About: 

UMass Boston’s Nursing Post-Master’s Certificate (PMC) Program is open to Master’s-prepared RNs who wish to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in Primary Care and nurse practitioners (NPs) who want to earn a second certification as an FNP. The Nursing Post-Master's Certificate program has 12-credit and 21-credit options.

  • The 12-credit option is open to RNs with MS degrees in nursing and current national certification as family, adult, and pediatric nurse practitioners. Those with women’s health, nurse midwife, neonatal, or acute care NP certifications will be considered individually by the program director based on prior master’s level didactic and clinical course work. The certificate requirements include a minimum of six credits of didactic study and six credits of clinical coursework, including 300 hours of supervised clinical practice with an NP or an MD in the primary care specialty selected. Qualified courses applied towards a prior degree are waived but not transferable towards the certificate. ​Click here for more information on the 12-Credit Post Masters Certificate Program
  • The 21-credit option requires 9 credits of didactic study and 12 credits of clinical coursework, including 600 hours of supervised clinical practice in either adult-gerontology area or in family practice including adults, pediatrics, and obstetrics. Required certificate courses applied towards a prior degree are waived and are not transferable towards the required 21 credit certificate. Click here for more information on the 21-Credit Post Masters Certificate Program

Program Highlights:

  • Prepare RNs with MS degrees to sit for national certification exam as a family nurse practitioners.
  • The 21-credit option can be completed in two semesters (full-time), or four semesters (part-time)

Learn more about this program:
To receive more information attend one of the information sessions https://www.umb.edu/academics/cnhs/nursing_pmc_info_sessions or email postmasternp@umb.edu

 

Tuition/Fees: 

Please see Fee Schedule below.

Type of Fee Amount
Fee per credit $575
Returned Check Fee per semester** $28
Total for course*** $1,725 (575 x 3 credits = 1725)

Click here to browse our course listings.

*applicable when you register after deadline; non-refundable unless course has been cancelled

** applicable when checks returned unpaid

*** Courses can vary from one to six credits; this total represents a standard 3 credit course

Accreditation: 

The University of Massachusetts is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Did you know?

University of Massachusetts has earned several awards for its distance learning programs, faculty and technology including:

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell’s B.S. in Information Technology Ranked Among Top Affordable Online IT Degrees by Get Educated in 2011
  • UMass Ranked Among Top 10 Best Colleges in Online Education in Communication & Public Relations Degrees, 2011 by The Best Colleges
  • UMass ranks 19th highest-rated university in the world by the Times of London.
  • UMass ranked 56th in the Times of London's Top 200
  • UMassOnline, UMass Boston President's Special Achievement Award, Valerie C. Haven, Sloan-C 2010 Awards
  • University of Massachusetts Ranked Among Top 28 Best Value in Online Education for Human Services & Psychology Professionals, 2009 by Get Educated
  • Ranked Top 10 Online Degrees Colleges- September 2009 (Online Degree Reviews.com)
  • UMassOnline Awarded Public Sector of the Year by Mass Technology Leadership Council , 2008
  • Most Outstanding Online Teaching and Learning Program, UMass Lowell's Online Graduate Behavioral Intervention in Autism Program, Sloan Consortium Excellence Awards, 2008
  • 'Excellence in Online Teaching' Award, Dr. Jeannette E. Riley, Sloan Consortium Excellence Awards, 2008
  • 21st Century Best Practices Award, United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
  • Program of Excellence, University Continuing Education Association (UCEA)-Journalism Certificate
  • Excellence in Faculty Development, Sloan-C Excellence Awards
  • Excellence in Online Programming, Sloan-C Excellence Awards
  • Excellence in Online Teaching, Sloan-C Excellence Awards
  • UMass Amherst Isenberg MBA, Top 10 national rankings, #4 Best Professors (2005, 2006, 2007 Princeton Review: Best Business Schools rankings)
  • 4th in Primary Care Education, U.S. World Reports
  • Excellence in Distance Teaching Education - United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
Admissions: 

Nurses holding current nurse practitioner certifications to include ANPs, AGNPs, and PNPs may apply for the 12-credit option. Nurses holding other nurse practitioner certifications such as CNMs, WHNPs, AGACNP, CNSs, PMHNPs, CRNAs, and those with an MSN in Leadership and Education in nursing from an accredited institution may apply for the 21-credit certificate program. Prerequisites include evidence of graduate coursework in advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and the role of advanced nursing.

  1. A master's degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE-approved graduate program in nursing.
  2. A minimum cumulative grade point average in undergraduate work of 2.75.
  3. A minimum cumulative grade point average in graduate work of 3.0.
  4. Evidence of passing grades of B or better in graduate-level courses in Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Health Assessment within the past 5 years.
  5. A current unrestricted Massachusetts license in nursing or a current license in another state in which the student lives or is doing their clinical practicum.
  6. Evidence of at least two years of strong professional nursing experience.
  7. Evidence of national certifications in advanced practice nursing specialty.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for either program include evidence of graduate coursework in advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology. Interested applicants who do show evidence of these pre-requisite courses should consult the College of Nursing and Health Sciences course schedule.

Clinical Experiences

All students in the 21-credit option must complete 600 hours of documented clinical experience. Students in the 12-credit option must complete 300 hours of clinical experience in the in the chosen specialty. All practicum experiences are subject to the approval of the certificate program coordinator and the agency providing clinical must be under contract with the UMass Boston College of Nursing. Students are advised that preceptors must be either Master's prepared NPs, or MDs with current licensure. Students need to consult with the graduate clinical placement office to the semester prior to arrange their practicum. Prior to beginning the clinical practicum all students are subject to clinical clearance required of all students in the generic master's program.

Financial Aid: 

Availability of financial aid varies depending on matriculation and course status. Please check with your program manager or advisor to determine your eligibility. Generally, if you are matriculated in a degree program and are enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits each semester, you may qualify for financial aid. Please review our Financial Aid Checklist below.

  1. Fill out the FAFSA form at https://studentaid.gov. It is important to list the University of Massachusetts Boston school code number 002222.
  2. For more information or if you have further questions, please contact Financial Aid Services at 617.287.6300 or at finaid@umb.edu

Contact:

For more information or if you have further questions, please contact Financial Aid Services at 617.287.6300 or at finaid@umb.edu.

More Program Details
Campus: 
UMass Boston
Contact: 
Brenda Clausell-Rigsby
Phone: 
617-287-7500
Level: 
Post-Graduate
Type: 
Certificate
Credits: 
12 or 21
Tuition Per Credit: 

$575

Format: 
Online
Subject: 
Health Sciences

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