About this Program
Please note: Admissions as of Fall 2025 is on hold for program review.
This post-professional certificate is targeted to licensed, registered nurses with an APRN MSN who wish to gain new skills and knowledge for board certification to provide primary care services as a family nurse practitioner. The program has been developed to address a growing demand from nurses for programming that enables them to obtain national certification as an advanced practice nurse (nurse practitioner) in the area of family care. The program will educate students in the concepts associated with illnesses and conditions across the lifespan. Students will develop knowledge in the diagnosis and management of illnesses. Students will learn to provide advanced nursing care to patients from childhood to older adulthood. Upon completing the program, application of key concepts related to diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients in primary care settings, with a focus on healthy promotion and disease prevention using best practices and evidence-based care to achieve the best possible patient outcomes will be understood.
Program Highlights
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Prepares nurses with an APRN MSN for an additional board certification to provide primary care services as a family nurse practitioner
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Students will understand key concepts related to diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients in primary care settings
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Completion time is 4 semesters
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There are a limited number of seats for the Post-Professional Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner
Featured Courses
Requirements
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A completed online application and application fee. Applications to the Post-Professional Certificate Program are due on or before August 1st, and are considered for January admission.
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A graduate APRN degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution
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Satisfactory completion (Grade B or better) within the previous 5 years of required core courses including:
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Physical Assessment
- Advanced Pharmacology
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Licensure as a registered nurse
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Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work at regionally accredited institutions
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Submission of current resume and 3 letters of recommendation
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Current scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum of 230 on the computer-based TOEFL or 80 on the TOEFL iBT are required if the applicant’s native language is not English
Careers
Check out these ideas from ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½'s Center for Career & Leadership Development and the . A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.
Diagnose, treat, and provide preventive care to individuals and families across the lifespan. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
Cost of Attendance
Tuition is charged per credit hour. Amounts shown are tuition only and do not include mandatory fees, technology-delivered course fees, course-specific fees, books, housing, meal plans, or other costs. Campus-based students may take technology-delivered or online courses. Tuition is based on student classification. Fees for technology-delivered courses and other costs are listed on the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ tuition and fees page.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
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