Post Graduate Nurse Practitioner Certificates

The PLU School of Nursing offers a Post Graduate Nurse Practitioner Certificate for two advanced practice specialty areas:

The certificate program is designed for individuals who already hold an APRN licensure or are doctorally prepared to add a specialty to their credentials without completing all the requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. It is available for both post-master’s and post-doctoral entry options.

Use the Eligibility Chart to determine if this post-graduate certificate is the right program for you.

Download the Eligibility Chart
Quick Links

The Family Nurse Practitioner specialty focuses on client-centered clinical practice, and prepares nurses to respond to the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s health care consumers, to manage direct care based on advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning, to incorporate health promotion and disease prevention interventions into health care delivery, and to recognize their potential for professional growth, responsibility, and autonomy. Successful completion of the Family Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate program qualifies students to sit for national certification examinations for Family Nurse Practitioner, making them eligible under Washington State law for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (APRN) licensure.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty prepares nurses to provide comprehensive mental health, psychiatric and addictions care at the advanced practice level in hospitals, outpatient, and community settings. Scope of practice includes advanced practice psychiatric-mental health nursing assessment, psychopharmacology, group, individual and family therapy and advanced nursing interventions across the lifespan. Successful completion of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate qualifies students to sit for national certification examinations for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, making them eligible under Washington State law for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (APRN) licensure.

Request More Information

Request Info
Phone Appointments

Schedule
Apply Now

Apply

Accreditation

The School of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and is approved by the Washington State Board of Nursing. The Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Pacific Lutheran University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). The Care and Outcomes Manager MSN curriculum meets requirements for the Clinical Nurse Leader national certification examination. The Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks meet requirements for national certification examinations.