Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
The certificate in FNP prepares the nurse who has an existing master's degree in nursing to care for patients in family practice across the live-span pediatrics, adolescent, young adult, adult, older adult, frail elderly in the primary care setting. An individualized post-graduate certificate program of study is determined by an evaluation of the student's previous course work and the completion of a gap analysis once accepted into the program. The courses will be selected from the FNP Certificate requirements. Upon program completion, the individual is eligible to apply for national certification.
Following national certification attainment the individual is eligible to be recognized as an Advanced Practice Nurse from the State Board of Nursing with all rights and privileges associated with this title.
Health policies, OSHA requirements, CPR, ACLS certification, student malpractice insurance, and criminal background check and drug screen are required.
Prerequisites: Master's degree in Nursing. Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology and Advanced Health Assessment. These courses can be completed at UNC.
Admission
Location: Greeley + Online
Start Term: Fall
General Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements
Admission Deadline
Applicants are admitted based on available space in the existing cohorts of our FNP program and admission is typically limited to 1-2 students. Please contact nursing@unco.edu to see if applications are being accepted, prior to completing your application.
Admission Requirements Include:
- A master’s degree in nursing from an ACEN, CNEA or CCNE accredited institution.
- Current, unencumbered RN license and eligibility for Colorado licensure as a registered nurse.
- UNC Graduate School Requirements for admission.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 at the master's level
- One year of post-licensure clinical nursing experience is recommended.
- School of Nursing English Language Proficiency requirements
- Background check and 10-panel drug screening
Application Requirements Include:
- Official transcripts from each college or university where courses were taken including documentation of a master’s degree or higher was earned (or is in progress).
- Copy of current unencumbered RN license.
- Two letters of reference with at least one letter that addresses potential ability to practice as an independent practitioner. Applicants will be asked to supply contact information for references in the application.
- A statement of career goals.
- A current CV or resume.
- A personal interview may be required.
- Documentation of English Proficiency, if applicable
Applying
- Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.
Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed above, and track your application through the admissions process.
Requesting Transcripts:
Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.
Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.
Mailed transcripts should be sent to:
University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639
Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.
The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.
UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
This program does not require GRE scores.
Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.
International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.
For More Information
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.