Family Nurse Practitioner

When you complete the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program, you will meet the School of Nursing’s MSN expected student learning outcomes. You will be able to:

• Apply and integrate organizational, client-centered and culturally appropriate concepts in planning, delivering, managing and evaluating evidence-based prevention and population care
• Demonstrate interprofessional collaboration that supports open communication, mutual respect and shared decision-making to improve patient care
• Develop programs and educational approaches that address health promotion and disease prevention for diverse communities
• Take on a leadership role that promotes safe, high-quality care through ethical and critical decision-making, fiscal accountability, effective teamwork and systems thinking
• Use nursing knowledge and expertise in research, informatics and education to advance professional nursing practice
• Apply information technology to communicate clearly, manage knowledge, reduce errors and support decision-making
• Design evaluation strategies to measure and improve nursing care outcomes and allocate resources effectively
• Assess and use methods, tools, performance measures and standards related to quality improvement in health care settings
• Apply research findings in practice to address identified problems
• Organize interventions at the health system level through policy development, economic principles and advocacy to influence health and health care services

In this 31-unit program, you can complete your certificate in 15 months. Most classes meet in the evenings every other week, giving you flexibility while you continue working. You will also complete required clinical practicum hours during regular business hours.

Faculty mentors will guide you as you balance coursework, clinical training and your professional responsibilities. Small class sizes give you the chance to connect with peers in your cohort and build a supportive learning community.

Required Courses (31 Units)

Complete nine courses:

• NURS 708: Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care
• NURS 711: Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Life Span
• NURS 715: Pharmacological Principles Across the Life Span
• NURS 716: Advanced Pathophysiology and Diagnostic Reasoning I
• NURS 717: Advanced Pathophysiology and Diagnostic Reasoning II
• NURS 804: Professional Issues and Nurse Practitioner Skills
• NURS 810: Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum I
• NURS 811: Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum II
• NURS 812: Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum III

SFSU Bulletin

Check the Bulletin for complete information.

Cost: 
$775 per unit ($24,025 total)

Length: 
15 months full-time

Start Term: 
Summer

When to Apply: 
October 1 to February 1

Payment Plan
This program gives you an option to split the cost for one semester into smaller payments.

To apply to the FNP Post-MSN Certificate program, you must have:

• One year or 2,000 hours of RN work experience
• Graduation from an accredited master’s or doctoral program in nursing
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 (B) in the last 60 units
• Current California RN license or eligibility for licensure in California
• One year of recent clinical experience (recommended)
• Three letters of reference from individuals such as work supervisors, professional colleagues or former faculty
• A one-page statement of purpose that outlines your goals for pursuing nurse practitioner study
• Current resume or curriculum vitae
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended
• Proof of yearly health requirements and professional liability insurance (required once admitted)

You must submit both applications and all required materials by the deadline. Late applications are not accepted. Before applying, review the Cal State Professional Licensure and Certification Notice for requirements outside California.

Application Period

• Cal State Apply: October 1 to February 1
• NursingCAS: October 1 to February 1

Cal State Apply

We recommend you complete the Cal State Apply application as early as possible.

School of Nursing
(415) 338-1802 
nursing@sfsu.edu

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, you will be licensed to practice independently and in collaboration with other health professionals. You will assess, diagnose, treat and manage the health needs of patients of all ages.

You will be prepared to work in:

• Community health centers
• Private practices
• Hospitals and specialty clinics
• Schools and universities

After completing the program, you will be eligible for:

• California NP certification
• National certification exams (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and American Nurses Credentialing Center)