Certificate: Applicants must complete a Master’s or Doctoral degree in Nursing or other disciplines from a National League for Nursing (NLN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or regionally accredited program (i.e., WASC).
Earn a post-graduate (post-master or post-doctoral) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certificate in as little as 7 semesters through PLNU’s fully online asynchronous program. You have the autonomy to complete coursework on a timeline that works best for your lifestyle.
You are ambitious, seeking opportunities to progress in your career and practice as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with additional specialty certification. Pursuing an FNP certificate allows you to do just this and make a difference in your community and with populations with the greatest need. PLNU values your calling, meeting it with leadership and practical skills you’ll need to grow into prominent roles within complex health systems.
You will also be eligible to take the FNP certification examination by ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) and AANP (American Association of Nurse Practitioners) upon completion of the program.
A Strong Impact
At PLNU, we believe nursing is sacred work. That’s why we provide you with the best knowledge and practices to be prepared to advance the standard of care for patients in all walks of life. When you earn your post-graduate certificate from PLNU, you will focus on the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of nursing, preparing you to make a big impact on patients’ holistic care.
We challenge you to make nursing care the best it can be for patients because this is work that deeply matters. If you have a master's or doctoral degree, earning your specialty certification can prepare you to do even more in the field you love.
Close-Knit Collaboration
Move through the program together with a small, diverse cohort of peers for continued encouragement and supportive friendships. Small classes allow for in-depth discussion and quality interactions with professors. You will also learn to care for yourself to better serve your patients.
A Healthy Future
The hands-on, evidence-based instruction, clinical hours, mentoring, and networking opportunities through an extensive alumni group, as well as PLNU’s strong nursing reputation, set the stage for your continued career success after graduation.
State Authorization
State authorization is a formal determination by a state or U.S. Territory that PLNU is approved to conduct activities regulated by that state or U.S. Territory. PLNU is not required to obtain state authorization in every state or U.S. Territory, and the university has opted at this time not to seek authorization in some states. Additionally, PLNU meets the criteria for exemption from authorization in certain states.
Visit our disclosures page to view our color-coded state authorized map to view your state’s authorization status. If you have questions, please contact your enrollment counselor.
Authorizations in specific states and U.S. Territories may change periodically.
Professional Licensure or Certification
This program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing and meets the requirements for licensure or certification in the state of California, where Point Loma Nazarene University is physically located. For information about PLNU programs and out-of-state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, please refer to our disclosures page. Information about out-of-state requirements in Nursing are available on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Point Loma Nazarene University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
You will also be eligible to take the FNP certification examination by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) upon completion of the program.
