related science, and leadership skills that will emphasize ethical and critical decision-making to promote safe, high quality, cost effective, and culturally appropriate care across diverse settings
- Incorporate evidence-based research to resolve practice problems and improve knowledge
- Construct processes for self-accountability of professional growth, adopt lifelong learning, and practice safely and effectively within your chosen specialty to maintain health and improve patient outcomes
- Establish an environment of advanced practice that is conducive to the development of effective interactions with patients, other disciplines, and other entities in communities
- Advocate for policies that lead to improved health outcomes for populations and the improvement of the quality of the health care system at the local, regional, state, national, and global level
- Demonstrate competence in the communication, collaboration, and consultation to advance interprofessional teams
- Integrate clinical prevention and health promotion strategies to maintain optimal health and improve patient health outcomes
- Apply advanced knowledge gained from nursing and other related sciences to practice as a competent health care provider
Nursing Career Opportunities
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Practitioner Supervisor
- Occupational Medicine Nurse Practitioner
- Associate Professor
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Practitioner Supervisor
- Occupational Medicine Nurse Practitioner
- Associate Professor
- Family Nurse Practitioner
Also available:
St. Thomas University offers a variety of nursing programs. Check out all of our online nursing programs.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree, master's degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and post-graduate certificate programs in nursing at St. Thomas University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
St. Thomas University’s FNP program is currently under the CCNE Show Cause Directive. During this time, STU's FNP program remains accredited while the university is actively working to address the CCNE concerns. St. Thomas University is dedicated to the success of our students and committed to making the necessary improvements.
Tuition
This Post-Master’s FNP Certificate Program Online is an important investment in your future
Tuition for the Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online program is the same for in-state and out-of-state students and can be paid by the course. The total tuition is inclusive of all fees, including a technology fee for each course and lab fees for specific nursing courses. Tuition costs are subject to change at any time.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per 3 Hour Credit Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Master’s FNP Certificate | $605 | $1,890 | $21,510* |
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Take note of these important dates
The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year. Choose the start date that's best for you.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/11/25 | 12/27/24 | 1/2/25 | 1/6/25 | 1/11/25 | 3/7/25 | 7 weeks |
| Spring 2 | 3/15/25 | 2/28/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/10/25 | 3/19/25 | 5/9/25 | 7 weeks |
| Summer 1 | 5/17/25 | 5/2/25 | 5/7/25 | 5/12/25 | 5/21/25 | 6/27/25 | 6 weeks |
| Summer 2 | 6/28/25 | 6/13/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 7/2/25 | 8/8/25 | 6 weeks |
| Fall 1 | 8/23/25 | 8/8/25 | 8/13/25 | 8/18/25 | 8/27/25 | 10/17/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall 2 | 10/18/25 | 10/3/25 | 10/8/25 | 10/13/25 | 10/22/25 | 12/12/25 | 7 weeks |
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Admissions
Get started on your journey to a Post-Master’s Online FNP Certificate
Our very reasonable admission requirements allow students from diverse nursing backgrounds greater access to the Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online program. You must possess an unencumbered RN license, a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited nursing school, and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Due to in-person clinical requirements, only students currently residing in Florida and Georgia can enter this program.
Admission Requirements:
- Free Application
- 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Active RN license
Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate Online Admission Requirements
The following are required for admission to the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate online program:
- Completed free application
- MSN degree in a non-nurse practitioner field from an accredited nursing school
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (Unofficial transcripts are accepted)
- 3.0 or higher GPA
- Active and unencumbered Florida or Georgia nursing license
- Residency in Florida or Georgia for clinicals
Official transcripts can be sent to St. Thomas University through Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. Unofficial transcripts and other documents can be uploaded via your Admissions Portal or emailed to [email protected].
Courses
Here’s the course list for your Post-Master’s Online FNP Certificate program
The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate online curriculum is comprised of four core courses (12 credit hours) and eight specialization courses (20 credit hours).
Courses in this program are seven weeks long. Courses during the two summer terms, however, are six weeks long.
Learning Outcomes
- Articulate marketing and negotiating strategies to promote acceptance of the advance practice nurse within the practice management system.
- Investigate ethical issues and the cope of practice that governs the advanced practice nurse in Florida and/or other states.
- Evaluate the interprofessional collaborative healthcare team function of the Advanced Practice Nurse.
Learning Outcomes
- Compare physiological and psychologies changes over the lifespan.
- Evaluate physiologic responses to illness and treatment modalities.
- Incorporate and implement evidence-based knowledge regarding changes in selected disease states.
Learning Outcomes
- Synthesize the roles of the professional nurse in conducting a health history on a variety of patients across the lifespan.
- Distinguish normal and abnormal health and physical assessment findings between normal and abnormal variations associated with ethnic/racial origins, socioeconomic status, cultural/spiritual beliefs, gender, and age.
- Utilize special assessments and techniques to certain populations such as obstetric, pediatric, and the elderly population.
- Evaluate health/illness beliefs, culture, values, attitudes, behavior, and lifestyle to collaboratively plan with the patient to promote ideal health.
- Assess evidence-based care for promoting wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention for individuals, families, groups, communities, and diverse populations across the lifespan in a variety of healthcare environments.
Learning Outcomes
- Differentiate the pharmacological actions of medications used to treat common diseases.
- Create individualized pharmacotherapy plans based on patient-specific conditions.
- Explain the relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of broad categories of drugs across the lifespan.
Learning Outcomes
- Synthesize physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment into comprehensive management plans for children and adolescents with common acute and chronic health problems.
- Apply knowledge, theory, and research findings to develop plans that promote wellness and reduce risk of illness in children and adolescents.
- Plan comprehensive and effective nursing care for primary care and medically complex patients through collaboration, case management, and knowledge of community resources.
Learning Outcomes
- Incorporate physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment into comprehensive management plans for women with common acute and chronic health problems.
- Develop plans that promote wellness and reduce the risk of illness is women.
- Differentiate between problem situations that require nurse practitioner management, collaborative management, or referral to other providers using clinical data and therapeutic options.
Learning Outcomes
- Synthesize physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment into comprehensive management plans for the adult with common acute and chronic health problems.
- Apply knowledge, theory, and research findings to develop plans that promote wellness and reduce risk of illness in adults.
- Analyze the relationships among disease process, clinical presentation, and management of patients with major adult health problems.
- Differentiate between problem situations that require nurse practitioner management, collaborative management, or referral to other providers using clinical data and therapeutic options.
- Use diagnosis tests and evaluation to appropriately diagnosis patients.
Learning Outcomes
- Synthesize physical, psychosocial, and cultural assessment management plans for the older adult with common acute and chronic health problems.
- Develop plans that promote wellness and reduce the risk of illness in the older adult.
- Evaluate the relationships among disease process, clinical presentation, and management of patients with major older adult health problems.
- Differentiate between problem situations requiring nurse practitioner management, collaborative management, or referral to other providers.
The Post-Master’s FNP Certificate requires students to complete a total of 500 clinical hours to graduate from the program. There are four clinical courses with 125 clinical hours required for each of these classes: NUR 507: Children & Families, NUR 509: Adults, NUR 514: Women’s Health, and NUR 612: Adult Gerontology. Each clinical course runs over a seven-week period, and the required hours must be completed by the end of each course. See course descriptions for more details.
Prior to beginning clinical courses, you are required to complete and submit proof of the following:
- Current unencumbered RN licensure in Florida
- Current Professional Liability Insurance
- Criminal Background Check
- Drug Screening
- Basic Life Support (CPR) certification
- Annual Physical Examination
- Current Immunizations
Finding Clinical Sites and Preceptors
Finding a clinical preceptor and site are essential components for completing this program. STU strongly encourages students to secure their own preceptors, as this is the best way to accommodate schedule and location to the student’s needs. We strongly encourage students to have an alternate preceptor available if needed.
If assistance with clinical placement is needed, you may be required to commute outside your local area, as STU cannot guarantee a clinical site within your immediate location. Please note that your clinical site could be up to 100 miles from your residence.
Restrictions on Clinical Sites
We highly encourage all clinical hours to be conducted in the primary care setting for this program. Students are restricted from completing clinical rotations on their assigned unit. Your immediate supervisor at your place of employment may not serve as your preceptor. Students are not permitted to perform clinical rotations during hours they are working as an employee at a facility. Students are also not allowed to be paid during clinical hours.
STU is ranked #80 in the “Best Regional Universities South” by U.S. News & World Report, 2022
*The total tuition is inclusive of all fees, including a technology fee for each course and lab fees for specific courses. Tuition costs are subject to change at any time.
