Post-Professional Certificate Programs
Preparing students to be advanced practice nurses delivering care across the continuum as key members of 21st century healthcare teams
Advance practice nurses, including clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners, often seek post-professional certificates when they want to increase the span of their expertise and specialty area in order to care for a broader range of patients outside the populations they currently work in. Post-professional certificate students also often seek preparation for specialty exams so they may earn additional credentials.
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Ranked among the top 3% of American graduate nursing MSN programs
- Flexible learning and coursework, with in-person class about 1x/month
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Seven specialty post-professional certificates (listed below)
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Application deadline: January 5 for entry the following fall
A post-professional specialty certificate preparing students to specialize as nurse practitioners in primary and preventative care environments as FNPs
- Hybrid format that takes two years (full-time) to complete
- Graduates are eligible for the FNP certification exam administered by the AANP or ANCC
- Guaranteed admission for UVA School of Nursing alumni
- Application deadline: January 5 for entry the following fall
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As the U.S. healthcare system shifts toward wellness, rather than illness care, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) occupy a critical and expanding role in primary care. UVA's FNP post-professional certificate program readies graduates as advanced practice nurses prepared to emphasize community-based primary healthcare for individuals and families across the lifespan.
UVA's program emphasizes the advanced theoretical knowledge, practice and skills, and systems’ leadership needed to manage patients and their families for optimal outcomes. FNP students also develop exceptional diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills, preparation for prescriptive authority, strategies to communicate and collaborate with clinicians and all members of the interdisciplinary team, and the ability to manage and improve clinical outcomes. A keen focus on evidenced-based practice, teaching and clinical research are also program hallmarks.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for the FNP post-professional certificate, applicants must:
- Submit a completed application
- Possess an active state license and certification to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse at program start
- Have a graduate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school (CCNE or ACEN)
- Have completed three separate comprehensive graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology
- All graduate nursing students, except those in the CNL master’s-entry program, active-duty military nurses, and PhD students, are required to have an active, unencumbered nursing license in the Commonwealth of Virginia or a compact license from the state in which they reside. UVA does not accept international nursing licenses
- Submit a resume or CV
- Be available for an interview, if requested
- International applicants have additional application requirements
Please note:
- UVA no longer requires GRE scores as a component of the application
- Students in UVA's post-professional certificate programs at UVA are ineligible for scholarship assistance or student loans. University aid is restricted to those who are enrolled in degree programs (MSN, DNP, PhD, etc.)
- Upon admission to the program, the School will complete a transcript (gap) analysis for all students to ensure eligibility for national certification upon program completion
Classes
Designed with working nurses in mind, the APRN curriculum is offered in an executive hybrid format with students coming to Grounds roughly once a month for engaging, hands-on learning activities.
Clinical Rotations
Students complete over 500 clinical hours to satisfy national certification requirements for their advanced practice specialty. All clinical/practicum activities are facilitated by UVA School of Nursing faculty members who collaborate with students to ensure a high, quality precepted learning experience.
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Post-Professional Certificate program [part-time] - Fall and Spring Terms
| 2025-2026 | Virginia Resident | Non-Virginia Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $914 per credit | $1,493 per credit |
| Regular Session Comprehensive Fee | $3,722 | $4,404 |
| University Activity Fee | $58 | $58 |
| Nursing Activity Fee | $34 | $34 |
| Total | $3,814 + tuition | $4,496 + tuition |
Supplemental Fees
| 2025-26 | Virginia Resident | Non-Virginia Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Clinical Laboratory Fee (per credit for courses with clinical/lab components) | $100 per credit | $100 per credit |
| International Student Fee | $240 | $240 |
Post-Professional Certificate Program - January Term
| 2025-26 | Virginia Resident | Non-Virginia Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition - January 2026 Session | $551 per credit | $1,117 per credit |
| January Session Comprehensive Fee | $222 | $252 |
| January 2026 Session Total | $222 + tuition | $252 + tuition |
Post-Professional Certificate program - Summer Term
| Tuition - Summer 2026 Session | $551 per credit | $1,117 per credit |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Session Comprehensive Fee | $493 | $553 |
| Summer 2025 Session Total | $493 + tuition | $553 + tuition |
Cost of estimated living expenses for graduate students (2025-2026)
State Authorization and Professional Licensure Disclosures
As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, UVA is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).
Upon completion of this certificate, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.
Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))
Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).
