Family Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate program provides a formal program of study for graduate-prepared registered nurses interested in taking the national certification exam to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. To be eligible to take the national certification exam students must “successfully complete graduate didactic and clinical requirements of a graduate nurse practitioner program through a formal graduate-level certificate or Master’s level NP program in the desired area of practice.” The FNP Certificate program offers a formal program of study to meet this need for students who already have a graduate degree in nursing without requiring a second master’s degree. 

Admission Standards and Procedures

Because the University seeks to provide in as much as possible a reasonably safe environment for its health career students and their patients, students may be required during the course of the program to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such essential requirements include freedom from communicable diseases, the ability to perform certain physical tasks, and suitable emotional fitness. Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and/or emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, so as not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of disability. 

Core performance standards for admission and progression: 

1. Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment. 

2. Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds. 

3. Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form. 

4. Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces. 

5. Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care. 

6. Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. 

7. Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care. 

8. Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment. 

Admission Requirements 

Admission to the program will be based on competitive selection from the pool of applicants. Multiple criteria will be used when considering applicant admission including, but not limited to, personal statement, undergraduate and graduate grade point averages, professional experience, applicant interview, and letters of recommendation. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee admission. 

Additional admissions requirements for the FNP Certificate Program include: 

1. A graduate degree in nursing from an accredited program (CCNE, CNEA, ACEN). 

2. Satisfactory completion (B or better) of the following courses at the graduate level: 

• NURS 7101 - Advanced Health Assessment ** - 3 semester hours 
• NURS 7102 - Advanced Health Assessment, Clinical ** - 1 semester hour 
• NURS 7103 - Advanced Pathophysiology ** - 3 semester hours 
• NURS 7104 - Advanced Pharmacology ** - 3 semester hours 

3. Eligibility to practice as a Registered Nurse in Tennessee or in an approved state in which clinical assignments are completed. Appropriate licensure/authorization must be obtained prior to the start of the program. 

4. Overall G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale 

5. A personal statement which discusses prior professional experience, future career goals, and reasons for pursuing graduate study. 

6. Professional resume/CV reflecting current/recent clinical nursing practice.  

7. Letters of recommendation from at least three persons familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional background and experience in nursing practice, specifying in detail the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study and for future practice as an advanced practice nurse. It is recommended that at least one letter is provided by a former nursing professor. 

8. All applicants who will be attending the University on a student visa who are not native speakers of English and are not graduates of The University of Memphis must meet the minimum language proficiency requirements set by the University of Memphis Graduate School. Refer to the graduate catalog. 

9. Students admitted to MSN program or graduate certificate programs must have and maintain while in the program: 

• An unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse in Tennessee or license to practice in an approved state in which clinical assignments are to be completed. 
• Current BLS/CPR certification through American Heart Association. 
• Evidence of hepatitis B; measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); tetanus, diptheria, pertussis (Tdap), varicella, annual influenza, and COVID vaccinations and/or titers if available. 
• Freedom from tuberculosis as evidenced by a negative PPD or health provider examination. 
• Current professional malpractice insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 in the aggregate, which is obtained and maintained by LCON. 

Admission Deadlines and Procedure 

1. Fall semester applications are received between September 1st and July 1st. 

2. Spring semester applications are received between May 1st and December 1st. 

3. Applications are reviewed by a panel of graduate directors and faculty on an ongoing basis (rolling admission). The LCON aims to notify applicants of their acceptance status in a timely fashion. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the application period. 

Program Requirements

Graduation Requirements

1. Family Nurse Practitioner students must complete a minimum of 750 clock hours to meet the academic and practicum requirements for national certification (NTF Criteria, 2021). 

2. In accordance with the policy set forth by the University of Memphis Graduate School, before being recommended for graduation, every candidate for the master’s degree and post-graduate certificate, who does not write a thesis is required to pass a final comprehensive/competency examination. 

Retention Requirements

1. Students in the Loewenberg College of Nursing graduate program must comply with all retention standards of the University of Memphis Graduate School. 

2. Students must earn a grade of “B” or better in all clinical and lab courses. 

3. ​​Academic disqualification from the graduate nursing major will occur when the student:  

• ​​fails to maintain a 3.0 GPA in graduate school. 
• fails to earn a grade of “B” (3.0) or better when repeating a course. 
• willfully misrepresents patient data or clinical practice. 
• willfully places any patient in physical or emotional jeopardy. 
• fails to maintain an active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in Tennessee or license to practice in an approved state in which clinical assignments are to be completed. 
• fails to disclose a felony conviction. 
• fails to disclose disciplinary action or diversion by any board of nursing (or equivalent). 
• fails to complete all degree requirements within five years of entering graduate nursing coursework. 
• All requirements for the Graduate Certificate must be completed within 5 calendar years. 

Re-Entry after Disqualification

Following academic disqualification, students are eligible to reapply to the FNP program after 3 years or to the FNP Graduate Certificate after 1 year. Minimum course requirements following readmission include the completion of all FNP specialty courses and corequisite courses. All MSN progression, retention, and graduation policies apply.