INTRODUCTION
Post-Masters programs of study are available for all Master of Nursing (MN) focal areas* at the UW School of Nursing, with a number of these being formalized as Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing programs (see GCPAPN below).  In addition, the UW School of Nursing now offers a certificate program of study in Complementary and Alternative Medicine/Healthcare. At the present time, Post-Masters study (this includes the GCPAPN programs) in Master of Nursing focal areas requires that you be an RN who has already earned a Master’s degree in Nursing, or that you be an RN who is currently enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program at the UW who wishes to do Post-Masters course work concurrently in a particular School of Nursing MN focal area. The Complementary and Alternative Medicine/Healthcare certificate is the exception as it is open to all matriculated graduate students in the UW SoN AND OTHER health sciences schools as well as graduate prepared RN's and other health professionals in the community.

CHANGES ON THE HORIZON
* Please note that the UW School of Nursing recently created a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)  program and that a number of the Master of Nursing focal areas are moving towards admitting students to the DNP program only.  Please be aware that this Graduate Certificate/post-masters study information is subject to change.  You are advised to contact the Academic Services Office at the School of Nursing before applying to do a Post-Masters program of study here.

For current information about GCPAPN pathways, which will require an earned Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, beginning with Autumn 2009 and Autumn 2011 admissions, click here.

CREDENTIALING
The same eligibility/eligibilities for certification that apply upon completion of a Master of Nursing degree (for example, Adult Nurse Practitioner certification through the the American Nurses Credentialing Center) apply upon completion of the corresponding Post-Master's program of study, including the Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing programs.

POST-MASTERS PROGRAMS OF STUDY CULMINATING IN A Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing (GCPAPN)
For a number of the Master of Nursing focal areas, Post-Masters programs of study has been formalized as Graduate Certificate Programs in Advanced Practice Nursing (GCPAPN)*. Once the student has successful completed any of these certificate programs of study, the Graduate Certificate appears on the academic transcript. The only difference between the Graduate Certificate and non-Certificate Post-Masters programs of study is that in the former case, a Graduate Certificate appears on the transcript and in the latter case, the course work completed appears with no certificate designation. 
*The Complementary and Alternative Medicine/Healthcare program, also a GCPAPN program, is the exception. It was created as a new certificate program and is not based on an existing Master of Nursing focal area.
GCPAPN's include:
--Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)--Students may choose to further specialize as a Rural-ANP, Acute Care ANP, Older Adult ANP or Infectious Disease ANP by taking appropriate additional course work.
--Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (APMHNP)
--Advanced Practice Forensic Nurse Specialist (APFNS)
--Advanced Practice Specialist (APS, formerly APIO)
--Complementary and Alternative Medicine/Healthcare (CAM)—Please note that this GCPAPN is open to non-RN’s. 
--Infectious Disease and Infection Control Nursing (IDICN)
--Nurse Educator Specialist Training (NEST)
--Nurse Midwifery (NM)
For details about these certificate programs, INCLUDING CREDENTIALING OPTIONS, or to apply, click here. To apply you should follow the Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing (GCPAPN) application instructions and submit the GCPAPN application forms. Application deadline is January 15, with applications being accepted on a space-available basis after January 15.

Post-Masters Program of Study NOT Culminating in a GCPAPN*--For Information about CREDENTIALING OPTIONS go to individual focal area below and click on link at bottom of page: "Practice Characteristics/Certifications."
Independent Master of Nursing (IMN)
  Family and Child Health
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist (NNP)
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Perinatal Nurse Specialist
Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHCNP)
*These program will culminate with the course work completed appearing on the official transcript but WITHOUT a Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing designation.

To apply to a Post-Masters program of study which is NOT formalized into a Graduate Certificate Program in Advanced Practice Nursing (GCPAPN) you will follow the Master of Nursing/Master of Science/Post-Master’s application instructions and complete the MN/MS/Post-Master's application forms. To find out more about post-master's study in one of these areas, click on its link above, scroll down that focal area page for assorted links, click on "For More Information" and look for the focal area contact. Application deadline is January 15, with applications being accepted on a space-available basis after January 15.

For general questions you may contact Academic Services by phone: 206-543-8736 (toll free: 800-759-NURS) or by email: sonas@u.washington.edu.