Post-Master's FNP Certificate Online
Earn more opportunities to thrive as a nurse leader with this family nurse practitioner certificate program.
Program Overview
Explore the A-State Online FNP certificate program
The Post-Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner online program elevates your professional practice by building on your credentials as an MSN-prepared nurse. Earn more opportunities to thrive as a nurse leader in this family nurse practitioner certificate program, which prepares you to deepen your patient relationships, provide more comprehensive care, and increase positive healthcare outcomes in rural and urban communities.
Our relevant curriculum ensures your FNP practice is ready for today’s healthcare challenges. You may choose from three start dates and benefit from 100% online coursework and one-on-one attention from our experienced, compassionate faculty as they help you explore dental health, radiology interpretation, telehealth practices, the management of clients and families with minor to chronic health issues, and more.
A-State offers an optional Skills Day on campus that provides the opportunity to perform actions as sutures, joint injections, digital blocks, and nail removals. As the demand for highly qualified FNPs continues to grow, this affordable family nurse practitioner post-graduate certificate empowers you to serve an urgent healthcare need and enjoy a rewarding career with comprehensive patient responsibilities.
For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.
In this online family nurse practitioner certificate program, you will learn how to:
- Assist in providing primary care through performing standard procedure skills
- Conduct physical diagnosis/differential diagnosis (looking at possible disorders that are causing the physical symptoms)
- Work with patients/families to develop plans to improve and maintain health or treat illnesses
- Assist in providing primary care through performing standard procedure skills
- Conduct physical diagnosis/differential diagnosis (looking at possible disorders that are causing the physical symptoms)
- Work with patients/families to develop plans to improve and maintain health or treat illnesses
Prepare for leadership roles across a variety of healthcare settings, including:
- Internal medicine offices
- Community clinics
- Long-term care facilities
- Specialty clinics
- University student health centers
- Rehab centers
- Ambulatory care centers
- Home care
- Prisons and jails
- Internal medicine offices
- Community clinics
- Long-term care facilities
- Specialty clinics
- University student health centers
- Rehab centers
- Ambulatory care centers
- Home care
- Prisons and jails
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of certificate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online certificate programs.
Accreditation
The Associate, Baccalaureate, Master's, master’s/post-master's certificate, and clinical doctorate programs at Arkansas State University located in State University, AR and West Memphis, AR are accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 975-5000.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate, Baccalaureate, Master's, Master's/post-master's certificate, and clinical doctorate programs is continuing accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.
Tuition
Affordable A-State tuition makes it easy to advance
Our online family nurse practitioner certificate program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Please note, certificate programs are not financial aid eligible.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Set a calendar reminder for these key deadlines
Ideal for working nurses, Arkansas State online programs are delivered in an accelerated format with multiple start dates each year.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | 8/19/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/29/26 | 8/14/26 | 10/2/26 |
| Fall 2 | 10/12/26 | 9/7/26 | 9/7/26 | 9/21/26 | 10/9/26 | 12/4/26 |
| Spring 1 | 1/11/27 | 12/7/26 | 12/7/26 | 12/21/26 | 1/8/27 | 2/26/27 |
Now enrolling:
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Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?
Admissions
Preview the admission requirements for the online FNP certificate
We know you’re busy, so we’ve streamlined the A-State admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Students who are interested in the online Post-Master’s Certificate – FNP program must have a Master of Science in Nursing degree from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited institution. Review full admission requirements below.
Admission Requirements:
- Online application
- MSN degree
- Current unencumbered RN license
Post-Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner Admissions Guidelines
- Complete online application and submit application fee (see Application Submission Requirements below)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an ACEN-, CCNE- or CCNEA-accredited program of nursing from a regionally accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA in MSN coursework
- Official transcript(s) submitted by the registrar of any college/university you have attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
- Current unencumbered RN license
- Satisfactory background check through Verified Credentials
Graduates of an MSN program with an FNP option that did not include the required certification eligibility requirements from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology; Advanced Health Assessment, including diagnostics and disease management; Advanced Pharmacology; and/or minimum of 500 faculty supervised clinical hours) are also eligible to apply. A request for a curriculum “Gap Analysis” to determine an individual Plan of Study will be requested from the Program Coordinator prior to admission.
English Proficiency Requirements
The College of Nursing and Health Professions School of Nursing requires a high level of proficiency in English so that all students will be able to fully meet academic and clinical objectives as well as meet criteria for professional licensure.
Applicants whose primary language is not English or did not attend K-12 in the United States must demonstrate English language proficiency through the following tests:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 4.5 on the preferred internet-based test (iBT), 570 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test
- For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 86 - For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:
We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.5
- For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of at least 7 and a spoken band score of 7
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a score of 63
- Accuplacer Exit ESL with a score of 109
The TOEFL and Exit ESL are available at the Testing Center. When taking the exam off campus, the report code for A-State is 6011. All test scores are valid for two (2) years.
Exemptions may apply: See A-State's international undergraduate and graduate admission pages for more information.
Application Submission Requirements
Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.
- When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
- Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit all official college transcripts. Save time by requesting transcripts be sent electronically.
If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096, and we'll be happy to help answer questions.
Document Submission Address
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
For non-US postal mail overnight delivery only:
A-State Onlinec/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Courses
A look at the online FNP certificate curriculum
To finish the Post-Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner online program, you must complete a total of 21 credit hours. Required coursework includes six advanced practice courses. If a Gap Analysis determines you must enroll in an individual plan of study, you will also need to complete three advanced nursing courses totaling nine credit hours.
You can view your schedule of courses for this certificate through the Course Smartsheet:
View the AOS Course Smartsheet
How to Use the Course Smartsheet