General Information for Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

Notice to Students RE: Professional Licensure and Certification 

The School of Nursing offers post-master’s Certificate Programs for nurses who have a master’s degree in Nursing and who would like to take existing courses within the Master of Science degree in Nursing. The post-master’s certificates have different requirements for students admitted with a Master’s degree with a nurse practitioner specialty and who is certified as a Nurse Practitioner compared with those students who hold other nursing master’s degree. At the completion of the course work, individuals who are not currently Nurse Practitioners and complete one of the Nurse Practitioner certificates will qualify to apply to the California Board of Registered Nursing for state certification as nurse practitioners.  All who complete a Nurse Practitioner certificate program will be eligible to sit for a national certification examination in that Nurse Practitioner specialty.  Nurses who are currently Certified Nurse Practitioners and have been working in that role will only be required to take the specialty classes for a new specialty. They will also have to meet the required clinical hours mandated by the national organization that certifies their specialty.  Nurses who are not currently Nurse Practitioners and who wish to pursue one of the Nurse Practitioner options will be required to take the advance practice core prior to taking the specialty courses.

Admission Requirements for all Post-Master’s Certificate Programs:

• Current California Registered Nurse License
• Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN or MN)
• Completion of a second application to the School of Nursing including 2 references and an essay
• Completion of a basic recent (within five years) physical assessment course unless currently certified and practicing as a nurse practitioner
• Satisfactory background check

Prior to entering the first clinical lab, students must have University liability insurance, a satisfactory background check, a current American Heart Association CPR card, a satisfactory annual physical examination, proof of immunity to specified infectious diseases, an initial 2 step Mantoux skin test and a chest X-ray if there is evidence of a positive TB skin test. Drug screening may be requested depending on agency requirements.

Nurse Practitioner: Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Certificate Program

The School of Nursing offers a post-master’s Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate. This program is for nurses who have a master’s degree in nursing and who would like to take courses in the Nurse Practitioner: Psychiatric/Mental Health Option within the Master of Science degree in nursing.

Requirements for Award of the Certificate (25 units)

Students will qualify for the award of the post-master’s certificate after they have successfully completed the required certificate program course with a 3.0 or higher GPA. This program consists of a common core course (3 units), advanced practice core courses (12 units) and required option courses (22 units) for a total of 37 units. This will enable the graduate of this program to obtain State certification from the BRN as a nurse practitioner (NP) and to sit for national certification examinations.