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> College
of Nursing > Academic Programs
Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate
Program
Overview
The Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate program
is designed for the registered nurse who already holds a master’s degree
with a major in nursing, but desires preparation to practice as a FNP. It is
structured as a part-time program of study and can be accessed via distance
learning technology at one of the College of Nursing campuses (Bozeman, Billings,
Great Falls, Missoula) with limited travel to Bozeman.
The Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program consists of 36 semester credits
that the MSU - Bozeman College of Nursing faculty believe are essential for
practice as well as certification and licensure in the FNP advanced practice
role. The Post-Master’s FNP Certificate students are integrated into
graduate courses with the generic FNP master’s students and complete
requirements through structured didactic and clinical practice experiences.
Students complete 300 didactic clock hours and 720 clinical clock hours which
allows for sufficient supervised practice time in a wide variety of clinical
settings as needed for confidence and competence in this advanced practice
role. Upon completion of the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program, graduates
are awarded a Certificate from MSU - Bozeman and are eligible to take the national
certification examination for FNPs. Certification is a credential required
in most states, including Montana, for advanced practice licensure.
Faculty advisors and students in the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program
plan a program of study designed to build on students’
prior graduate course work as well as meet the requirements for certification
and advanced practice licensure. Students may present transcripts and other
course materials from prior graduate courses if they believe these courses
would substitute for a required course or courses in the Post-Master’s
curriculum. Normally, a course must have been completed within 6 years prior
to completion of the FNP program in order to be considered as a substitute
for a required course. If a student wishes to propose, as a substitute, a course
that was taken more than 6 years prior to completion of the program, the student
will be required to provide evidence of her/his currency in the course’s
subject matter (e.g., documentation of current practice, letters of reference,
continuing education certificates). Auditing a course may be required/recommended
to refresh a student’s knowledge of content from a course taken more
than 6 years prior to completion of the program. Depending on prior course
work and career goals, additional courses may be selected by students and/or
recommended by advisors. All program components may be completed within 2 years
(including one summer) and must be completed within 4 years of acceptance into
and enrollment in the FNP program.
Admission Requirements/Application Process
Admission decisions are based upon the applicant’s total profile and
space availability. The College of Nursing limits the total number of students
admitted each year to the FNP program to small groups (generally no more than
15 students) for quality of instruction and clinical resource management. Of
this number, only a few (typically 1-2) are reserved for Post-Master’s
students.
Students desiring to complete the Post-Master’s FNP Certificate program
will:
- Complete a College of Nursing graduate program preliminary
application.
- Complete an application
for non-degree study from MSU - Bozeman Division of Graduate Education.
A $50 non-refundable application fee is required at the time of submission
of the application. The deadline for official application for Fall semester
admissions is February 15.
- Provide an official transcript from each college and university attended
including documentation of an earned master’s degree with a major in
nursing from an accredited college or university.
- Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse. If clinical education experiences are to be completed in Montana, licensure in Montana is required.
- Be proficient in computer skills. [Note: Regular access to and ability
to use a computer with e-mail and Internet capabilities is required by the
time classes begin.]
- Favorable recommendation of committee following review of three letters of reference.
- Favorable recommendation following interview by faculty.
- Successful completion of undergraduate courses in physical assessment, community/public health, research and statistics (which included inferential statistics).
Also refer to the Standard Computing Requirements (PDF) for enrolled graduate students.
Sample Plans of Study
 Post
Master's FNP Certificate Plan of Study
ANP to FNP
Plan of Study
PNP
to FNP Plan of Study
For More Information
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