The College of Health and Human Services Department of Nursing offers a Certificate to prepare nurses with Master of Science in Nursing to meet the requirements for licensure as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The program is intended for nurses who have attained a master’s or doctoral degree in a clinical specialty and who aspire to work as a nurse practitioner in an advanced practice setting.

Admission Requirements

1. A master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with current Illinois Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) Licensure and/or a current Specialty Certification in an Adult Clinical Focus qualifying the applicant for state APN licensure; OR
2. A master’s in nursing with clinical activity that would qualify the applicant to apply for an Adult Specialty Certification and APN state licensure.
3. GPA in Master Program must be 3.0 or higher.
4. Transcripts and adequate, appropriate clinical activity hours will be reviewed on an individual basis.
5. Transcripts must support advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology and physical assessment courses at the master’s level.
6. Licensure as a registered professional nurse in the State of Illinois or the jurisdiction in which clinical practice will occur.
7. Must have 2 years of current hospital based clinical nursing experience.
8. Submit a career goal statement, resume, and two letters of recommendation.

Review of all applicants by the established FNP Admission Committee and selection based on the above criteria.

Requirements for the Certificate

The curriculum leading to the Family Nurse Practice Certificate consists of the following graduate courses:

• NURS - 7183 Documentation for Advanced Practice Nurses (2)
• NURS - 8111 Adult Family Practicum (3)
• NURS - 8112 Adult Family Health and Illness (3)
• NURS - 8119 Clinical Practicum in Young Family Health and Illness (3)
• NURS - 8120 Young Family in Health and Illness (3)
• NURS - 8221 Clinical Practicum in Family Nurse Practitioner Role (2)
• NURS - 8222 Family Nurse Practitioner Role (3)
• NURS - 8949 Clinical Practicum for Family Nurse Practitioner Residency & Project (4)
• NURS - 8950 Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Project (1)

Total - 24 Hours

A student may repeat only one nursing course in which a grade of “C” or less is received without being academically dismissed from the program.

Student must complete all clinical courses with a grade of “B”.