College of Nursing:

Post-Master’s Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner

Note on Certification

The post-master’s certificate nurse practitioner specializations are designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for national nurse practitioner certification exams, which are required for practice as a nurse practitioner in most states. Because no graduate program can guarantee that graduates will be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate Board of Nursing or state agency to determine specific certification exam requirements. Walden enrollment specialists can provide information relating to national certification exams; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification exams for the state in which he or she resides, as requirements vary widely. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain national certification. For more information about nurse practitioner certification exams, students should visit the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCBB), or other nurse practitioner websites.

• 38 total quarter credits
  • Core course (3 credits)
  • Specialization courses (35 credits, includes the required 640 practicum hours*)

​Fast Track (for students with appropriate APRN licensure and certification)

• 38 total quarter credits
• Core course (3 credits)
• Specialization courses (15 credits, includes the required 500 practicum hours*)
• Prior nursing credit from certain approved APRN licensure and certification (up to 20 credits)

Fast Track (for Walden Adult Gerontology Primary Care alumni with appropriate APRN licensure and certification)

• 36 total quarter credits
• Core course (3 credits)
• Specialization courses (13 credits, includes the required 500 practicum hours*)
• Prior nursing credit from certain approved APRN licensure and certification (up to 20 credits)

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Walden is committed to providing students with resources and support in preparation of field experience(s). To help ease anxiety in the field experience process, Walden offers a 0-credit Field Experience Preparation course, a structured experience that guides students through the application process and currently available readiness resources. The course is designed to complement other pre-requisite courses needed in preparation for field experience(s). The goal is that students submit their field experience application by the end of the course. Of course, there may be reasons why a field experience needs to be postponed, or the readiness course may not be needed if a field experience opportunity has already been secured. In this instance, students may opt-out of the course. By opting out of the Field Experience Preparation course without having submitted a complete field experience application you are notifying Walden that you have chosen to delay the beginning of your field experience indefinitely, it is your responsibility to notify Walden when you plan to begin the field experience component of your program. In some instances, opting out of the Field Experience Preparation course indicates the foundational components of the field experience process have been satisfied and submission of the field experience application is pending. While the course is not yet available for Tempo students, the same readiness resources are available to Tempo students seeking field experience.