Certificate Programs
Post-master's (PM) certificates are available for the advanced practice (APRN) roles of clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and family nurse practitioner (FNP).
Post-master's certificates are available for these specialty areas:
Is this program for you?
- Designed for individuals with a master's degree in another area of nursing
- Completed in 18-24 months of part-time study (depending on specialty area)
- A minimum of 500 hours of faculty-supervised advanced clinical practice is required for certification as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Courses are available on Main Campus only, except for FNP option
- Graduates are eligible to sit for certification examination through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for the CNS role and either ANCC or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) for the FNP role
Curriculum Overview
Post-master's certificates for the AP clinical nurse specialist are available for 1) adult-gerontology ; and 2) adult gerontology with an emergency/critical care specialty . The focus of these certificates is on the development of the AP role of the clinical nurse specialist.
The post-master's nurse educator certificate prepares nurses who already have an advanced practice specialty for the nurse educator role. Each certificate can be completed in 18–24 months of study. Required credits vary depending on prior education. A minimum of 500 hours of faculty-supervised advanced clinical practice is required for AP/CNS certification. Courses are available on the Main Campus only.
The family nurse practitioner certificate focuses on the development of an advanced practice nurse with expertise in providing primary health care to individuals and families across the life span using a holistic approach to management of family health through interdisciplinary collaboration. This 33-credit program, available at both the Harrisburg and Main campuses, can be completed in 18–24 months of study; 672 hours of advanced clinical practice are required. A post-master's certificate program is also offered to master's-prepared nurse practitioners whose degrees are in specialties other than family.
Course Requirements
Program of Study
| Adult Gerontology CNS (16 credits) |
| NURS 656 |
Adult-Gerontology CNS — Adolescent and Adult Health
(125 clinical hours) |
4 |
| NURS 657 |
Adult-Gerontology CNS — Older Adult Health
(125 clinical hours) |
4 |
| NURS 661 |
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: CNS Practice Role Seminar & Practicum (125 clinical hours) |
4 |
| NURS 662 |
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: CNS Educator Role Seminar & Practicum (125 clinical hours) |
4 |
| Gainful Employment Disclosure Report (PDF) |
| Adult Gerontology CNS with E/CC Specialty (16 credits) |
| NURS 656 |
Adult-Gerontology CNS — Adolescent and Adult Health
(125 clinical hours) |
4 |
| NURS 657 |
Adult-Gerontology CNS — Older Adult Health
(125 clinical hours) |
4 |
| NURS 661 |
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse: CNS Practice Role Seminar & Practicum (125 clinical hours) |
4 |
| NURS 673 |
Specialization in Emergency, Critical Care Nursing I (125 clinical hours) |
4 |
| OR |
| NURS 674 |
Specialization in Emergency, Critical Care Nursing II (125 clinical hours) |
4 |
| Gainful Employment Disclosure Report (PDF) |
| Family Nurse Practitioner (24 credits) |
| NURS 636 |
Dynamics of Family Health |
3 |
| NURS 638 |
Issues in Health Care for Underserved Populations |
3 |
| NURS 648 |
Advanced Family Nursing I
Focus on primary care concepts. |
4 |
| NURS 649 |
Advanced Family Nursing II
Focus on the diagnosis and management of acute episodic and chronic disease states. |
6 |
| NURS 655 |
Advanced Family Nursing III
Focus on the strategies of health promotion, health maintenance, and disease prevention in family health care. |
6 |
| NURS 658 |
Advanced Field Practicum
Focus on extensive field practice. |
2 |
| Gainful Employment Disclosure Report (PDF) |
Post-Master's Certificate for Master's-Prepared Nurse Practitioners of other NP populations
This post-master's program is offered to master's prepared nurse practitioners whose degrees are in specialties other than family.
To apply, the individual must submit to the Graduate Nursing Office all of the documentation required for post-master's study. The admission requirements are the same as for the post-master's family nurse practitioner certificate. In addition, applicants will be required to demonstrate, either by transcript or portfolio review, that they have mastered the knowledge covered in the following Widener University School of Nursing courses:
- NURS 601, Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NURS 608, Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- NURS 636, Dynamics of Family Health Care (3)
- NURS 638, Issues in Health Care for Underserved Populations (3)
- NURS 639, Advanced Pharmacology (3)
If competency is not satisfactorily demonstrated in any of the above courses, the course will need to be taken at Widener.
In addition, students in this program must complete the following courses:
| Required Courses (21 credits) |
| NURS 639 |
Advanced Pharmacology
(waived if on transcript within past five years) |
3 |
| NURS 648 |
Advanced Family Nursing I
Focus on primary care concepts. |
4 |
| NURS 649 |
Advanced Family Nursing II
Focus on the diagnosis and management of acute episodic and chronic disease states. |
6 |
| NURS 655 |
Advanced Family Nursing III
Focus on the strategies of health promotion, health maintenance, and disease prevention in family health care. |
6 |
| NURS 658 |
Advanced Field Practicum
Focus on extensive field practice. |
2 |
| Gainful Employment Disclosure Report (PDF) |
Courses will be taught in an intensive format (on the Main Campus only) for this 21-credit minimum course of study, which can be completed in 18 to 24 months of part-time study. Clinical practicum will be designed to meet the individual needs of each student. A minimum of 672 hours of clinical practice is required. Two credits of NURS 658 may be waived with proof of prior 112 hours of specialty practice.
Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification examinations. The program meets all of the requirements for FNP certification.
Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education
A post-master's certificate in nursing education is available for advanced practice nurses who would like to develop their knowledge and teaching skills but do not necessarily wish to obtain a doctorate.
All courses included in the certificate program carry regular academic credit from Widener University. Courses that are 700-level or above with an earned grade of B (3.0) or better may be applied toward the doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree program if the student decides to apply for matriculation into the doctoral program. Completion of the courses in the certificate program does not guarantee admission into the doctoral program.
Certificate students must meet the same criteria as other applicants for the PhD program. In the event of limited enrollment in a course, matriculated
doctoral students will have priority and take precedence over certificate students.
Registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing from an NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited program are eligible to apply for the post-master's certificate in nursing education. To apply, the individual must submit to the Graduate Enrollment Management Office:
- A completed application form
- A transcript from the master's program
Students must earn a grade-point average of 3.0 or better to qualify for the certificate. To ensure quality of academic standards, a student who receives a grade less than C in a course will be dropped from the program and will not be allowed to enroll in any additional courses.
| Nursing Education (15 credits) |
| NURS 702 |
Epistemology |
3 |
| NURS 706 |
Philosophy of Education |
3 |
| OR |
| NURS 853 |
Teaching in Nursing |
3 |
| NURS 705 |
Psychology of Learning |
3 |
| NURS 720 |
Curriculum Theory in Nursing |
3 |
| NURS 750 |
Evaluation Methods |
3 |
| Gainful Employment Disclosure Report (PDF) |