Overview
Empowering Nurses, Changing the World
Do you have your sights set on being a family nurse practitioner? If you’ve obtained a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited college or university, you’re eligible for our post-graduate APRN certificate program with a Family Nurse Practitioner specialization.
This certificate enables you to learn from practicing nurse practitioners with excellent academic credentials. You can also complete your clinical in your community and apply the skills and knowledge you gain to your current professional context.
Students who enroll in this program must have completed program-specific prerequisites including graduate-level Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Advanced Health Assessment. The completion of those prerequisites enables students to save time and money as they pursue their goals of achieving more autonomy in their practice. IWU’s post-graduate certificate program offers:
- Primarily online classes, with clinicals in your own community
- Faith-integrated, rigorous coursework that prepares you for advancement
- Caring faculty members who offer wisdom from real-world experiences
Start Your Journey
You’ll Learn To…
- Provide primary care to diverse populations across the lifespan
- Initiate an evidence-based approach to improve primary care practice
- Collaborate with multiple professions to provide care for individuals, families, and communities with complex health needs
- Integrate a Christian perspective in providing primary care
- Influence healthcare policy, organization, and finance in primary care practice
TUITION
20 Total
Applicable fees for resources and services will be assessed throughout the program. Tuition and fees for prerequisites and required elective courses are in addition to the charges shown on the program cost sheet. Your tuition rate will remain the same as long as you remain continuously enrolled in the same program. Cost sheets may be requested from an enrollment counselor by calling 866.498.4968 or emailing iwuenroll@indwes.edu.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, veterans benefits, and employer reimbursement.
COURSES
Here is the list of courses required to complete the program. Full course descriptions may be viewed by clicking on the course titles. For further information, feel free to contact us.
4 Core Courses
These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence.
Prerequisites are program-specific graduate level Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Advanced Health Assessment. Students who do not have the required prerequisite courses are eligible to take the course(s) at IWU.
PYC-602,PYC-681,PYC-682,PYC-683
REQUIREMENTS
Click on each section to expand the different requirements for this program. If you have any questions about the admissions process, feel free to contact one of our admissions representatives at 1-866-498-4968.
- An individual with a graduate degree in nursing from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by both the USDoE and CHEA and national nursing programmatic accreditation (CCNE, ACEN, CNEA) may apply to complete a post-graduate certificate in a graduate nursing major for which they do not already hold a degree.
- Graduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from the degree-granting institution.
- Anyone applying to become a student at Indiana Wesleyan University must provide proof that all nursing licenses, whether current or inactive, are unencumbered. Potential students with encumbered nursing licenses will not be considered eligible for enrollment at Indiana Wesleyan University.
- Three letters of professional reference from faculty members, professional colleagues, work supervisors or a pastor who can evaluate the applicant's potential for success in a graduate program. At least one recommendation must be from a supervisor from within the last two years. Recommendations from family members are NOT appropriate.
- Official transcripts from the baccalaureate and graduate degree-granting institution.
- At least one year of professional practice. Students applying for admission to the Nurse Practitioner programs must have at least 500 hours of RN direct patient contact and/or care for patients within the year prior to admission.
- A criminal history background check will be conducted on all applicants at the beginning the program, at the student's expense. A drug screen will be conducted for Primary Care students prior to the first practicum experience, at the student's expense. Admission and/or progression in the program may depend on the results of these checks.
- Students who do not speak English as their first and primary language must submit satisfactory scores from one of the following prior to admission to the university:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For graduate students, a score of at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based) is required for regular academic admission.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For undergraduate students, a score of at least 6.0 is required; for graduate students, a score of at least 6.5 is required; for doctoral students, a score of at least 7.0 is required for regular admission.
Unclassified Admission
Applicants who do not desire to seek a master's degree may enroll in graduate nursing courses as unclassified students. Please contact us for more information.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For undergraduate students, a score of at least 6.0 is required; for graduate students, a score of at least 6.5 is required; for doctoral students, a score of at least 7.0 is required for regular admission.
PGC Admission Requirements
- Must meet graduate nursing admission requirements for the major program.
- Prerequisites required to enter the post-graduate Family Nurse Practitioner certificate are: completion of a graduate level Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Physical Assessment with a grade of B or higher. Students who do not meet one or more prerequisite are eligible to take the course(s) at IWU prior to beginning the program.
- If more than 6 months have passed since the completion of a Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, or Physical Assessment course, the applicant must provide proof of 500 hours of current APRN practice and current NP certification in the last year or achieve a passing score on the IWU provided competency exam.
- Applicants must pass the IWU provided competency exam within two attempts or be required to take the pertinent courses(s) before being allowed to enroll in a nurse practitioner post-graduate certificate program.
- A fee will be assessed for each competency exam.
Practicum
Practice is an essential component of the graduate nursing programs. Practicum courses offer students the opportunity to develop and integrate the knowledge and skills necessary for evidence-based advanced practice. If required by the facility, cost for placement is the responsibility of the student.
- Students must complete the minimum of 700 practicum hours included in the plan of study. NP programs include an onsite course in advanced health assessment as part of the prerequisites, if not already met.
- Students must maintain an active license in the state where practicum requirements are completed.
- All RN licenses must remain unencumbered throughout the program.
NOTE: Students must meet all practicum agency requirements. Students in any nursing major may be required to undergo drug testing in order to successfully complete practicum requirements.
Completion Requirements
- All credits required in the course with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Minimum grade of “B” in each specialty course.
- Satisfactory fulfillment of all practicum and program requirements.
- Program must be completed within four (4) years from the date of enrollment. Fees are associated with various courses and are subject to change. Students who extend beyond the maximum time to complete the program may incur more fees.
- Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a certificate.
START DATES
The Primary Care Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate at Indiana Wesleyan University has many convenient starts throughout the year. Listed below are the next available starts. If you don’t see a start that fits your schedule, connect with our enrollment team to see more future starts.
Accreditation
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.
The post-graduate APRN certificate program at Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE). IWU is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The School of Nursing is also a member of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, www.nonpf.org.
*Effective 07-01-2023 through 06-30-2024