Post-Master's Certification

Choose Your Concentration

Students are eligible to seek certification in one of the following concentrations:

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse-Midwifery

For details about each concentration, please review the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) concentration you are interested in. All the concentration majors offered by the College are available as Post-Master's concentrations, subject to admission criteria and screening for limited enrollment areas.

After Graduation

Graduates will be awarded a Post-Master's Certificate indicating the concentration completed. You will be eligible to take a national certification exam for the Post-Master's Certificate specialty. Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) graduates first need to pass the national certification exam to be eligible for licensure in that specialty in New Mexico. APN graduates are responsible for determining any additional requirements for certification and eligibility to practice in a particular state.

Gap Analysis & Individualized Curriculum

• All incoming Post-Master's Certificate students' records undergo a Gap Analysis (a review of previous master's courses and required courses in the chosen MSN concentration.)

• Students schedule an appointment with the faculty coordinator of chosen concentration to review the gap analysis and to develop a specific program of studies.

• All APN core, concentration-specific courses and clinical experiences required for certification are delineated in an individualized program of study for the incoming student.

• The program of studies consists of courses in the chosen area (at least 15 graduate credit hours) designated by the Concentration Coordinator with approval from the Associate Dean for Education and Innovation.

We know every student comes to us with different experiences. That is why we have 2 tracks to earn your Post-Master’s Certificate. Students enter Track A or B depending on their previous educational preparation and their educational goals. You will find details about each track below.

Courses

Through the Gap Analysis, Post-Master’s Certificate students must demonstrate prior successful completion of course work equivalent to the required core courses and APN core courses or must complete these courses as a part of their individualized program of study based on their chosen track and concentration.

You Will Be Prepared.

At the completion of the Post-Master's Certificate programs in nursing, the graduate is prepared to:

• Analyze theoretical formulations as a basis for nursing practice, education and administration.
• Participate in research about the nature of health/illness and the practice of nursing.
• Utilize advanced clinical knowledge and skill to promote, maintain and/or restore optimum wellness to client systems.
• Assume leadership roles in nursing practice, education or administration.
• Assume responsibility for developing health care policy relative to social, ethical, legal, economic and political issues that affect nursing.
• Organize and develop collaborative relationships for the improvement of health care on an agency, organization or legislative level.