Post-Master's Certificates

The School of Nursing offers two types of post-master's programs to prepare students for additional certification as a nurse practitioner or as a gerontology educator.

Nurse Practitioner Certificate

The Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner Certificate program serves students who are seeking additional certification as a family nurse practitioner. The program of study is individualized and is highly variable dependent on the qualifications and academic credentials of the applicant.

Prior to admission, the student's transcripts are evaluated by the NP option coordinator in collaboration with lead NP faculty to ascertain the successful completion of M.S. Program core courses (including N501: Issues and N512: Research) and Advanced Practice core courses (including N502: Physical Assessment, N503: Pathophysiology, and N504: Pharmacology). A recommendation regarding admission and the program of study is formulated and discussed with the professor-in-charge of the graduate programs prior to making an offer of admission.

Post-master's certificate students engage in the capstone clinical course (N574: FNP Rural Integrative Practicum); however, they do not complete the scholarly paper as part of the capstone experiences. All Post-master's students are monitored by the NP faculty to ensure that they have achieved the knowledge and skills necessary to become clinically competent as a family nurse practitioner.

For more information please contact:
Sharon Falkenstern, PhD, CRNP, MSN, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing
814-863-2244
sxf2@psu.edu

Geriatric Nursing Education Certificate

The Post-Masters Certificate in Geriatric Nursing Education program serves students who are seeking additional certification in geriatric nursing and nursing education. An applicant must have received, from an accredited institution, a Masters degree in Nursing. The credit conditions for the Masters degree must be substantially equivalent to those required by Penn State’s Masters Programs in Nursing. Copies of all undergraduate and graduate degree transcripts must accompany the application.

Prior to admission, transcripts are evaluated by the CNS Option Coordinator in collaboration with the Graduate Admissions Committee to ascertain successful completion of core nursing courses. A recommendation regarding admission is discussed with the Professor-in-Charge of Gradate Programs prior to making an offer of admission.

The primary goal of the program is to prepare individuals with a current Masters degree in nursing to teach geriatric nursing education at both the Associate and Baccalaureate degree levels. The curriculum includes 6 credits (two 3-credit courses) of didactic content in geriatric nursing and 6 credits (two 3-credit courses) of didactic content in education. All four courses will be delivered using distance technology. The education courses are currently available through Penn State World Campus. To be awarded the Post-Masters Certificate in Geriatric Nursing Education, students must successfully complete NURS 522, NURS 523, AD TED 460 and AD TED 506 or AD TED 507 – OR – NURS 522, NURS 523, C I 501 and EDLDR 551.

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

For more information please contact:
Ann Kolanowski, PhD, RN, FAAN
Elouise Ross Eberly Professor in the School of Nursing
814-863-9901
amk20@psu.edu