Program Description 

The Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing offers a postmaster’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) 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. This program prepares the graduate to work with acutely ill adults in a variety of acute care settings including clinics, emergency departments, acute hospital-based settings, and intensive/critical care units. With a strong emphasis on research and evidence-based practice, students follow a curriculum that includes both theoretical content and planned clinical experiences that emphasize holistic patient care and a collaborative, interdisciplinary team approach. Upon completion of the program, graduates are fully eligible to take the national acute care nurse practitioner examination.

This postmaster’s certificate has 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 degrees. 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.  

Admission Requirements to the Program

• 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
• One year of clinical practice working with acutely ill adults
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification
• Specialty Nurse Certification (such as CCRN)
• BRN requires Pharmacology to be completed within 5 years prior to the time of completing the furnishing number application.

Requirements for the Certificate

This program consists of 20 units of specialty theory and clinical practice. Students successfully completed the program courses with a 3.0 or higher GPA are qualified for the certificate.