Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate

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Overview
Admission
Tuition and Fees
Overview
Take your career to the next level with Xavier's Post Master's Family Nurse Practitioner certificate.
As a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), you are the first line of defense in healthcare. Xavier University’s Online Post-Master’s FNP Certificate gives you the clinical mastery and leadership skills to manage acute and chronic illness, promote wellness, and lead interprofessional teams in a primary care setting.
Admission

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Applicants are notified of the admission decision as soon as possible.

  • Application Deadline: July 1, 2026 (for Fall Semester start)

To receive acceptance into the online FNP Certificate program, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a registered nurse with an unencumbered United States RN license in the state where practicum experiences are to be completed. A minimum of 1 year of nursing experience is required, a strong candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of nursing experience.
  • Hold a MSN and a be a graduate of an accredited college or university’s nursing program (the College of Nursing will verify accreditation to ensure it meets requirements). Transfer credits are accepted only from regionally accredited institutions.
  • An undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better is required for admission.
  • A strong applicant will have a 3.0 GPA.
    • GPA Requirements:
      • 3.0 out of 4.0 in the last two years of undergraduate matriculation; or,
      • 2.7 cumulative GPA in undergraduate matriculation; or,
      • 2.5 cumulative in the last 2 years of undergraduate matriculation with 5 years of work experience in a criminal justice or related field.
  • Free Online Application
  • Official Transcript
    • One official transcript directly from all colleges or universities that you have attended for any undergraduate and graduate course work. Applicants must have a degree from a regionally accredited university. Send transcripts to:
      • Xavier University
        ATTN: Admission Processing Center
        3800 Victory Parkway
        Cincinnati, OH 45207-5131
      • For electronic transcripts, send to:
        xuadmit@xavier.edu
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
    • 3 letters of recommendation from professional references who are able to assess your potential for success in this program.
Due to state regulations regarding the delivery of distance education, as well as requirements of each individual state board of nursing, Xavier is not currently able to accept applications from all states into all of its online programs.

View the complete list of approved states on the State Authorization page.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition

  • MSN..............$739

Fees

  • Student ID Fee..............$15
  • Graduate Student Association Fee, degree-seeking full-time..............$15 (per semester)
  • Graduate Student Association Fee, degree-seeking part-time..............$10 (per semester)
The amounts listed are for the 2026-2027 academic year, and include classes from Fall 2026 through Summer 2027. Tuition cost is per credit hour unless otherwise stated.
For the full, official listing, please visit xavier.edu/costs.
Xavier University reserves the right to correct any computational or clerical errors.
100%
Online Format
18-27
Credit Hours
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Why Choose Xavier Online?

At Xavier, we don’t just teach nursing; we cultivate leaders. Our program is one of only 17 in the U.S. endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation.

A Holistic Edge

Integrate medical management with a deep understanding of recovery-oriented, culturally sensitive care.

Jesuit Values

Experience an education rooted in Cura Personalis (care for the whole person) and a commitment to changing the world for the better.

Small Classes, Big Impact

Benefit from personalized attention from faculty who are active practitioners in the field.

Curriculum (18-27 credit hours)

Our 18-27 credit hour Forensic Nursing Certificate is designed to fit the schedule of a working RN while ensuring you meet the highest clinical standards.
  • Credits: 20–29 (depending on prior coursework)
  • Clinical Hours: 600 hours
  • The "3 Ps" Review: We conduct a gap analysis of your previous transcript to see if you meet the requirements for Advanced Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology.

Note: Per Ohio law, Advanced Pharmacology must have been completed within the last 5 years unless you are an actively practicing NP.

  • NURS 658 – Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan………… 3cr.
  • NURS 680 – Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan………… 3cr.
  • NURS 756 – Advanced Physical Health Assessment Across the Lifespan………… 3cr.
  • NURS 760 – Differential Diagnosis and Medical Decision Making………… 2cr.
    • NURS 760 will be required for students enrolling FA26 and after
  • NURS 532 – Leadership for Advanced Practice Nurses………… 2cr.
    • NURS 532 will no longer be required for students enrolling FA26 and beyond.
  • NURS 770 – Primary Care FNP Role………… 3cr.
  • NURS 771 – Woman’s Health & Family Care Practicum………… 1cr.* (150 Clinical Hours)
  • NURS 772 – Woman’s Health & Family Care………… 3cr.
  • NURS 773 – Pediatric and Adolescent Family Care Practicum ………… 1cr.* (150 Clinical Hours)
  • NURS 774 – Pediatric and Adolescent Family Care………… 3cr.
  • NURS 775 – Adult and Geriatric Family Care Practicum………… 1cr.* (150 Clinical Hours)
  • NURS 776 – Adult and Geriatric Family Care………… 3cr.
  • NURS 787 – FNP in Practice Practicum………… 1cr.* (150 Clinical Hours)
  • NURS 789 – FNP in Practice II………… 1cr.
    • NURS 789 will no longer be required for students enrolling FA26 and beyond

Ready to Lead as a Family Nurse Practitioner?

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