Nurse Practitioner Advancement Certificate

Adrianne J. Lane, Ed.D., RN, CNE, Department Chair

Amy Shay, MS, CNS, RN, MSN Graduate Program Director

Nurse practitioner advancement options are offered to provide opportunities for nurse practitioners to gain an additional specialty focus such as Adult to Family Nurse Practitioner or Women’s Health to Adult Gero Nurse Practitioner.

These courses are offered online. Some may be hybrid format. Please visit nkuonline.nku.edu for more information concerning tuition and technical requirements for distance learning. All NP Advancement tracks require 500 clinical residency hours in the new specialty to meet certification exam requirements.

NP Advancement Admission Requirements

1. Submission of a completed application for graduate admission, including transcripts indicating any undergraduate and graduate coursework. Please note that the transcripts sent should reflect the conferral for BSN, MSN, previous NP, and any additional courses that you plan to transfer.
2. Master of Science in Nursing degree from an ACEN or CCNE accredited school of nursing.
3. Preferred applicants should have a Master of Science in Nursing program GPA of at least a 3.0.
4. Completion of certification and currently licensed as nurse practitioner.  Proof of licensure should include expiration date.
5. A current copy of your unencumbered nursing license and NP certification.  Proof of licensure should expiration date. 
6. Proof of 2000 hours clinical experience over the previous year and satisfactory performance evaluations.  Please see form on the MSN website.
7. An updated resume.
8. A letter of purpose. This is a 1-2 page statement of how you intend to use the program, how it will apply to your career aspirations, and what specific skills you hope to gain in this program.

Submit all documents by deadline for consideration to:

Northern Kentucky University
Office of Graduate Education
302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099

All NP students are required to participate in NRP 690 , a 1 credit hour On-Campus Clinical Residency. This is an intensive 3-4 day event that will occur on the Northern Kentucky University campus in Highland Heights, KY.  The purpose of the On-Campus Residency is to learn hands-on skills, practice through simulation, meet your clinical faculty, and demonstrate your readiness to begin the clinical courses. The On-Campus Residency occurs during the summer. This is MANDATORY.  No exceptions.

♦ Indicates prerequisite.