Nurse Practitioner Certificate Programs & NP Certificate Programs

If your goal is to further your nursing education and credentials, you may want to consider enrolling in one of the many post master nurse practitioner certificate programs that may be available. Maybe you’re already working in nursing but you’d like to open up your prospects, or perhaps you’ve earned an advanced nursing degree such as a Master’s in Nursing (MSN) degree or a Nurse Practitioner degree, but are looking to specialize in a particular area—in both cases earning a certificate may be a way to enhance your skills and learn about new theories or technologies. Another potential plus is that certificate programs may take less time than their degree counterparts. And if you choose to study online, you may be able to work your courses into your busy work or family schedule.

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Professional development for Nurse Practitioners

One of the primary reasons an individual might want to enroll in a nurse practitioner certificate program is for professional development.

Professionals already working in the field you may not be exposed to the latest technologies and treatments on a regular basis and your studies in a nurse practitioner certificate program could help you keep up-to-date on the latest developments. And, if you’re already certified, enrolling in a certificate program may be a great way for you to meet your continuing education requirements for practice. Not only that, but enrolling in an NP certificate program may also be a great way to connect with other professionals and learn about potential job opportunities.

Bridge programs for NP's

Are you working in nursing, but only have an associate rather than a bachelor’s degree in the field? If so you may want to consider a bridge program that may help you develop a stronger background in nursing to help prepare you for a full-blown nurse practitioner program. This may allow you to fast-track completion of your MSN and then your DNP, once you’ve covered your core competencies. There are also bridge programs available for those who already have their RN but do not have a bachelor’s in nursing. If you qualify, this may allow you to earn your MSN, and eventually a DNP in a condensed time period. If you decide to pursue a bridge degree, you should check with your school to see if an NP certificate program can fulfill any of the requirements.

Specialization Options for Nurse Practitioners

A great reason to pursue a post master nurse practitioner program is that it may allow you to specialize in a specific field of nursing. For example, if you’re interested in working with adults and elder patients, you could pursue a post graduate NP certificate in adult-gerontology in help you qualify to pursue a career as an adult health nurse practitioner. If, on the other hand, your goal is to work as a Family Nurse Practitioner, you may choose to pursue a post master nurse practitioner program that focuses on family theory—including coursework on managing family issues in healthcare, pharmacology and health assessment. Choosing a specialization gives you the option to move your nursing career in a different direction that is more in-line with your professional—and potentially personal—goals.

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Schools with Nurse Practitioner Certificate Programs

GradSchools.com offers 34 Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate