UMass Boston

Prerequisites

Prerequisites to the Post-Master’s Certificate program include evidence of graduate level coursework in an APRN program in the “3 P courses.” These courses are advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacology.

To be recognized, the “3 P courses” must have been:

• Taken in an APRN track program.
• Earned a letter grade of a B or better, (pass/fail are not acceptable).
• Completed within 5 years of application.
• Equivalent in content and credits (3 credits) to UMass Boston courses.
• Stand-alone courses (i.e., no combination courses, such as pathopharmacology).

Waivers

Students have the opportunity to be granted a waiver of prerequisite courses in several ways.

1. As noted above with courses taken in an APRN track program, earned a B or better within the past 5 years, 3 credit courses and stand alone.
2. A practicing APRN in primary care (PNP, ANP, AGNP) will be granted a waiver as long as the courses were a primary care/internal medicine course (not specific to a population foci) and earned a B or better.
3. The APEA test may be taken with a 67% passing grade which demonstrates competency in the 3 P’s and a waiver may then be granted for those prerequisites. If the student does not obtain 67% after three attempts the 3 P’s need to be taken by the student.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should indicate in their statement of interests and intent whether they are applying to the Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Post Master’s Certificate program of study 12- or 21-credit options. We are currently not accepting applications for the Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) specialization. Only Master’s prepared currently certified adult, pediatric, or gerontology NPs can be considered for acceptance into the 12-credit option. 

In addition to the general admission requirements for all graduate studies programs listed in the "Admissions" section of the Graduate Admission Application, prospective students applying to the post master’s nurse practitioner certificate programs must meet the following requirements:

1. Official transcripts from all colleges attended
2. Personal statement: As a prompt, focus on the following: why you want to pursue graduate studies, why are you interested in pursuing the track (FNP) you are applying for and how will the degree help with your professional and personal goals
3. Two professional references
4. Current resume/CV
5. Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited program; a GPA of 3.0 or better is recommended for admission to the program
6. Masters in Nursing from an accredited nursing program
7. Current RN license in the state the student lives and completing clinical
8. Evidence of national certification for those applying to the 12-credit program
9. One year of clinical practice as a nurse practitioner for those applying to the 12-credit program

*Please note that the Nursing PMC program is not available for residents in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas (on a case-by-case basis), Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming.

Deadlines: June 15 for fall, November 15 for spring

Other: Applicants must be residents of and hold nursing licenses in approved US states.

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Program Cost Information: Bursar's website

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Clinical Experiences

All students in the 21-credit option must complete 600 hours of documented supervised clinical experience. Students in the 12-credit option must complete 300 hours of clinical experience in the in the chosen specialty. All practicum experiences are subject to the approval of the certificate program director. The agency must be under contract agreement with the UMass Boston Robert and Donna Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The working agreement will be facilitated by the PMC program assistant. Students are advised that preceptors must be either Master’s prepared NPs, or MDs with evidence of current licensure.

Note: Students need to arrange their own clinical experiences.

postmasternp@umb.edu
Graduate Program Director: 
Brenda Clausell-Rigsby