Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Program
The Post-Graduate Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) 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. We offer Post-Graduate APRN certificates in the following areas:
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse-Midwifery
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
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.
The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Program is not a matriculated (degree seeking) programs so federal financial aid is not available to certificate students.
Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates from the Post-Graduate APRN program will:
- Integrate nursing science with knowledge from ethics, the biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sciences to provide the basis for advanced nursing practice in the new population foci.
- Provide, manage, and evaluate care of individuals and populations using evidence-based concepts related to physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, as well as community, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic dimensions of health in the new population foci.
- Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment and decision-making, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care in the new population foci.
- Actively engage in interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at improving healthcare delivery and care coordination.
- Demonstrate professionalism and value lifelong learning.
- Meet the requirement for board certification eligibility in the new population foci.
Plans of Study
Fall (Semester credits: 9)
NURS 7832 - Diagnosis & Management: Acute Care I
NURS 7366 - Acute Care Pharmacology I
NURS 7684 - Diagnostic Procedures & Simulation for Acute Care
Spring (Semester credits: 10)
NURS 7904 - AG-ACNP Practicum I
NURS 7367 - Acute Care Pharmacology II
NURS 7833 - Diagnosis & Management: Acute Care II
NURS 6440 - Interdisciplinary Approach to End-Of-Life/Palliative Care
Summer (Semester credits: 4)
NURS 7466 - Hospital Medicine
NURS 7905 - AG-ACNP Practicum II
Fall (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7906 - AG-ACNP Practicum III
Program Total Credits: 28
This program of study is available to currently certified nurse practitioners in a different population focus. Students may request a gap analysis of their previous degree coursework to determine potential adjustments to the program requirements.
This is a sample program of study only and is subject to change–students will receive final program of study during the onboarding process.
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Summer 2027 (Semester credits: 2)
NURS 7215 - Foundations of Adult Care
Fall 2027 (Semester credits: 10)
NURS 7216 - Foundations of Pediatric Health Care
NURS 7373 - Management of Pediatric Patients: Newborn-Early Childhood
NURS 7374 - Comprehensive Well Woman Care
NURS 7375 - Adolescent Health Care
Spring 2028 (Semester credits: 8)
NURS 7680 - Diagnostic Procedures and Simulation for Primary Care
NURS 7834 - Diagnosis & Management: Acute Episodic Care of the Adult
NURS 7835 - Diagnosis & Management: Acute Episodic Care of the Child
Summer 2028 (Semester credits: 6)
NURS 7836 - Diagnosis & Management: Chronic & Complex Primary Care of the Adult
NURS 7940 - FNP Practicum I (180 direct clinical hours)
Fall 2028 (Semester credits: 6)
NURS 7941 - FNP Practicum II (360 direct clinical hours)
Total credits: 32
*The FNP Practicum Courses are approved with variable credits (1–6) to allow flexibility for concurrent certificate students, those with leaves of absence, or other unforeseen circumstances.
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Summer 2027 (Semester credits: 6)
NURS 7837 - Diagnosis & Management: Low-Risk Pregnancy and Postpartum
NURS 6422 - Advanced Pharmacology for Women’s Health
NURS XXXX - Intrapartum Care I
Fall 2027 (Semester credits: 11)
NURS 7384 - Gynecology in Primary Care
NURS XXXX - Intrapartum Care II
NURS 7838 - Diagnosis & Management: Complications of Pregnancy and Postpartum
NURS 7915 - WH/NM Practicum I (120 direct clinical hours)
NURS 7373 - Management of Pediatric Patients: Newborns-Early Childhood
Spring 2028 (Semester credits: 9)
NURS 7385 - Advanced Gynecology
NURS 7672 - Advanced Outpatient Lab & Simulation
NURS 7916 - WH/NM Practicum II (240 direct clinical hours)
Summer 2028 (Semester credits: 4)
NURS 7671 - Advanced Inpatient Simulation for Nurse Midwives
NURS 7917 - WH/NM Practicum III (180 direct clinical care hours)
Total credits: 30
*The NM Practicum Courses are approved with variable credits (1–5) to allow flexibility for concurrent certificate students, those with leaves of absence, or other unforeseen circumstances.
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Summer 2027 (Semester credits: 4)
NURS 7837 - Diagnosis & Management: Low-Risk Pregnancy and Postpartum
NURS 6422 - Advanced Pharmacology for Women’s Health
Fall 2027 (Semester credits: 10)
NURS 7384 - Gynecology in Primary Care
NURS 7838 - Diagnosis & Management: Complications of Pregnancy and Postpartum
NURS 7670 - Simulation & Procedures for Women’s Health
NURS 7915 - WH/NM Practicum I (120 direct clinical hours)
Spring 2028 (Semester credits: 10)
NURS 7385 - Advanced Gynecology
NURS 7672 - Advanced Outpatient Lab & Simulation
NURS 7834 - Diagnosis & Management: Acute Episodic Care of the Adult
NURS 7916 - WH/NM Practicum II (120 clinical care hours)
Summer 2028 (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7917 - WH/NM Practicum III (180 direct clinical hours)
NURS 7836 - Diagnosis & Management: Chronic and Complex Care of the Adult
Fall 2028 (Semester credits: 3)
NURS 7918 - Women’s Health Practicum IV (180 direct clinical care hours)
Total credits: 32
The WHNP Practicum Courses are approved with variable credits (1–5) to allow flexibility for concurrent certificate students, those with leaves of absence, or other unforeseen circumstances.
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Summer 2026 (Semester credits: 3)
NURS 7160 - Foundation of Psychotherapeutics I (26 direct clinical hours)
Fall 2026 (Semester credits: 9)
NURS7161 - Foundation of Psychotherapeutics II (20 direct clinical hours)
NURS 7424 - Advanced Psychopharmacology
NURS 7425 - Introduction to Mental Health Assessment
Spring 2027 (Semester credits: 6)
NURS 7292 - Child & Adolescent Mental Health
NURS 7839 - Diagnosis & Management: Psychiatric Disorders I
*Additional semester to complete Caring Connections Grief/Loss Groups (2 series)
Summer 2027 (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7840 - Diagnosis & Management: Psychiatric Disorders II
NURS 7426 - Psychiatric Care of Older Adults
Fall 2027 (Semester credits: 7)
NURS 7841 - Diagnosis & Management: Psychiatric Disorders III
NURS 7953 - PMHNP Practicum III (240 direct clinical care hours)
Spring 2028 (Semester credits: 4)
NURS 7954 - PMHNP Practicum Immersion (240 direct clinical care hours)
Maximum Total Program Credits: 33 credits
*The PMHNP Practicum Courses are approved with variable credits (1–5) to allow flexibility for concurrent certificate students, those with leaves of absence, or other unforeseen circumstances.
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Admissions & Application
This program is designed for licensed APRNs who are certified in one area of advanced nursing practice and wish to expand their expertise to an additional population. Applicants to the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program must hold a previous advanced practice nursing degree and national certification in another population focus. Applicants to the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program follow the same application process as those applying for the full Doctor of Nursing Practice program and are reviewed equally.
Upon completing the required coursework and practicum hours, graduates are qualified to sit for national certification in their new specialty area. The certificate will also be posted to your University of Utah transcripts.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Completion of a graduate degree in nursing from a regionally accredited university/college
- 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
- 2026 Certificate Application
- Submission of the following materials:
- Resume
- PDF copies of all college transcripts
- Copy of APRN certification
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from professional sources
Applications are now closed. Applicants will be notified of the next steps in late January, with final admissions decisions posted in early February.
Thank you for your interest in our Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Program. The application is now open and can be accessed.
Please note that the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Program is a non-matriculated (non-degree-seeking) program; therefore, federal financial aid is not available. Resident Graduate Nursing Tuition information.
If you have any questions or would like guidance as you prepare your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to shelley.kern@nurs.utah.edu, DNP Program Manager.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Utah is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Contact Us
Shelley Kern, MPC
DNP Program Manager
Shelley.Kern@nurs.utah.edu