Post MSN Certificate Programs
Eight post-MSN certificate options (adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, nurse-anesthesia, nurse midwifery, nursing leadership and nursing education) offer advanced practice education, qualifying those who complete the clinical options to take national certification exams. In addition, the nursing education post-master’s certificate prepares nurses for beginning teaching roles in nursing education.
Admission Requirements
- A master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program
- A current non-restricted license to practice as a registered nurse (RN) in North Carolina or an NCSBN compact state. Individual advisement will be necessary for licensure regulations for online out-of-state students.
- A personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in graduate study, career goals, and the certificate’s relationship to those goals.
- Three professional references with one reference from an individual who is knowledgeable of the applicant’s nursing practice
- One year clinical experience as an RN
- A personal interview with a member of the graduate faculty
Applicants for the nurse midwifery post-master’s certificate, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year RN experience (labor and delivery preferred).
Applicants for the nurse anesthesia post-master’s certificate, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year adult critical care experience as a RN, completion of a supplemental nurse anesthesia admission packet, a total of five professional references (two on forms provided in the nurse anesthesia admissions packet) and an interview with Nurse Anesthesia Admissions Committee. Courses in physiology and chemistry/biochemistry within five years are highly recommended. Acceptable score on GRE within past 5 years (GRE required).
Applicants for the neonatal post-master’s certificate, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have two years of current practice experience as a RN in a critical care environment for high-risk neonatal care.
Applicants for the clinical nurse specialist post master’s certificate, in addition to the general admission criteria, must have one year RN experience.
Applicants for the post-master’s certificate options in adult nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioner, neonatal nurse practitioner, and nurse midwifery must have had graduate level courses in pathophysiology (reproductive physiology is an additional requirement for nurse midwifery), health assessment and pharmacology within the past five years or approval by the concentration director; otherwise, students will be required to take these courses as part of the post-master’s certificate requirement.
East Carolina University