Post-APRN Graduate Certificate Program
The Post-Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Graduate Certificate program is for nurses who are certified in one area of advanced nursing practice and wish to expand their specialty of advanced practice to another population. APRNs who fulfill the course and practicum requirements will be issued a certificate of completion of training, leading to eligibility to sit for national certification in the new area of care. While we do offer a distance option (synchronous and asynchronous classes), this is not a fully online program. Our Nurse Midwifery and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner tracks require a significant number of days on campus. The distance option often works best for students living in rural Utah or in nearby states who are within a reasonable driving distance of the University of Utah. We offer Post-APRN certificates in the following areas:
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care
- Family
- Nurse Midwifery
- Women's Health
- Psychiatric/Mental Health
Certificate programs of study are individualized and variable for each student based on a gap analysis identifying the courses and clinical hours required for the new area of care. Faculty will develop an individualized program of study only after an offer of admission has been extended. Not all courses are offered each semester, therefore, certificates may be 4-6 semesters in length.
The Post-APRN Certificate Program is not a matriculated (degree seeking) programs so federal financial aid is not available to certificate students. Graduate Nursing Tuition information can be found HERE.
Post-APRN Certificate Admissions & Application
Applicants to the Post-APRN Graduate Certificate program must hold a previous advanced practice nursing degree and national certification in another population foci. Applicants to the Post-APRN Graduate Certificate program follow the same application process as those applying for the full Doctor of Nursing Practice program and are reviewed equally.
Applications are due on December 1 for the following fall semester. Applicants will be notified of next steps in late-January, with final admissions decisions posted in late February.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Completion of a graduate degree in nursing from a regionally-accredited university/college, or concurrent enrollment in a University of Utah College of Nursing graduate program
- Verification of licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in at least one of the jurisdictions of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
COMPLETED APPLICATION INCLUDES
- Completion of the College of Nursing Application
- Submission of the University of Utah Non-Degree Seeking Student application for fall semester. Non-degree seeking students are those who wish to enroll in classes, but are not matriculated into a degree-seeking program
- Submission of the following materials to gradstudentinfo@nurs.utah.edu:
- Statement of Interest. Please articulate your desire to pursue certification in the new area of care, and what you expect to achieve and learn
- Resume
- PDF copies of all college transcripts Copy of APRN certification
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from professional sources
Contact Us
Shelley Kern, MPC
DNP Program Manager
Shelley.Kern@nurs.utah.edu