An online post master’s nurse practitioner certificate opens the opportunity to take the certifying exam. Graduates can make a difference in this exciting and growing field of healthcare. With a wide scope of practice, nurse practitioners are a valued part of the healthcare team. This list of affordable and flexible online programs can help them to meet their career and financial goals.
Employment for nurse practitioners is growing at a much faster rate than average. Likewise, the need for nurse practitioner programs around the country has grown. One of these certificate programs may be what you’re looking for. Students may continue to work in their current job and continue to care for other responsibilities. This article lists the most affordable online post master’s nurse practitioner programs. Check out these programs to find a nurse practitioner program that meets your budget and educational goals and gets you on your way in this growing field.
Featured Programs
Methodology for Top 20 Affordable Online Post Master’s Certificate Nurse Practitioner Programs 2021
This ranking lists the 20 most affordable online post master’s nurse practitioner certificates. It includes accredited online programs that may include some brief required time on-campus. These programs are from an initial pool of 34 online post-master’s certificate nurse practitioner programs. Programs were ranked according to in-state tuition costs from the College Navigator website. School profile information came from individual school program websites. Contact your school of interest for the most current program and tuition information.
20. Bradley University
Peoria, IL
Tuition $16,360
This innovative certificate can equip graduates with advanced practice skills. NPs provide primary care throughout the lifespan. Bradley University’s 35-credit online NP certificate can be completed in six semesters. Students must complete clinical hours. They build the skills needed and further develop professional networking. Applicants are required to submit 2 letters of recommendation and a resume. Graduates qualify to take the ANCC certification exam. This online post master’s nurse practitioner certificate can expand your expertise and professional opportunities.
19. South University
Tampa, FL
Tuition $15,600
This online post master’s nurse practitioner certificate is in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty. South University’s online FNP program can be completed in as little as 16 months. Students complete 42 credits to prepare them for nursing practice in this advanced specialty. Graduates have the knowledge and decision-making skills. They can provide care for patients across the lifespan. This program can prepare you to gain the expertise needed to provide primary care for individuals and families in a variety of settings.
18. National University
La Jolla, CA
Tuition $15,480
National University’s online certificate promises to prepare advanced practice nurses to provide primary care to individuals and families across the lifespan. This program is designed to advance their knowledge and skills to practice as FNPs. Graduates of this online program are eligible to sit for the FNP certification exam. This FNP program has an emphasis on:
- critical thinking skills
- evidence-based care
- health promotion
- disease prevention
- managing acute and chronic conditions
- primary care
Students learn to use up-to-date technology to achieve optimal health outcomes. Applicants submit a personal goals statement and professional recommendations.
17. Maryville University
St. Louis, MO
Tuition: $14,346
Maryville University has an online post-master’s degree nurse practitioner certificate. It offers five concentration tracts:
- adult care
- geriatric care
- pediatric care
- family care
- mental health care
Students can graduate in as few as 20 months. Clinical hours are completed at students’ preferred locale, with no on-campus required visits.
16. University of Massachusetts
Shrewsbury, MA
Tuition: $14,014 (in-state) $29,529 (out of state)
University of Massachusetts’ online program prepares students to sit for three certification exams:
- gerontological
- adult
- family nurse practitioner
Nurses with a nurse practitioner certification can apply to the 12-credit option. Nurses with a master’s degree in another nursing area apply to the 21-credit option. Applicants must have graduate-level courses in:
- advanced health assessment
- advanced pathophysiology
- advanced pharmacology
Students in the 21-credit option must complete 560 hours of clinical experience. Students in the 12-credit option need 280 hours of clinical experience in their chosen specialty. Applicants need at least two years of experience before applying to this program.
15. University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Tuition: $13,737 (in-state) $29,760 (out of state)
USC’s online post master’s NP program ranked #1 nationally in 2021 by U.S. News & World Report for online graduate programs. Students can continue working while studying with the flexible online format. Travel to the Columbia campus is required at least twice each semester during clinical rotations. Students are eligible to apply for certification exams upon graduation. Specialties include:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
All specialties require 18 credits and clinical rotations, taking just 4 semesters to complete.
14. William Patterson University
Wayne, NJ
Tuition: $13,086 (in-state) $20,412 (out of state)
William Paterson University’s online post master’s certificates are available in:
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certificate
- Family Nurse Practitioner Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Their Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certificate focuses on caring for aging adults. They learn to improve outcomes through:
- management of chronic diseases
- adopting healthy lifestyle changes
This is an accelerated program that can be completed in 12 months of study. It prepares students to work with patients of all ages with both chronic and acute illnesses. Depending on prior master’s courses taken, the total number of credit hours needed may be less. Courses are evaluated during the admission process.
13. University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Tuition: $12,790 (in-state) $24,,532 (out of state)
The University of Cincinnati offers an online post-master’s nurse practitioner certificate. Students graduate prepared to provide comprehensive primary care to patients across the lifespan. This program emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention, with courses in:
- advanced physiology
- health assessment
- diagnosis process
- pharmacology
- clinical management
The program is designed for working adults. Students can continue working while pursuing their professional nursing practice goals. Courses may be completed either full or part-time. This post master’s online nurse practitioner certificate is for highly motivated professionals. The program prepares students to sit for their exams and become nurse practitioners.
12. University of California
San Francisco, CA
Tuition: $11,442 (in-state) $26,544 (out of state)
University of California, San Francisco offers an online post-master’s certificate program. It enables nurses to pursue their nurse practitioner certification in several specialty areas. Nurse practitioner specialties include:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute and Primary Care
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Applicants should check for specialty-specific details and application requirements
11. Clarkson College
Omaha, NE
Tuition $11,178
Clarkson College offers three online post-master’s nurse practitioner programs. They are offered in:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
The curriculum is offered online. The clinical hours can be completed in a facility close to home. Students can continue working while studying to advance their careers. This degree can be completed in 7 semesters of full-time study or 8 or more semesters of part-time study. Check out this program to see if this is the program to help advance your career as a nurse practitioner.
10. Herzing University
Menomonee Falls, WI
Tuition $10,800
Herzing University offers an online post-master’s certificate nurse practitioner program. It can lead to certification as a:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
The program can be finished in as little as 16 months of study. With 6 start dates each year, it’s always the right time to start this online post master’s certificate. This post-master’s certificate includes 675 clinical hours. Herzing University pledges to help you secure clinical placement right near your home. Applicants may transfer up to 24 credits to this curriculum. Students can pursue this online post master’s certificate program on a part-time or full-time basis. Graduates of this program are prepared to take their national exam to practice as nurse practitioners.
9. Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ
Tuition $10,175
Grand Canyon University has an online post-master’s certificate program. It prepares graduates to work as Family Nurse Practitioners. They provide primary care for people across the lifespan. Students can choose to concentrate in chronic disease management or acute care. This program has an emphasis on advanced health assessment and disease prevention. Students can choose to specialize and work in a particular life stage, such as pediatrics. Students may pursue further studies in postsecondary nursing instruction. This post master’s FNP program prepares graduates to provide primary care to diverse patient populations. GCU’s post-master’s certificate prepares future NPs to take the Family Nurse Practitioner board certification exam.
8. Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY
Tuition: $9,900 (in-state) $13,950 (out of state)
In-State Tuition $9,900
Out-of-State Tuition $13,950
EKU’s online program promises to position graduates as expert health care providers and leaders in their field. The program features creative online learning strategies. Students of online post-graduate certificate Programs are highly engaged. 98% pass their national certification exams on the first attempt. Graduates are experts in their clinical areas. They prepare to deliver evidence-based care for acute and chronic health conditions in a wide variety of professional settings. Students may transfer up to 9 credit hours. 23-32 credits are required to graduate and qualify to sit for the certifying exam. EKU’s high student satisfaction rate is no surprise. There are:
- no required campus visits
- convenient 8-week courses
- spring, summer and fall start dates
US News & World Report ranked EKU among the top 50 online graduate nursing programs in the US.
7. University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, IN
Tuition: $9,486 (in-state) 418,528 (out of state)
The University of Southern Indiana offers an online post-master’s NP certificate. Students receive a broad knowledge base and clinical experience. Graduates are ready to provide health care services to people across their lifespans. The FNP:
- promotes and protects health
- focuses on disease prevention
- management of acute and chronic illnesses
This program requires 665 clinical hours that are completed in the student’s community. Students will be expected to:
- demonstrate advanced practice clinical decision-making processes
- utilize critical thinking skills
- interpret test data to formulate a diagnosis and develop a plan of care for patients
Students graduate prepared to successfully sit for the certifying exam.
6. Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Clarion, PA
Tuition: $9,288 (in-state) $10,026 (out of state)
The Clarion University of Pennsylvania has an online post master’s FNP. It prepares students to become primary care providers in a wide variety of settings, including:
- community health centers
- hospitals
- private practice
This 45-credit program includes 600 clinical practice hours. Students may be eligible to transfer up to 9 credits, saving both time and money. Graduates of this program qualify to sit for the certifying exam.
5. Ball State University
Muncie, IN
Tuition: $8,850 (in-state) $21,954 (out of state)
Ball State University offers an online post-master’s NP program. It trains Family Nurse Practitioners to provide primary health care across the lifespan. There are supervised clinical hours completed in a variety of settings. They provide care for adults, children, women, and families. Students find their own preceptors and clinical supervisors in their own geographic areas. Graduates may practice in:
- private practice
- educational settings
- hospice centers
- hospitals, clinics
- private and public health departments
Graduates of this online post-master’s program are eligible to sit for certifying exams.
4. University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL
Tuition: $7,956 (in-state) $15,912 (out of state)
This online post-master’s certificate program offers a variety of specialties. This includes emergency care and dual specialties. Specialties include:
- Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP
- Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP
- Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP)
- Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP)
- Emergency NP, Family NP, Neonatal NP
- Pediatric Acute Care NP
- Pediatric Primary Care NP
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health NP
Online coursework enables students to continue working while completing requirements. Clinical hours may be completed in the student’s home community. Check out USA’s post-graduate subspecialties as well.
3. Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, MI
Tuition $7,886
Spring Arbor University offers an online post-master’s certificate. It is designed with the working professional in mind. Students can take courses one at a time, and can choose from:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
These online certificates combine a robust academic program with a Christ-centered worldview. It is designed to fit into a busy work schedule, students can plan to study approximately 10-15 hours per week. Online classes contain 20-25 students, enabling students to interact. This program uses a 7-1-7 model, which is a 7-week course followed by a 1-week break. Check out this affordable post-master’s program to see if this is the program to help you to expand your career.
2. Texas Woman’s University
Denton, TX
Tuition: $4,973 (in-state) $12,569 (out of state)
Texas Woman’s University has an online post-master’s certificate (PMC) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program. It is an engaging and innovative online program. The programs are designed to advance clinical skills and expand expertise. Students develop knowledge and form professional relationships through an onsite intensive and clinical experience. This program promises students will gain an understanding of advanced practice nursing. It will deepen knowledge in key areas such as:
- pharmacology
- pathophysiology
- patient assessments
- treatment methods
- applied research to develop competencies
Students will graduate with the resources needed for advanced medical assessment, analysis, and diagnosis. They build the professional skills needed for success as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Students enrolled in this affordable online FNP program are required to attend one on-campus residency experience. Graduates complete 9 courses, with 6 of them requiring clinical hours. TWU helps students with clinical placement, offering support in every aspect.
1. Angelo State University
San Angelo, TX
Tuition: $4,059 (in-state) $11,655 (out of state)
Angelo State University offers the most affordable program on the list. It is completed totally online with the least on-campus requirements. Clinical hours are required for this affordable online post-master’s program. ASU maintains an impressive 100% pass rate for the FNP certification exam.
FAQ’s
Why pursue becoming a nurse practitioner?
Nurse practitioner programs are offered in a number of specializations, including:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Gerontology
- Pediatrics
- Nurse Midwife
- Neonatal
Nurse practitioners are part of a growing field in healthcare. There is a wide scope of practice that is well paid for their expertise. Nurse practitioners care for the whole person and often their family. They are well trained to provide care in a wide variety of settings.
Why is the demand for trained nurse practitioners so great?
With the ever-changing healthcare landscape, patient, family, and community health needs are changing at a rapid pace. Nurse practitioners help bridge the gap in the complex system. With the aging of the population, there is an increased need for preventative care and services.
What can I expect to learn from an online post master’s nurse practitioner certificate?
Students in online post-master’s certificate programs can choose from many specialties. The chosen specialty dictates some of the course content. Students can expect to graduate with the necessary skills and knowledge. They will assess, diagnose and manage patients throughout their lifespan and along the continuum of health. Students graduate with the advanced clinical skills and knowledge to take the certifying exam in their specialty.
Can I work while pursuing my online post master’s nurse practitioner certificate?
Most programs will allow students to work while pursuing this certificate. While completing clinical hours, students many times find that they need to work less, but this often depends on the individual.
How much money can I expect to make as a full-time nurse practitioner?
The median pay for full-time nurse practitioners in 2019 was $115,800. The projected growth in this field is 45%, which is much faster than the average of 4% for all occupations.
Where do nurse practitioners commonly work?
Depending on the specialty, many work at physicians’ offices, hospitals, and outpatient clinics. Other possibilities include prisons or government agencies, among other places.
How do I balance taking classes online and doing clinicals with working?
Communication is key to helping balance online classes with work. Communicate with your employer, support network, family, and friends. Focus on your goal so you don’t give up mid-way. Take time to write it down. It will help you remember why you are doing it. Set up a schedule at the start of each semester, marking your calendar with school and work responsibilities to keep you on track and keep you disciplined. Maximize your downtime to make the most of your time. This includes using vacation and PTO time strategically. Be present in whatever you are doing. If you are at work, don’t think about class and assignments. When studying, don’t think about work issues. Stay present and focused on helping you be balanced.
What are common job responsibilities for a nurse practitioner?
Nurse practitioners often treat patients across the lifespan, depending on their specialty. Common job responsibilities include: Diagnosing and treating acute illnesses, infections and injuries, writing medication prescriptions, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, educating patients about managing their health, and designing patient treatment plans.
What is the professional organization for nurse practitioners?
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is a professional organization for nurse practitioners. The AANP provides professional resources, continuing education, and networking opportunities. They advocate for the profession, representing and advocating for the profession at the state and national levels.
Related:
- DNP Online
- Accelerated MSN Online
- MSN Nursing Administration Online
- MSN Nursing Education Online
- MSN Nursing Informatics Online
- Top Online Colleges for Nursing (Bachelor’s)
- Highest Paying Nursing Jobs
- Important Resonsibilities of a Healthcare Administrator
- Understanding the Clinical and Counseling Differences