Certificate Programs

Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing (GCPAPN)
The Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing (GCPAPN) offers a variety of pathways for post-baccalaureate students currently matriculated in a masters or higher degree program, and for post-Masters* students seeking further specialization.

*Please note that beginning with Autumn 2009 and Autumn 2011 admissions some of the GCPAPN pathways will required an earned Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. For more information click here.

Each pathway requires a) a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for courses required by the pathway, b) a grade of 2.7 or higher for each course counted toward the GCPAPN, and c) the successful completion of a graduate degree, either prior to or simultaneous with the completion of the GCPAPN. Upon successful completion of these requirements, a GCPAPN in the student's chosen pathway will become part of the student's transcript. (No certificate of completion is issued.)

GCPAPN tuition is set at the Master of Nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice level. Students matriculated in other graduate programs simultaneous with their matriculation in the GCPAPN will be charged at this rate.

You may read more detailed information about the GCPAPN programs by clicking on the links below or, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO DIRECTLY TO APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS, CLICK HERE.

Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) - The GCPAPN: ANP pathway is designed to enhance the education of students who have secured a graduate degree in nursing. The curriculum (32 credits of coursework; an additional 19 credits of clinical practicum, to include a capstone clinical experience) will provide the student with the knowledge and skills requisite for ANP practice, certification, and license in Washington State. Students will develop knowledge and skills in health promotion, disease prevention, clinical assessment and management of primary health conditions. Students have the option of further specializing as Acute Adult Care ANP, Older Adult ANP, Infectious Disease ANP or Rural-ANP by taking appropriate additional course work. All students completing this certificate are eligible for ANCC Adult Nurse Practitioner certification; in addition those further specializing in Acute Care will be eligible to apply for ANCC Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification and those further specializing in Older Adult for the ANCC Gerontological Nurse Practitioner certification.

Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (APMHNP) - The GCPAPN: APMHNP pathway is for nurses with a master's degree in nursing who want to broaden and deepen their psychiatric mental health and/or nurse practitioner competencies for PMHNP practice. Individualized plans of study supplement prior coursework and prepare students for the American Nurses Credentialing Center family or adult PMHNP exam.

Advanced Practice Environmental Health Nurse Specialist (APEHNS) - The GCPAPN pathway in Environmental Health Nursing will be open to nursing graduate students or post-Masters nurses who wish to develop advanced skills and expertise in environmental health nursing.

Advanced Practice Forensic Nurse Specialist (APFNS) - The GCPAPN: APFNS pathway is- a 15-credit pathway that provides Masters-prepared health professionals, or baccalaureate-prepared health professionals currently matriculated in a masters degree program, with an option to specialize in Forensic Nursing, a new specialty field.

Advanced Practice Specialist (APS) – The GCPAPN: APS pathway provides masters-prepared nurses the opportunity to expand their knowledge base through a variety of focal area options including cardiovascular, critical care, diabetes, emergency/trauma, gerontology, infection control, pain, neuroscience, oncology/HIV-AIDS, perioperative or genetics. Upon completion of the program, including a total of 500 clinical hours in a CNS program (can be continuation of pre & post master’s program hours), students will be eligible for certification as a Clinical Specialist in Medical-Surgical Nursing (American Nurses Credentialing Center, ANCC), Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (American Association of Critical Care Nurses, AACN), or Advanced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (Oncology Nursing Society, ONS).

Complementary and Alternative Medicine/Healthcare (CAM): An Integrative Approach - The GCPAPN: CAM pathway is an 18-credit graduate certificate program preparing graduates as integrative healthcare specialists serving all patient populations.

Infectious Disease and Infection Control Nursing - The GCPAPN: ID/ICN pathway is designed for nurses with a master's degree or currently enrolled UW graduate students who would like to enhance their knowledge to enable them to face emerging areas of threats to health from infectious diseases or infections.

Infant Mental Health - The GCPAPN: Infant Mental Health pathway is designed to provide advanced training to graduate students and community professionals in the fields of education, medicine, nursing, occupational/physical therapy, post-partum support, psychology, social work and speech and hearing sciences. Options are available for those seeking training in infant mental health clinical services and consultation and for those wishing to do intensive therapeutic work and assessment with young children and their families.

NEST (Nurse Educator Specialist Training) - The GCPAPN: NEST pathway is an individually tailored program of study on the nurse educator role. This program provides a collaborative, integrative, and multidisciplinary educational framework that is intended to produce, support and mentor nurses to assume roles as nurse educators certificate completion.

Nurse Midwifery - The GCPAPN: Midwifery program offers an opportunity for mastered-prepared nurses to develop the knowledge and skills needed to provide care to women during their childbearing years as well as throughout their lifespan. Upon successful completion of the coursework, graduates will be qualified to take the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) national certification examination and apply for licensure to practice as a CNM in Washington or any other state.

Other Graduate Certificate Programs (Non-GCPAPN)

Disaster Nursing Emergency Preparedness and Response Certificate - This graduate certificate program is offered through the School of Public Health and Community Medicine and is open to current nursing graduate students and post-Masters nurses seeking further specialization. This 15-credit program includes course work in disaster preparedness and response as well as a Capstone field experience supervised by nursing faculty.

UW Health Informatics Certificate Program - Offered through the School of Public Health. Students currently enrolled in a participating master degree program use the curriculum of the Health Informatics Certificate much like an undergraduate pursues a minor in addition to his / her major area of interest. Graduates of the Health Informatics Certificate program will have the competencies, skills and attitudes that are necessary to serve as Informatics peer experts within their work unit and as user representatives on teams to develop and enhance major functional applications. Please note that this program is not an option within the Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing, and is currently being updated. In the meantime if you have questions, please contact Brenda Zierler (brendaz@u.washington.edu) or 206/616-1910.