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Maintain your specialty certifications and continue your professional development.

Healthcare professionals and registered nurses looking to earn additional credentials and advance their careers can do so with one of the non-degree certificate programs at °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø.

Certificates of Advanced Study

• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner – Prepares students to provide routine medical care to adolescents and adults in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practice and at home. VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM
  
  
• Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Students learn to work with patients who suffer from acute illnesses and health conditions in settings such as specialty clinics and intensive care units. VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM
  
  
• Family Nurse Practitioner – Prepare to provide primary healthcare for adolescents, adults, women, infants and children in a wide range of settings, including primary care clinics, hospitals, private practices, community health centers and at home. VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM
  
  
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Specialize in the care of patients with psychiatric and mental health issues across the life span, including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, substance use disorders, and more. Learn how to conduct physical exams, order and interpret tests, psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and counsel on preventative health care. Offered as a Master of Science in Nursing degree in Oak Brook or online, and as a post-masters APRN certificate online only. VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM

Post-Master’s Non-Degree Programs

• Nursing Education – Designed for MSN nurses looking to become professional nursing educators. VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM
  
  
• Healthcare Systems Leadership – Designed for MSN nurses looking to increase their administration expertise and pursue higher careers in management. VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM

Post-Bachelor’s Non-Degree Programs

• School Nurse – Prepares students with knowledge in learning theories and special education, along with specialty knowledge in the field of school nursing. Candidates will complete coursework in both the College of Education and Social Sciences and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Visit the School Nurse Non-Degree page for more information. VIEW THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM
  

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ().

Financial Aid Options

In addition to a competitive cost of tuition, °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø offers various opportunities for discounts and scholarships for students who qualify.

• Employer Tuition Assistance – Advocate, Provena Alverno and other partner healthcare organization employees may take advantage of special tuition pricing.
  
  
• Frequent Flyer Scholarship – °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø alumni qualify for a 20% tuition scholarship when admitted into a graduate degree, doctoral degree, second bachelor degree, or qualifying certificate program. More information about the .
  
  
• Graduate Assistantship - Graduate Assistants receive tuition and fee reimbursement in exchange for working for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CONHS). Priority for selection is based on academic achievement, potential for leadership, and financial need.

Please refer to the Financial Aid Office for more information on types of aid and tuition assistance.

Admission Requirements

Post-Master’s Specialty Non-Degree Programs

1. Nursing Education (NE) or Healthcare Systems Leadership (HSL) :
1. Submission of a completed application.
2. Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) in Illinois or state of practice.
3. Graduation from an accredited MSN program Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
4. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.0 scale) in graduate coursework.
5. Official transcripts from all previous academic programs are required.
6. Two Letters of Recommendation:
1. One from a nurse with a master’s or doctoral degree in the specialty for which you are applying AND
2. One from your current supervisor or manager.
3. Letters from persons deemed to have a conflict of interest will not be accepted (e.g. relatives or persons in a reporting position to the applicant).
7. Current résumé or curriculum vita.
8. Essay (maximum 500 words) addressing the following:
1. How your work experiences prepared you for graduate studies;
2. How graduate study will facilitate achievement of your short and long terms goals;
3. How the °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø Mission integrates with your personal and professional identity.

Certificate of Advanced Study Program

2. Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Track (AGPCNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Tracks:
1. In addition to meeting the requirements delineated above (a-g) for Post-Graduate NE or HSL Certificate programs, the applicant for the Certificate of Advanced Study in AGPCNP or FNP programs must meet the following additional criteria:
   
   
2. Essay (maximum 500 words) addressing the following:
1. The skills and qualities the applicant brings to the Nurse Practitioner role
2. The most important things the applicant needs to learn in order to be a successful Nurse Practitioner.
3. How the °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø Mission integrates with your personal and professional identity.

Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions for application requirements and specific next steps.

Related Programs

• Nursing, M.S.

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