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Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Online)
Enhance Your Nursing Credentials
Prepare to become a Family Nurse Practitioner through the guidance of experienced faculty dedicated to equipping students with the technical knowledge that supports preparation for FNP certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Board (AANP).
The online post-Master’s FNP Certificate’s research-backed curriculum coupled with clinical and practicum requirements fully prepares you to take your career to the next level.
Whether you’re looking to unlock new advancement opportunities or change your career direction entirely, the online post-Master’s FNP Certificate will equip you with the tools to accomplish your professional goals.
The focused and pragmatic curriculum, designed by experienced professionals, will prepare you to pursue national certification through American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Board (AANP). The FNP certificate program coursework has been structured with the FNP certification process in mind, preparing students for FNP certification and licensure.
F.N.P. Advanced Studies Certificate Benefits
- Post-graduate program prepares you for FNP certification
- Online instruction plus in-person practicum
- Practitioner-based faculty
2 years
Duration
$850
Cost per Credit
31
Credit Hours
100%
Online Delivery
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Career Outlook: Skills to Build an Autonomous Practice
The Certificate of Advanced Studies in Family Nurse Practitioner will enable you to accomplish your career goals in a variety of health care settings. The post-Master’s FNP Certificate will open the door to many advancement opportunities. With a median salary of $132,050, family nurse practitioner positions are also expected to grow by 40% over the next ten years, a rate that’s much faster than average1.
Take on new opportunities with more autonomy and higher salaries.
When you earn your post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate from Utica University, you gain access to new opportunities that expand your career, give you more autonomy, and advance your salary potential.
Utica University’s three online master’s degrees and post-Master’s certificates in nursing empower you to take advanced nursing roles in family practice, leadership, and education—roles with projected double-digit growth over the coming decade and salaries that surpass six figures.
► $132,050
Family Nurse Practitioners earn a median salary of $132,0501
► 27 States
27 states and Washington, D.C. allow Nurse Practitioners to practice without physician oversight2
► 40% Growth
Family Nurse Practitioners can expect 40% job growth by 20331
Examples of Career Opportunities with a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Family Nurse Practitioner
$132,050/year
As a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)1, you test, diagnose, treat, and create preventive health care plans for patients throughout their lives. You also create health care policies at the local, state, or government levels. Family Nurse Practitioners are often relied on as the first provider of care for common family health problems and in some states, can practice without physician supervision and operate their own practice.
Nursing Leader
$117,960/year
As a Nursing Leader8—such as a senior manager or executive—you would improve outcomes and maintain a standard of excellence for a larger population of patients and health care professionals. You would ensure your organization adheres to changes in health care laws, technologies, and regulations—and you’d be rewarded with career longevity, an excellent salary, and the ability to impact health care at a systemic level.
Nurse Educator
$89,900/year
As a Nurse Educator7, you would prepare the next generation for nursing excellence. There are currently more potential nursing students than nurses who can teach them: thousands of qualified applicants are turned away from nursing programs each year due to insufficient faculty, among other reasons9. This shortage is felt across industries, including psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, colleges and universities, and general surgical hospitals.
Additional Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate careers include:
- Clinical Nurse Manager
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Nursing Manager
- Director of Nursing
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Nurse Practitioner
Sources:
1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (April 18, 2025). Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners.Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on May 15, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm
2. Barton Associates (November 21, 2024). In What States Can Nurse Practitioners Practice Independently? Retrieved on May 15, 2024, from https://www.bartonassociates.com/blog/best-states-for-nurse-practitioner-nps/
3. Salary.com (May 2025). Nursing Director Salary in the United States. Retrieved May 15, 2025 from https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/nursing-director-salary.
4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (April 18, 2022). Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on September 7, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). STATE LAW FACT SHEET: A SUMMARY OF NURSE PRACTITIONER SCOPE OF PRACTICE LAWS, IN EFFECT APRIL 2016. Retrieved on April 13, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/pubs/docs/SLFS_NSOP_508.pdf
6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (May 2023). 25-1072 Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. Retrieved on May 15, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes251072.htm
7. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (April 18, 2025). Postsecondary Teachers. Retrieved on May 15, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm#tab-6
8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (April 18, 2025). Medical and Health Services Managers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on May 15, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-1
9. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (September 2020). Nursing Faculty Shortage – Fact Sheet. Retrieved on September 7, 2022, from https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Nursing-Faculty-Shortage
View the state/program licensing grid on our state authorization page.
Faculty Spotlights
The nursing faculty at Utica University is dedicated to supporting you in preparation for the FNP certification. As nurses who have gone through the certification process and have practiced as Family Nurse Practitioners, you will receive a top-notch and practical education suited to help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
With decades of experience in nursing education, research, and practice, the graduate nursing faculty are led by program director Janice Ceccucci, DNP, FNP-BC, and FNP coordinator Elizabeth Spooner Dunn, M.S.
Director of Graduate Nursing Programs (MS, FNP)
Janice Ceccucci, DNP, FNP-BC, Assistant Professor of Nursing in the School of Health Professions and Education, completed her bachelor of nursing and master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner from SUNY Polytechnic Institute in an accelerated program. She earned her doctor of nursing practice at Upstate Medical University.
Janice brings with her more than 20 years of experience in nursing and emergency medicine, including forensic nursing for victims of sexual assault. She has also practiced in primary care and tele-health services.
Professor of Practice, Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator
Elizabeth received her Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner from SUNY Institute of Technology, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Russell Sage College, and her Associate of Arts and Science in Practical Nursing from Northwest Technical College. Prior to being hired to her current position, Elizabeth taught multiple clinical sections as an adjunct in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Utica College.
Frequently Asked Questions
Advancing your life and career with an online degree comes with lots of questions, and we want to ensure your search for answers is effortless. If you have a question we haven’t covered, call (866) 295-3106 to speak with an enrollment counselor.
Learn more about our state authorizations.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Utica University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
The master’s degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Utica University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
No, the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Family Nurse Practitioner does not require exam scores for admission.
The post-Master’s FNP Certificate program provides you with the technical knowledge that supports preparation for FNP certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Board (AANP). Read more about the post-Master’s FNP Certificate program here.
All students in the post-Master’s FNP Certificate program will be required to attend a three-day immersion experience at the Utica University campus that will provide you with an observed, hands-on experience conducting a comprehensive history and physical exam in a simulated clinical setting.
The online post-Master’s FNP Certificate program at Utica University also includes practicum components with several courses, so you learn in a real-world clinical setting. View our course catalog to learn more.
You can complete the post-Master’s FNP Certificate program in just four to five semesters.
Tuition for the post-Master’s FNP Certificate program is $850 per credit hour. You’ll need to complete 31 credits for a total estimated tuition of $26,350.
Family Nurse Practitioner Advanced Studies Certificate Curriculum
31 TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED
Based on a research-backed curriculum, the online post-Master’s FNP Certificate at Utica University includes a practicum component, so you learn in a real-world clinical setting. Designed by practitioners with extensive experience in the field, the FNP program engages you with topics like health promotion and primary care, advanced pharmacology, and advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning.
Prior to commencing the practicum, students in the FNP program will be required to attend a three-day in-person immersion experience on the Utica University campus.
See below for a sample plan of study. Please check with your Success Coach for your individualized plan of study.
The curriculum course abstracts on this page are meant to provide a high-level course overview and subject to change based on term, faculty, and/or institutional requirements. View the official course descriptions as written in the Utica University Academic Catalog and in adherence to regional compliance.
Online F.N.P. Advanced Studies Admission Requirements
To apply for our Family Nurse Practitioner Advanced Studies online certificate program, you’ll need the following:
- Completed application
- An unencumbered RN license from the residing state
- If an offense is revealed which was not previously disclosed by the applicant on their application, the offer of admission to Utica University can be rescinded
- A Master's degree in nursing from an accredited nursing school
- Students will need to take the 3P’s - Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, and Pharmacology at Utica University – transfer courses will not be accepted for these courses
- GPA 3.0 or higher
- 2,000 clock hours of work experience as a registered nurse in the United States, verified by an HR department
- Two letters of recommendation from a current nursing colleague or professional licensed as an RN, physician, or nurse practitioner
- Completion of a statistics course with a grade of "B" or higher
- A baccalaureate level health assessment course with an observed laboratory - grade of "B" or higher
- A statement of 500 words: The statement of interest must include well-constructed responses to the following:
1. Describe how your professional experiences have prepared you for future education in the role, which is the focus of your desired track.
2. Describe your plans to alter your work, professional, and /or personal obligations in order to have the time needed to successfully complete graduate courses and clinical work.
3. Identify one significant contemporary issue/problem in the current US health care system and discuss how members of the nursing discipline can help address/solve the issue/problem.
Tuition and Financial Aid
This 31-credit Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate of Advanced Studies program costs $850 per credit hour. Utica University is dedicated to making an advanced education accessible and affordable. Learn more about tuition and financial aid for online programs.
Learn more
Sample Plan of Study
| Semester: | Curriculum: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | NUR 604: Advanced Pathophysiology (D1) 3 credits didactic | NUR 615: Advanced Pharmacology I (D2) 3 credits didactic | |
| Semester 2 | NUR 611: Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning I (D1) 3 credits didactic | ||
| Semester 3 | NUR 616: Advanced Pharmacology II (D1) 2 credits didactic | NUR 612: Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning II (D2) 2 credits didactic | NUR 995: FNP Skills Residency – Immersion Weekend 0 credits |
| Semester 4 | NUR 621: Health Promotion & Primary Care I (D3) 2.5 credits didactic, 2.5 credits practicum | ||
| Semester 5 | NUR 622: Health Promotion & Primary Care II (D3) 2.5 credits didactic, 2.5 credits practicum | ||
| Semester 6 | NUR 625: Health Promotion & Primary Care III (D3) 3 credits didactic, 3 credits practicum | NUR 634: NP Culminating Seminar (D2) 2 credits didactic | |
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