About the Program
The objective of Post-Graduate Certificate option is to prepare nurses for eligibility and licensure for national certification in an advanced practice specialty. Students will progress through a specialized curriculum that focuses on the student's area of interest. Registered nurses holding a Master of Science degree in nursing or a terminal degree (ie. PhD, EdD, DNP) are eligible to apply.
Six specialties are offered:
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (next admission 2024)
The Post Graduate APRN Certificate program is structured in a hybrid format. Students are required to attend class on campus 4 to 6 times a semester. Classes are typically scheduled on Thursdays. The remainder of the class content will be delivered in an online format. Click here for a list of on-campus meeting dates.
Prerequisites for the APRN certificate:
- Advanced Pathophysiology for the nurse clinician
- Advanced Pharmacology*
- Advanced Physical Assessment*
*Not required for the Neonatal specialty.
Clinical Hours
APRN’s seeking a second specialty will be required to complete a minimum of 504 clinical hours. Students earning their first APRN specialty will be required to complete a minimum of 672 clinical hours.
The bachelor of science in nursing, master of science in nursing, and doctor of nursing practice programs at University of Louisville are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
