Post-Graduate Certificate
Family Nurse Practitioner
If you have a master's in nursing and want to learn a new practice area, our Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate could be a great match for you. You'll learn to care for patients of all ages, from kids to older adults, using a holistic approach that considers their physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.
Overview
Format
Hybrid online
Mostly online with some in-person requirements on the CU Anschutz Campus in Aurora, CO.
Avg. time to complete
1.5 years
5 semesters
Exam prep
FNP
When you finish the program, you can sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) exam to become board-certified.
Clinical placements set up for you
If you’re in Denver or Aurora, we arrange clinical placements for you. We work with some of the top clinics and hospitals in the metro area to provide high-quality, hands-on experiences.
Expert faculty dedicated to your success
Many of our faculty are recognized locally and nationally for their excellence in nursing, education, and research. Our educators are passionate about helping students advance their knowledge and careers.
100%
Board certification exam pass rate for this specialty
1st
Nurse practitioner program was developed at CU Nursing
Career
Completing the Post-Graduate Certificate Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares you to take the board certification exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board. Once you pass the test, you can get your license, expanding your scope of practice. Family nurse practitioners are eligible for licensure in all 50 states, including Colorado.
What you can do
- Prescribe medication
- Serve as an independent provider
- Assess, diagnose, and treat health conditions
- Educate patients about health management and disease prevention
Who you can care for
Patients of all ages, from birth to end of life. If you like working with both kids and adults, this is the right specialty for you.
Where you can work
- Urgent care clinics
- Family clinics
- Internal medicine clinics
- + more
Admissions
Deadline(s)
| Start term | Application opens | Priority deadlinetooltip | Extended deadlinetooltip |
| Fall 2025 | August 15, 2024 | January 15, 2025 | April 1, 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | January 15, 2025 | July 1, 2025 | Not applicable |
Get started
1
Check the requirements
Understand the admissions requirements like how many letters of recommendation you need and what courses should be on your transcript.
2
Start your application
Work on your application and submit it through NursingCAS.
Curriculum
Hands-on training
The Post-Graduate Certificate Family Nurse Practitioner program includes 630 hours of clinical training in a healthcare facility. We organize your clinical placement and try to match you with a preceptor who fits your interests.
In-depth coursework
In 42 credit hours of in-depth coursework, you’ll study topics including advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacology and therapeutics.
Costs
| Residency status | Estimated total tuition** |
| Colorado residents | $25,905 |
| Nonresidents | $42,009 |
| Additional expenses | Time frame | Estimated costs |
| Matriculation fee | One-time | $140 |
| Other fees | By term | Fall $392, Spring $232, Summer $180 |
| Books and supplies | Total for program | $2,000 |
| CU health insurance (may be waived with proof of comparable personal health insurance) | By term | Fall $1,575, Spring $1,575, Summer $1,050 |
I
chose CU Nursing because of the relationship that it has with other
hospitals and the Denver community. I knew that I would get
high-quality clinical placements and faculty. Just the reputation of CU
being a high-quality school was something that I wanted.
Kate Redlinger, RN
CU Nursing Alum
MS Family Nurse Practitioner program
Become the nurse practitioner looked to first 
Get your degree from the top nursing college in Colorado. Start your journey to become a CU nurse today.
Disclosures
** Estimated total tuition based on 2024-2025 costs. For Post-Graduate Certificate tuition, estimates provided do not include core courses that may need to be included after transcript evaluation. Tuition estimates do not include fees and other education-related costs.
- Accreditation information.
- Certification and licensure for online students residing outside of Colorado: Please see the Nursing Certification Disclaimer and review the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements information.
- Gainful employment and program statistics: For information about graduation rates, the median debt of students completing our programs, and other important information, please visit the University of Colorado Denver Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.