Post Graduate Certificate Family Nurse Practitioner
Prepare for FNP licensure
Our post family nurse practitioner graduate certificate builds on your nursing foundation, expands your knowledge of family health and helps you meet the academic requirements for advanced practice.
- Offered Hybrid Online and Face-to-Face in Commerce.
- No thesis required
- No foreign language credits required
Take Nursing to the Next Level!
Are you an RN with a master's degree looking to advance your career? Becoming a family nurse practitioner is within your reach!
Nurse practitioners play a crucial role in providing primary and specialized care to patients of all ages. They can diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, order and interpret diagnostic tests and provide health education and counseling. With advanced training and a holistic approach to patient care, nurse practitioners make significant and meaningful contributions to improving health outcomes and promoting wellness.
Spring 2026 Graduate Flex Term.
What Are My Job Opportunities?
Prepare to work in a variety healthcare settings, providing essential nursing care to individuals, families and communities. You can also pursue advanced graduate studies, aiming for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Ph.D., to further your expertise, teach in higher education or engage in healthcare research.
Current Median Salaries from US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2023
Program Details
Our program provides advanced training for registered nurses, preparing them for expanded primary care and family healthcare roles.
What Will I Learn?
You will have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of key areas.
Advanced Health Assessment
Develop expert skills in performing thorough health assessments, enabling you to identify, diagnose and manage health conditions across all age groups.
Diagnostic Reasoning
Learn to apply clinical reasoning to diagnose and treat common health issues, ensuring effective care for both pediatric and adult populations.
Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Understand pharmacological principles, including safe prescribing and medication management, to treat a wide range of conditions effectively.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Master strategies for health promotion and disease prevention, empowering you to improve patient outcomes and promote wellness within diverse communities.
Taking Classes
Our graduate certificate at East Texas A&M University builds on your nursing background to prepare you for advanced roles in primary care and family healthcare.
Online and Hybrid
The program utilizes an online course format with required intensive days on campus or clinical sites. Focused clinical experiences are conducted as traditional, hands-on practice in a variety of clinical settings, enabling the student to acquire competence with new knowledge and skills.
Curriculum
The Post Graduate Certificate (PGC) Family Nurse Practitioner prepares graduates with the requirements to sit for national certification to be a Family Nurse Practitioner. MSN education has a foundation encompassing advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and health promotion/population health, as well as a core promoting the advancement of the nursing profession through research and theory.
Prospective students must have a Master of Science in Nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program as well as a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in order to be admitted. Graduates prepare to sit for national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Accreditation
The East Texas A&M University Department of Nursing has full approval by the Texas Board of Nursing.
Texas Board of Nursing
333 Guadalupe, Suite 3-460
Austin, TX 78701-3944
512.305.7400
[email protected]
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at East Texas A&M University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
655 K Street NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
202.887.6791
Finding My Community
We believe that education thrives in an environment where collaboration, support, and mutual respect flourish. Our community of students and professors embodies these values, creating an enriching and dynamic atmosphere for learning and growth. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the table. Our professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also dedicated mentors who are committed to guiding and nurturing the next generation of scholars.
Donna Callicoat, DNP, APRN, FNP
Faculty
Shelly Hanko, Ph.D, APRN, FNP-BC
Faculty
Student Organizations
Our campus has many ways to engage and get involved.
You can engage with various professional organizations that support networking, leadership development, and career advancement. These organizations provide valuable opportunities to collaborate with peers and faculty, attend workshops and conferences, and connect with healthcare professionals, enhancing academic and professional growth in the healthcare sector.
I’m Looking For Something Different
Is this program close, but still not right for you? Check out our related degrees!
Financing My Future
Financial Aid
Financial aid includes a variety of programs, like scholarships, federal and state grants, and federal and state work-study programs. Find out how you may be eligible for scholarships, grants, loans and/or a graduate assistantship. Financial Aid and Scholarships
Back to menuOn-Campus Employment Opportunities
Enhance your expertise through on-campus employment opportunities.
Graduate Assistant/Research/Teaching
Graduate assistant teaching (GAT), graduate assistant research (GAR), and graduate assistant non-teaching (GANT) assistantships at East Texas A&M offer financial support and professional development for graduate students. Assistantships are available in academic and non-academic departments.
Back to menuCost Before Financial Aid
East Texas A&M is one of the most affordable colleges around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Our tuition rates are some of the most competitive in Texas.
$3,669
for Texas residents
/
$7,341
For non-residents
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents. But don’t worry: there are
Back to menuAdditional Fees May Apply
- Online Courses ($50 per hour)
- Remote Locations ($20 per hour)
- Lab Fees ($5 – $30 per course)
How Do I Get Started?
If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When you’re ready, go ahead and follow the steps below to apply.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission, one of the following is required
- Applicants must hold a Master of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution and a nationally accredited nursing program with a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours.
- Applicants must also hold an unencumbered, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of Texas or a compact state.
Admission Process
The ApplyTexas application deadline for fall admission is August 1.
Note: This program is not currently open to International Students.
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
To be considered for admission, one of the following is required
- an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with at least 2.75 overall GPA or 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours,
- a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nationally-accredited nursing program and
- a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Request three individuals to complete the recommendation form attesting to the applicant’s readiness and academic performance.
Please email completed forms to your graduate coordinator.
Submit a letter detailing your reasons for pursuing the master’s degree in nursing, including your professional goals.
You do not need to submit GRE scores if you have a minimum 3.00 GPA on the last 60 hours of nursing courses.
If you do not meet the GPA exemption criteria, request that your GRE® scores be sent to East Texas A&M University (6188) when you register for the test. If you have already taken the GRE®, you can order additional score reports.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
I Still Have Questions
We are here to help! Send us an email. We can answer your questions and assist you in the application process.
Contact the Department
- School Nursing and Health Sciences
- 903.886.5315
- 903.886.5729
- [email protected]
- Nursing Health Science Building, 310
- 2210 Highway 24
- Commerce, TX 75429
- P.O. Box 3011
- Commerce, TX 75429-3011