Family Nurse Practitioner

This post-MSN certificate is designed to prepare registered nurses with a master's or doctoral degree in nursing for certification as a nurse practitioner by the California Board of Registered Nursing. All classes are taught by School of Nursing faculty, and all students are assigned a School of Nursing faculty advisor.

FNP nursing student sitting at her desk and talking with classmates

Post-MSN Certificate

Prepare for certification as a nurse practitioner

Two nursing students practice administering oxygen

How to Apply

Admission requirements and how to apply

Family Nurse Practitioner takes notes while speaking with a patient

School of Nursing

Visit the School of Nursing website

About the FNP Program

FNP Program Objectives

Graduates of the FNP program will be able to:

  • provide health maintenance and health promotion services as well as the diagnosis and management of common health problems for individuals and families in primary care settings
  • utilize concepts and processes to effectively assist patients in achieving and/or maintaining optimal health or to stabilize chronic conditions
  • demonstrate critical thinking and analysis in the application of safe, effective, and evidence-based primary care services
  • provide knowledgeable and sensitive services to multicultural and diverse patient groups
  • diagnose and treat a variety of health problems (actual and potential) commonly encountered in primary care settings
  • demonstrate a solid foundation of primary care knowledge through the evaluation of individual nurse practitioner learning needs as well as seeking learning experiences to fulfill identified learning needs
  • maintain a clinical practice that always meets the laws regulating nursing and nurse practitioner practice as defined in the California Nursing Practice Act
  • maintain a clinical practice that always meets the ethical standards for nursing practice as defined by the ANA Code of Ethics

Family Nurse Practitioners

Family Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses with advanced education that prepares them to provide primary health care services to individuals and families across the life span. Primary health care services include health maintenance, disease prevention, and diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic illnesses. Graduates of this program are employed in a variety of settings as nurse practitioners after certification by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). Graduates of this program are qualified to take national FNP certifying examinations offered by nursing organizations.

Cost and Length

Cost: $675 per unit / $20,925 for 31 units total
Length: 12 - 14 months
When to Start: Fall, Summer

Document Readers are required to view documents.