24 Best (1-YEAR) Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Online Programs


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

One of the greatest things about the nursing profession? It’s versatile, and you’re free to switch up specialization options if your current nursing focus begins to feel stale. Pursuing a post-master’s NP specialty certification demonstrates your commitment to professional growth and can significantly raise your earning potential. Enrolling in an online post-master’s NP program gives you the flexibility to decide when and where to study, and many of these programs can be completed in a year or less.

So, What are the best 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner programs online? Find out by reading the guide below to the 24 best 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online programs.



WHAT ARE THE BEST (1-YEAR) POST-MASTER’S NURSE PRACTITIONER ONLINE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 24 best 1-Year Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner online programs. You can complete these programs in 1 Year or less.)


1. Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD


Specialties Offered: Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (3 Semesters) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (3 Semesters)


Program Details: Johns Hopkins University’s two 1-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner programs reflect the excellence you’d expect to find from an institution dubbed the third-best nursing school in the world by the prestigious QS World Rankings.

The 12.5-credit Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certificate involves 520 hours. A gap analysis will be completed when you first enroll to determine your specific curriculum needs. You’ll have the opportunity to pursue practicums within healthcare facilities associated with the highly regarded Johns Hopkins Health System.

The 17-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate requires 500 clinical hours; you’ll take classes like “Neurobiology of Mental Disorders,” “Clinical Psychopharmacology,” and “Psychotherapeutic Frameworks and Modalities.” You’ll pursue practicums close to where you live (though excluding sites in Louisiana, New York, or Oregon.) Half your clinical practicums will be spent working with geriatric and adult patient populations, while the other half will be spent working with family and pediatric patient populations.

Both these 12-month post-master’s nurse practitioner online programs require about 30 hours of studying a week. The delivery of educational materials primarily relies upon asynchronous technologies.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Both certificate programs begin in the fall semester. You’ll finish your studies the following summer at the end of three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: The PACNP certificate program is only open to applicants who are licensed, certified pediatric primary care nurse practitioners with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in previous studies. Preference is given to candidates with one year or more of professional PACNP experience. You must submit a goal statement, three professional references, and a current CV or resume with your application. Prior to the beginning of clinical rotations, you must have a Maryland RN license or an RN license from a compact state.

The PMHNP program is open to nurse practitioners who’ve completed at least 500 hours in a clinical role. Otherwise, the program’s admission requirements are identical to the PACNP requirements described above.


2. Emory University - Atlanta, GA


Specialties Offered: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: The strength of Emory University’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate program is its versatility: You can devote one of your three required practicums to a clinical focus that’s of specific interest to you, choosing between addiction, telepsychiatry, palliative mental health care, child and adolescent mental health, and 10 other concentrations as your specialty field.

This 26-credit, 1-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program includes 720 clinical hours and 45 hours of simulated onsite/virtual experiences. You’ll be required to complete six courses in all, three of which will be lecture courses. Classes are taught using a combination of synchronous and asynchronous technology, and skills intensives may utilize distance-learning technology or be taught onsite at Emory University’s campus in Atlanta. Students pursue clinical placements at numerous healthcare facilities throughout Metro Atlanta as well as in their own home communities.

For aspiring PMHNPs who are particularly interested in working with children and adolescents, Emory University sponsors the Blake Scholars Program, which provides full tuition and offers practicums at the prestigious Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: By completing one lecture course and one practicum per semester, you’ll be able to complete certificate work in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: This 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program is only open to registered nurses who hold Georgia licensure or who hold licensure in a compact state. You must have at least one year of professional nursing experience in a mental health or behavioral health setting. You’ll need to submit a resume, two or three professional references, and a personal statement addressing how Emory University’s PMHNP certificate will help you achieve your professional goals with your application.


3. Rush University - Chicago, IL


Specialties Offered: Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (AC PNP)


Program Length: 8 Months


Program Details: Rush University’s Acute Care Pediatric NP certificate was designed for advanced practice NPs who would like to add a new specialization to their care repertoire. You can complete the certificate in two semesters, which puts it among the shortest of the 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner programs online.

A gap analysis is performed for all students who enter this one-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program, so your specific curriculum will be tailored to meet your learning needs. Typically, the 12-credit curriculum includes four classes: two lecture courses and two practicums for a total of 504 clinical hours. Depending upon the results of your gap analysis, you may be required to make a two-day visit to the Rush University campus in Chicago for a health assessment skills intensive.

If you live in the Chicago area, clinical rotation sites will be made available to you at Rush University Medical Center and other healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. Students living outside the Chicago Metro Area will be charged with finding their own clinical sites and preceptors that meet the program’s requirements.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This program has start dates in the spring, summer, and fall semesters. By taking two courses in your first semester and two in your second semester, you’ll graduate in two semesters (eight months.)

Admission Requirements: Thirty RNs are accepted into this program each year. You must submit your application through the NursingCAS service. This program is only available to RNs whose graduate nursing degree makes them eligible for advanced practice certification, who maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher in graduate-level work, and who have worked for two years or longer in an acute pediatric care practice setting. Your application must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation, a resume or CV, and substantive answers to personal essay questions included in the application.


4. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill, NC


Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG ACNP)


Program Length: 3 Semesters


Program Details: University of Carolina’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certificate is one of the best 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner programs online: U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks it among the top ten of its kind in the nation. Like many other 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online programs, once you’re accepted into this program, UNC-Chapel Hill will review all prior graduate nursing work and customize a plan of study for you that’s specifically targeted to your learning needs.

Most students will pursue an 18-credit curriculum that includes five courses and 600 clinical hours. You’ll pursue clinical rotations in intensive care units, oncology, cardiology, and similar specialty acute care hospital units, and other critical care practice settings. This curriculum includes immersion experiences for skills intensives at UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Coursework begins in the fall. By taking two courses in the fall and summer semesters and one class in the spring semester, you’ll finish your coursework in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill accepts applications through the NursingCAS service, but you’ll also have to complete a supplemental application to UNC’s School of Nursing. All applicants must have a current, unencumbered RN license and RN licensure in North Carolina or a compact state by the time they complete this program. A curriculum vitae or resume, a statement that speaks to your professional goals, and one letter of recommendation must accompany your application.


5. University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh, PA


Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: 3 Terms


Program Details: University of Pittsburgh is one of the most rigorous nursing schools in the nation, but the extra effort you put into completing this Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP track will be worth it: U.S. News & World Report ranks Pitt’s NP certificate training options among the best 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online programs in the U.S. At the end of this program, you’ll be well prepared to pass the AGAC nurse practitioner certification exams offered by either ANCC or American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACC.)

The curriculum typically consists of 24 credits and 540 clinical hours. However, the number of credits you’ll be responsible for completing may vary depending on your previous advanced practice coursework. All students must attend a three-day skills intensive at the beginning of the summer semester. You’ll have five areas of clinical expertise to choose from: cardiopulmonary, critical care (ICU,) oncology, directed study (evidence-based management,) and trauma emergency preparedness. You’ll have to identify and secure your own clinical placements and preceptors at healthcare facilities in your own geographic area.

Pitt’s AGACNP program is one of the few 12-month post-master’s nurse practitioner online programs that will give you credit for your previous work experience in an acute or critical care setting. You’ll also have the option of testing out of up to 300 hours of precepted clinical rotations.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This one-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program begins in the spring semester. If you take four courses in the spring and three courses in the summer and fall terms, you’ll graduate at the end of three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: This program only accepts applicants with a BSN and graduate nursing degree from an accredited nursing program who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all graduate-level work. You must be licensed as an RN in the state where you’ll be doing your clinical rotations.


6. Northeastern University - Boston, MA


Specialties Offered: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: 1 Year


Program Details: Northeastern University’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences has been designated as a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. Its 24-credit Neonatal Nurse Practitioner certificate program is practice-oriented, meaning that the university goes out of its way to expose you to as many different sites and preceptors as possible so that you’ll learn to be comfortable with multiple techniques as well as advanced diagnostic reasoning, delivery room management, intensive infant care, and family counseling.

You’ll work closely with your advisors to arrange clinical rotations at the top neonatal units in your local area. The university maintains partnerships with prestigious NICUs throughout the nation, including Boston Children’s Hospital, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

In addition to practicums, you’ll take courses like “Advanced Health Assessment of the Neonate and Infant,” “Nursing Management: Critically Ill Neonatal 1 & 2,” and “Neonatal Pharmacology.” Most of your coursework will rely upon asynchronous technology. Unlike many other 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner programs online, this program requires no campus visits.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can enter the program at the beginning of the fall, spring, or summer terms. This one-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program is structured around its clinical rotations, each of which takes place over a semester. There are three clinical rotations in all, so you’ll be able to graduate at the end of three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: This program is only open to RNs who already have an MSN degree. You’ll also need to have at least two years of recent professional experience working as a nurse in a neonatal intensive care unit. You must submit three letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal statement with your application.


7. University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH


Specialties Offered: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: 12 Months


Program Details: University of New Hampshire’s 25-credit Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP certificate is a deep dive into areas you may have covered in less depth when you first did your APRN training. You’ll take courses like “Foundations in Acute Care” and “Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I – IV.” Each of your lecture courses will be paired with a practicum, and you’ll complete 500 clinical hours in all. Courses are taught over eight-week terms; the spring and fall semesters have two terms, while the summer has one term.

This 12-month online post-master’s nurse practitioner program requires two two-day visits to University of New Hampshire’s campus in Durham, where you’ll participate in intensive skills-training exercises at the Department of Nursing’s state-of-the-art simulation lab. Clinical rotations take place in hospital medical, surgical, and intensive care units, as well as rehabilitative centers that work with complex patients. Though UNH makes final decisions regarding practicums, you’re encouraged to help identify appropriate preceptors and clinical sites.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can enter this 12-month post-master’s nurse practitioner online program in the spring or in the fall. By taking two courses each term, you’ll graduate in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: You must be a resident of New Hampshire by the time you begin taking classes. This program is only open to NPs and other master’s-prepared RNs with significant professional experience working in acute care practice settings. Two recommendations, a statement of purpose, and a resume must be submitted with your application. Courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment are prerequisites for this program.


8. Old Dominion University - Norfolk, VA


Specialties Offered: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: 12 Months


Program Details: Old Dominion University’s 18-credit distance-learning Psychiatric Mental Health NP certificate course blends synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (self-paced) technologies using the Canvas platform. You’ll be required to attend one live lecture a week via video stream, usually on Thursdays.

Courses include “Fundamentals of Psychotherapy and Differential Diagnosis,” “Psychopharmacology and Neurobiology,” and “Managing Psychiatric Disorders Across the Lifespan,” and you’ll complete two practicums for a total of 504 clinical hours. You’ll end up studying three to six hours a week for every credit of coursework.

The faculty will work closely with you to identify clinical sites and preceptors for clinical rotations. Your clinical rotations will include child/adolescent and geriatric-specific practices as well as adult inpatient and outpatient care. You can complete your clinical rotations in healthcare facilities outside Virginia so long as those facilities are in states adhering to the National Council for State Authorization of Reciprocity Agreements (SARA.)

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You should be able to complete the three lecture courses and two practicums within three semesters and graduate from this 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program in 12 months.


Admission Requirements: Only candidates who are licensed RNs with an APRN MSN may apply to this 1-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program. You must have earned a grade of “B” or better in “Advanced Pathophysiology,” “Advanced Physical Assessment,” and “Advanced Pharmacology.” Three professional references, a statement of purpose, and a resume must accompany your application.


9. University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Las Vegas, NV


Specialties Offered: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for the FNP


Program Length: Three Semesters


Program Details: The PMHNP certificate program offered by University of Nevada-Las Vegas was explicitly designed to permit family nurse practitioners to expand their care offerings into the realm of mental health. This one-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program consists of 21 credits and 540 clinical hours.

The curriculum includes five courses, such as “Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I & II.” You must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to remain in the program. You’ll be required to visit UNLV’s campus several times throughout the program for an orientation and skills intensives.

UNLV’s School of Nursing can only guarantee clinical rotation placements within the Greater Las Vegas Metropolitan Area. Out-of-state students will have to identify potential preceptors and clinical sites on their own, but the School of Nursing must approve all placements.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This program begins in the spring but is only taught when a large enough cohort enrolls. You’ll graduate at the end of three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: This one-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program is only open to applicants from Nevada, Alaska, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Utah. You must have a current, unencumbered RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotation. You must also submit a resume, three letters of recommendation, and a resume with your application.


10. Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion, IN


Specialties Offered: Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: 12 Months


Program Details: Indiana Wesleyan University’s 20-credit Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner certificate only requires one lecture course: “Professional Role Development for the Advanced Practice Nurse.” Your other three courses will be practicums for which you’ll complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours. You’ll be able to pursue your clinical rotations in your own community.

Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christian evangelist institution of higher learning, so this 12-month online post-master’s nurse practitioner program is likely to incorporate a Christian perspective into some of its educational materials.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: This 1-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program has multiple start dates throughout the year. The program requires three clinical rotations, each of which takes place over an entire semester, so the shortest amount of time it will take you to graduate is three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: IWU only accepts applicants into this program who have a graduate degree from an accredited nursing program and a GPA of 3.0 or higher in graduate-level courses. Candidates must have completed coursework in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment and should have at least 500 hours of direct patient care experience. You must submit three professional references with your application.


11. Ohio University - Athens, OH


Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (3 Semesters), Family Nurse Practitioner (3 Semesters), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (3 Semesters)


Program Details: Ohio University offers three 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online programs for master’s-prepared RNs who are interested in expanding their careers in new directions. The AGACNP, FNP, and PMHNP certificates each consist of 20 credits (four courses) and 750 clinical hours. The curricula for all three programs involve one didactic course and three practicums; the lecture course will be delivered using asynchronous technology, and your instructors will be the same faculty who teach Ohio University’s campus nursing courses.

Clinical rotations can be pursued at healthcare facilities within your own community, but you will have to attend skills intensives at Ohio University’s campus in Athens. These are brief and typically occur at the beginning, middle, and end of each certificate training program.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: The AGACNP program begins in the fall; the FNP and PMHNP programs start in the fall and spring. Your clinical rotations determine the pace of this 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program. Since you will have to take three clinical rotations, and each will last for an entire 15-week semester, the soonest you’ll be able to graduate from this program is in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: These three certificate training programs are only open to RNs who hold at least an MSN and who have completed coursework in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment. Check to make sure the state where you live is one of the 28 states whose APRN certification requirements are satisfied by the curriculum before you apply to any of these three programs. You must submit a professional goals statement, a resume, and three letters of recommendation with your application.


12. DeSales University - Center Valley, PA


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: Family Nurse Practitioner (One Year), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (One Year), or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (One Year)


Program Details: DeSales University offers post-master’s certificates in Family Nurse Practice, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practice, and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practice. The number of credits you’ll need to complete the DeSales University certificate track you’ve enrolled in will vary because after you’re admitted, the university will perform a gap analysis so it can devise an individualized study plan for you. Typically, however, this one-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program involves between 23 and 41 credits (five to 11 courses) and a minimum of 500 clinical hours.

Clinical rotations are scheduled at healthcare facilities, primary care clinics, and community agencies throughout the Lehigh Valley and nearby New Jersey communities. You won’t be required to participate in any campus residencies. DeSales University is a Catholic institution of higher learning; while it admits students of all faith backgrounds, its educational philosophy is rooted in Christian humanitarianism.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: These certificate programs accept applicants on a rolling basis in the summer, fall, winter, and spring semesters. The speed with which you’ll be able to complete this 12-month post-master’s nurse practitioner online program will depend upon the results of your initial gap analysis. If DeSales University accepts your prerequisite coursework, you should be able to finish in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: Only RNs with active Pennsylvania licenses can apply to this program, and by the time you begin clinical rotations, you must also be licensed in New Jersey. You’ll need to have a BSN from an accredited nursing program and at least 12 months of professional experience within the past two years.


13. Samford University - Birmingham, AL


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: Family Nurse Practitioner (One Year), Emergency Nurse Practitioner (One Year), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (One Year)


Program Details: Samford University's Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing maintains clinical partnerships with hundreds of healthcare agencies across multiple states, so RNs who enroll in its Family Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate training programs will be able to complete their clinical rotations at a hospital, clinic, or agency close to where they live.

The FNP certificate consists of 21 credits and 660 clinical hours, while the PMHNP certificate comprises 19 credits and 540 clinical hours. The ENP certificate, available only to family nurse practitioners, consists of 12 credits and 360 clinical hours. Distance-learning courses rely upon the Canvas learning management system. They are mainly conducted asynchronously, though you will have to participate in one or two real-time class sessions using Zoom each semester. You’ll also need to visit Samford U’s campus in Birmingham, Alabama, two or three times throughout your program. Campus residencies are typically two to three days in length.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: All three certificate training programs that are part of this one-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program begin in the spring semester. If you’ve completed prerequisite coursework in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment, you’ll be able to graduate at the end of the following summer semester (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: You must have a graduate degree from an accredited nursing program with a GPA of 3.5 or higher to apply to this 12-month online post-master’s nurse practitioner program. You must submit three letters of recommendation, a personal statement addressing your career plans, a resume, and a video self-interview with your application.


14. D'Youville College - Buffalo, NY


Specialties Offered: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: One Year


Program Details: The curriculum for D’Youville College’s 30-credit Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate training includes core nursing courses such as “Advanced Health Assessment” and “Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health for Advance Practice Registered Nurses I & 2.” This 1-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program also includes 540 clinical hours, at least 120 of which must be spent shadowing an NP preceptor. Clinical rotations will be arranged at a healthcare facility close to where you are.

Except for clinical rotations, this program is offered entirely in a distance-learning format; you won’t have to visit the campus. D’Youville is another one of the best 1-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner programs that provide all entering students with a gap analysis. You can transfer up to nine credits from previous graduate-level work. If you’re not able to transfer credits, however, the program will take more than a year to complete.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: If you register for between nine and 12 credits per semester, you’ll be able to complete this certificate training in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: This program is only available to applicants with current, unrestricted RN licensure in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Ontario, Canada. Applicants must have an MSN or its equivalent from an accredited nursing program and have maintained a graduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher. All applicants must have at least one year of professional experience as a registered nurse.


15. University of Missouri-Kansas City - Kansas City, MO


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)


Program Length: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) (One Year), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) (One Year), and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) (One Year)


Program Details: University of Missouri-Kansas City uses the Canvas learning system for its certificate training programs in Family Nurse Practice, Women’s Health Practice, and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Practice. Depending on instructor preference, classes may be conducted synchronously or asynchronously; synchronous class sessions are typically scheduled for Thursdays or Fridays. All three programs require at least one multi-day residency at UMKC’s campus.

All three APRN tracks consist of 18 credits (four courses) and a minimum of 660 clinical hours. You’ll begin participating in clinical rotations during your very first semester of classes so that you’ll be able to apply what you’re learning in lecture courses to patient care in a real-life setting. This 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program does a gap analysis of each student entering the program so that educational materials may be customized as precisely as possible to students’ learning needs.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Courses begin in the fall semester. By taking eight credits your first semester, five credits your second semester, and five credits your third, you’ll be able to graduate in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: You’ll need to submit two applications: one to the University of Missouri-Kansas City and another to its School of Nursing and Health Studies, using the NursingCAS service. This program only accepts RNs with degrees from accredited graduate nursing programs with valid, unencumbered licensure in the state where they’ll be doing their clinical rotations. Your graduate-level GPA must be 3.2 or higher.

All applicants are expected to have completed courses focusing upon advanced pathophysiology, advanced and applied pharmacology, advanced health assessment diagnostic reasoning, and health promotion. Qualified applicants will be asked to sit for interviews.


16. University of Massachusetts Boston - Boston, MA


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in primary care


Program Length: 7 Months


Program Details: University of Massachusetts-Boston offers a Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner certificate track with two options: The 12-credit option is for APRNs with previous primary care training and can be completed in seven months; the 21-credit option is for APRNs with acute care training and can be completed in one year.

Coursework includes classes like “Mental and Psychosocial Health of the Urban Family” and “Primary Care of the Childbearing Family.” The 12-credit program requires you to choose between two concentrations: Primary Care of the Adult and Primary Care of the Childbearing Family. The 21-credit program allows you to focus on both concentrations. The 12-credit option consists of two three-credit courses and one 300-hour practicum, while the 21-credit option involves three three-credit courses and two 300-hour practicums for a total of 600 clinical hours. Both tracks allow you to complete clinical rotations at local primary healthcare facilities in your own geographic area.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You can start classes in either the fall or the spring. Students enrolled in the 12-credit FNP option can expect to complete this 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program in two semesters (seven months.)


Admission Requirements: This program was specifically designed for MSN-prepared RNs who want to expand their skill set to include APRN-level primary care. Residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming cannot be accepted into this program.

You’ll need an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where you’ll be pursuing your clinical rotations. Your application must be accompanied by two professional references, a personal statement that addresses how this certificate training will help you achieve your professional goals, and a current resume or CV.

Applicants interested in the 12-credit track must have at least one year’s professional experience as a nurse practitioner.


17. Mount Carmel College of Nursing - Columbus, OH


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)


Program Length: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) (3 Semesters), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) (3 Semesters), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) (3 Semesters)


Program Details: Mount Carmel College of Nursing began its existence as a diploma nursing program associated with Mount Carmel West Hospital (since closed), which puts its three certificate training programs among the top ranks of the best 12-month post-master’s nurse practitioner programs online since clearly, this is a school with a wealth of experience in registered nursing instruction.

The 24-credit FNP certificate requires 500 clinical hours, while the 24-credit AGACNP track involves 650 clinical hours. Should you choose to enroll in the 23-credit PMHNP track, you’ll need to complete 500 clinical hours. You’ll begin participating in clinical rotations during your very first semester of classes. Clinical rotations will occur at hospitals and clinics associated with the Mount Carmel Health System and other healthcare facilities and agencies throughout Metro Columbus. The FNP and PMHNP tracks both involve immersions at MCCM’s campus in Columbus for skills workshops.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: All three of these nurse practitioner tracks offer start dates in both summer and fall. By taking two classes in your first semester and one class in your second and third semesters, you’ll be able to graduate in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: This program cannot accept applicants from Colorado. This program is only open to candidates with a current, unrestricted Ohio RN license or who are eligible to attain a current, unrestricted Ohio RN license. Preference is given to applicants with at least one year of professional clinical experience. (Applicants to the AGACNP certificate program should have two years of clinical experience.)

Two letters of recommendation, a goal statement, and a video self-interview must accompany your application.


18. West Virginia University - Morgantown, WV


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)


Program Length: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) (Three Semesters) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) (Three Semesters)


Program Details: West Virginia University’s 16- to 21-credit FNP certificate typically requires 600 hours of supervised clinical practice, while its 21- to 25-credit PMHNP certificate typically requires 540 clinical hours. However, the transcripts of all students entering this 1-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program will be evaluated via gap analysis, and if you have significant professional experience in the field of study you’ve chosen, your clinical hours’ requirement may be shortened.

Both certificates entail seven classes, and you may have to participate in a skills-training residency onsite at WVU’s campus in Morgantown.

Lecture courses are offered fully online through a blend of synchronous and asynchronous technologies. You’ll have input into the identification and selection of clinical sites and preceptors in your own geographical area, but the final decision will be made by West Virginia University faculty, and you may end up traveling from your local area.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: If you’re able to substitute some of your professional experience for the required hours of practicum, you’ll be able to complete your coursework in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: These certificates were designed for RNs with MSN degrees from an accredited nursing program. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all graduate-level work you’ve completed, as well as an active, unencumbered RN license in the state where you plan to do your clinical rotations. You’ll need to submit a current resume or CV with your application.


19. Utica University - Utica, NY


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)


Program Length: 1 Year


Program Details: All students enrolled in Utica University’s Family Nurse Practitioner certificate training track are required to attend a three-day immersive session on campus at the university’s state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation Lab to learn how to do a complete physical assessment. Apart from this session and your three practicums, however, all your coursework will be delivered online.

This 31-credit, 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program involves nine classes and 775 clinical hours. Coursework like “Health Promotion I, II, and III” has a clinical component during which you’ll be able to practice what you’re learning in lectures with a real-time patient population. The curriculum culminates with a seminar where you’ll learn about subjects like national certification and federal reimbursement mandates. You must pass a comprehensive exam to earn this certificate.

The generic curriculum, which includes courses in pharmacology, health assessment, and pathophysiology, takes 20 months to complete. However, if you’ve taken these courses in your previous master’s-level program, you’ll be able to shave eight months off your graduation date.

Classes are usually taught over eight-week terms, and there are two eight-week terms each semester. Plan on spending six to 10 hours a week studying for every course you’re enrolled in. Utica University maintains close clinical partnerships with healthcare facilities throughout the Syracuse and Albany Metro Areas, but if you live out of New York State, you’ll be able to pursue practicums close to where you reside.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: If you’re able to transfer nine credits over in health assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology from your previous graduate-level nursing studies, you can graduate in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: To enter this program, you must have an MSN from an accredited nursing program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and at least 2,000 hours of professional work experience. You must provide two professional references and a personal statement with your application.


20. Wright State University - Dayton, OH


Specialties Offered: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (PNP-PC), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (PNP-AC), and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)


Program Length: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (PNP-PC) (1 Year), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (PNP-AC) (1 Year), and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) (1 Year)


Program Details: Wright State University is another 1-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program that performs a gap analysis on all students accepted into its Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Family Nurse Practitioner certificate training tracks so that the university can tailor students’ study plans to those students’ specific learning needs.

The PPCNP certificate consists of 18 credits (three classes) and 560 clinical hours. The PACNP certificate entails 11 credits (two courses) and 336 clinical hours, while the FNP certificate requires 17 credits and 616 clinical hours. Most of your coursework will rely upon asynchronous technology, though some lecture courses and class discussions may be conducted remotely in real-time.

The FNP certificate also involves five visits to Wright State University’s campus in Dayton, Ohio, where you’ll be taught the hands-on skills, you’ll need for success in this critical area of primary healthcare delivery. No campus visits are required for either of the pediatric nurse practitioner certificates. You’ll be able to complete all clinical rotations at a healthcare facility that’s convenient to your home.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: All three of Wright State University’s NP certificate training programs start at the beginning of the summer semester. You’ll graduate after three semesters (12 months) at the end of the following spring semester.


Admission Requirements: Wright State University’s NP certificate programs are only open to RNs with an MSN or higher degree from an accredited nursing program. You must have RN licensure and APRN certification in the state where you’re planning to do your clinical rotations. You must participate in a telephone or in-person interview with the program director.


21. New Mexico State University - Las Cruces, NM


Specialties Offered: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner


Program Length: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (1 Year) and Family Nurse Practitioner (1 Year)


Program Details: New Mexico State University’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner certificate training programs both entail 18 credits and a minimum of 500 clinical hours. The curricula for both programs consist of three lecture courses and two practicums. Except for these clinical rotations, you’ll access your coursework entirely online, as neither program has a residency requirement.

This 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner online program allows you to pursue clinical rotations in your own geographical area. Course faculty can assist you in securing clinical sites and preceptors, but it’s your responsibility to identify them. Course content is delivered using a blend of synchronous and asynchronous technology.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: Both NMSU’s NP certificate programs have fall start dates. By taking six credits in the fall semester, eight credits in the spring semester, and four credits in the summer, you’ll be able to graduate in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: Only master’s- or doctorally-prepared APRNs will be accepted into this program. Your graduate school grade point average must be 3.0 or higher. You’ll need to submit contact info for three references, a letter of intent, and a resume with your application.


22. Spring Arbor University - Spring Arbor, MI


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)


Program Length: 8 Months


Program Details: Spring Arbor University offers a unique 7-1-7 plan of study that makes it one of the best 1-year post-master’s nurse practitioner programs online for the working nurse: You’ll take courses over seven weeks and then enjoy an entire week off before beginning another seven-week cycle.

The university’s 23-credit Family Nurse Practitioner certificate requires 250 to 650 clinical hours. Courses are taught from a holistic perspective and are offered entirely online with no residency requirements. The number of practicum hours you’ll need to complete depends upon an evaluation of your prior coursework and professional experiences. If you don’t live in Michigan, you’ll need to take the primary role in identifying potential preceptors and sites.

Spring Arbor University is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church and is forthcoming about its Christ-centered teaching philosophy. While you don’t have to be Christian to be accepted into this program, Christian tenets will inform much of what you study.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: If a gap analysis limits the number of clinical hours, you’ll need to earn your FNP certificate to 250, you can graduate from this program in eight months.


Admission Requirements: This program is only open to MSN-prepared RNs and APRNs who’ve maintained a minimum graduate-level GPA of 3.0.


23. Malone University - Canton, OH


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)


Program Length: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) (3 Semesters) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) (3 Semesters)


Program Details: Malone University’s Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certificate training programs each entail 16.5 credits and 500 clinical hours. Both programs require three visits to Malone University’s campus in Canton, Ohio, at the beginning, midpoint, and conclusion of the program. These visits focus on building hands-on skills and other clinical competencies and utilize Malone’s state-of-the-art nursing facilities. You’ll complete your clinical rotations at hospitals, clinics, and community agencies throughout Canton and other parts of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area.

Malone University is a Christian evangelist institution of higher learning. While you don’t have to be Christian to attend the university, the university will expect you to abide by the precepts of a Christian academic community while you’re enrolled.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: You’ll be able to complete either program’s 16.5-credit curriculum in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: This 1-year online post-master’s nurse practitioner program is only open to applicants who’ve completed an MSN degree at an accredited nursing school with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have a valid, unrestricted Ohio RN license. You’ll need to submit two professional references with your application.


24. University of North Alabama - Florence, AL


Specialties Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner


Program Length: Family Nurse Practitioner (8 Months) and Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner (8 Months)


Program Details: University of North Alabama offers two programs for MSN-prepared RNs who are seeking to augment their existing skill sets with a new clinical specialization. The Family Nurse Practitioner certificate training track is a 23-credit curriculum that entails a minimum of 600 clinical hours; the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate track requires 23 credits and a minimum of 500 clinical hours. Each program consists of one lecture course and five practicums.

You’ll need to visit UNA’s campus in Florence twice throughout each track to take part in skills-building intensives at the university’s cutting-edge Harrison Hall and Simulation Laboratory. You’ll be able to participate in the identification and selection of the practicum sites you’ll be assigned to, which will take place in your own geographical location.

How Fast Can You Complete This Program: If you’ve completed the prerequisite courses in advanced health assessment, advanced clinical pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology within the past five years, you will be able to complete the required coursework in three semesters (12 months.)


Admission Requirements: To apply to this program, you must have a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll need to have an RN license in the state where you intend to do your clinical rotations. You must have at least one year of professional clinical experience.


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Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.