Northern Arizona Online NP and Certificate Programs: PMHNP, FNP, CNS
Originally founded in 1899 in Flagstaff, Arizona, Northern Arizona University (NAU) counts a student body of approximately 28,000 students in Flagstaff, throughout Arizona, outside the state, and online. The NAU student body is composed of a large percentage of students who are the first in their family to attend college. NAU began as a teachers’ college, and the university’s commitment to education remains a driving force behind its operations to this day.
NAU, known as Arizona’s premier nursing college, strives to foster opportunity, economic mobility, and positive social impact for students in Arizona and beyond its borders. NAU nursing programs develop nurses who will work as skilled, compassionate, and culturally competent practitioners. Programs emphasize inclusiveness, excellence, innovation, and active engagement in community. NAU recently elevated its nursing education programs by transforming its School of Nursing into a standalone College of Nursing. In recognition of an anticipated nursing workforce shortage that may prove the largest shortage of nurses in the USA as soon as 2025, NAU is enhancing its visibility through partnership cultivation, program expansion and attraction and retention of quality faculty.
NAU offers a master of science in nursing degree with specializations in family nurse practitioner (FNP) and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). Both tracks are designed for nurses with a BSN degree with generalist experience. NAU nursing programs emphasize the skills necessary to address the critical challenges facing rural healthcare in Arizona and elsewhere. Graduates are eligible for both state and national certification.
NAU also offers a postgraduate certificate program in the aforementioned FNP and PMHNP specializations and a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) specialization. As is true of the master’s degree program, the FNP and PMHNP certificate specializations also prepare students to successfully seek state and national certification. The CNS specialization is targeted toward nurses seeking prescriptive authority in Arizona. Students of both the PMHNP degree and post-graduate certificate programs are also eligible to apply for such prescriptive authority.
NAU nursing programs and its postgraduate certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
What to Expect from Northern Arizona University NP and Certificate Programs
Admission Requirements: Students must seek admission to NAU and the nursing program they wish to enroll in. Admission to many graduate programs is competitive, and it is not uncommon for individual programs to have higher standards than those of the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. Admission to NAU requires submission of transcripts demonstrating receipt of an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Admission to the graduate nursing program requires demonstration of a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program or an associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with a bachelor’s degree in another field, a current RN license in good standing to practice as a registered nurse in Arizona, or eligibility to obtain an Arizona license, or the ability to meet the Arizona Board of Nursing regulations regarding multistate licensure, IVP fingerprint clearance card, satisfactory completion of necessary prerequisite coursework and fulfillment of additional requirements. Applicants should thoroughly review the NAU site for complete information.
Students interested in post-graduate nursing certificates should contact NAU directly to verify admission requirements.
State Restrictions: As noted above, applicants are expected to have a current RN license in Arizona or be able to fulfill the eligibility requirements to obtain either a single state or multistate license.
NAU accepts applications from various students including transfer students, international students and more. International students must meet the admission requirements expected of domestic students. A critical university concern for any incoming international students is demonstrating that existing educational attainment is essentially equivalent to that held by domestic students. This is also true of NAU. Applicants who have earned their degree(s) from an international institution must submit official transcripts from the university or college. These transcripts must be written in the country’s original language and accompanied by an English translation. International students may pursue in-person degree programs on the Flagstaff Mountain and Yuma campuses. International students can complete an in-person graduate certificate if it is paired with a degree program.
Sufficient English language proficiency is also vital for success. Students whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency from an accepted testing agency. Students who fail to achieve the minimum proficiency score required for a program may be admitted to the Program in Intensive English (PIE) as a non-degree seeking undergraduate student. PIE meets the needs of NAU international students by providing English language training. A student’s English learning plan will be finalized upon arrival at NAU.
International students must also fulfill additional requirements such as obtaining both a student visa and NAU student health insurance. Given the complexity often typical of international student admissions, applicants are strongly advised to thoroughly review application requirements, apply early and contact NAU for application guidance as necessary.
Study Plan: All NAU graduate students must complete a group of courses in which they complete at least 30 credits of graduate-level courses. To graduate, students must fulfill all requirements for their specific degree, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0-point scale), and complete their master’s degree within six consecutive years. NAU’s online graduate nursing programs require 48-51 credit hours for completion. Students must complete a fieldwork experience, and may be required to complete individualized research if required by their particular degree specialization. NAU nursing students complete a program of study that prepares them for Arizona nursing licensure endorsement.
MSN Curriculum: Students complete 48-51 credit hours to obtain an MSN. The MSN degree program requires completion of 23 credits of core coursework and 25-28 credits in the student’s chosen emphasis. MSN core courses include theoretical foundations, applied pathophysiology, advanced principles of evidence-based practice, pharmacology for advanced practice nurses, rural theory and health policy, advanced nursing assessment, advanced roles transition, and family nursing theory and practice or advanced neuropathophysiology and psychopharmacology.
FNP Specialization Courses: This specialization is designed for RNs who have experience typical of a generalist and wish to expand their skills to provide family primary care in rural settings. Students complete 25 credit hours in this specialization. Graduates of the MS-FNP degree and the post-master’s FNP certificate are eligible to take national and state FNP certification exams. FNP courses include a three-course series on the skills necessary to work as an APRN in family healthcare, a series of family healthcare practicum courses, and a healthcare systems course.
PMHNP Specialization Courses: This specialization is designed for RNs who wish to provide advanced practice care to people experiencing acute and chronic mental health problems. Students must complete a total of 28 credit hours. Students of the PMHNP specialization develop expertise in knowledge and management of mental healthcare, professional relationships, and healthcare delivery systems. Courses include mental health across the lifespan, advanced mental health therapies, mental health diagnosis and management for children, adolescents, adults and geriatric clients, a clinical practicum, and a capstone project. The capstone project is a comprehensive project focused on meeting an identified health need in a rural community.
Certificate Program Courses: As with the MSN degree program, the certificate programs focus on developing nurses skilled in addressing the challenges of rural healthcare.
FNP specialization: The FNP specialization is a 39-credit hour program. Many of the courses in this certificate program are identical to those required for the MSN degree program. Courses include applied pathophysiology, pharmacology for advanced practice nurses, family nursing theory and practice, rural theory and health policy, advanced nursing assessment, family primary health care I, II, and III (three courses), family primary health care practicum I, II, and III (three courses) and advanced roles transition.
PMHNP specialization: Students complete both online coursework and gain direct patient care experience. Graduates are eligible for state certification in Arizona, for application for prescribing and dispensing privileges in Arizona, and for national certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (across the lifespan). Students complete 23 credits for this certificate. Required courses include advanced neuropathophysiology and psychopharmacology, mental health assessment across the lifespan, advanced mental health therapies: individual and group, mental health diagnosis and management of adults, mental health diagnosis and management of children and adolescents, mental health diagnosis and management of geriatric clients, and a nine-credit clinical practicum.
CNS specialization: A clinical nurse specialist-prescribing, also known as a CNS-P, is a type of nurse practitioner who, like a PMHNP, has prescribing authority for medication. This certificate’s online format has no due dates and is thus ideal for working professionals who often need schedule flexibility to make continued education a feasible endeavor. Students complete a “CNS-P authority course bundle” to become eligible for such designation. Please note that this course bundle does not result in a degree or certificate but fulfills the Arizona State Board of Nursing’s advanced practice prerequisite coursework requirements necessary to secure prescribing authority. The course bundle is nine credit-hours total and consists of three courses in advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced health assessment.
Note that admission requirements for this certificate program are different from other NAU offerings. To be admitted and eventually secure prescription rights student must:
- Be a certified CNS accredited by an accrediting agency accepted by the Arizona State Board of Nursing
- Hold a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited institution
- Be an RN/APRN license in good standing
- Have an intent to apply (or have already submitted an application) for APRN prescribing authority in Arizona
Online Experience: NAU programs are designed to accommodate the needs of busy working nurse professionals. Both MSN degree and post-graduate certificate programs are offered primarily online.
On-Site Requirements: NAU strives to make advanced nursing education accessible by using an online learning delivery model when possible. Students must nonetheless typically complete practicum requirements in person as nursing remains a highly hands-on profession in which nurses must develop and apply skills in treating patients with compassion and authentic presence.
Paying for the Northern Arizona University NP Degree and Certificate Programs
The tuition for the NAU degree and certificate programs is listed in the tables below. Making nursing education affordable is just another way NAU is seeking to successfully confront the challenges Arizona’s nursing workforce has been facing in recent years. NAU offers several financial aid options, such as scholarships, grants, and loans. NAU nursing students can potentially qualify for the Federal Nursing Loan Program. Applicants should note that funding is limited, and fulfilling loan criteria is not a guarantee that a loan will be offered.
Students interested in financial aid resources should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completion of the FAFSA opens up consideration for a variety of resources. One example is the Arizona Promise Program. For eligible participants in this program, NAU will pay the remaining costs of tuition, mandatory fees, and fees not covered by other grant and scholarship resources the students receive. Members of distinct student populations may also be eligible for various resources. Native American individuals interested in one day pursuing an MSN at NAU may be able to first obtain a BSN at NAU via the NAU American Indian Program. International students may also be eligible for scholarships explicitly designed for them. Interested international applicants should contact the NAU Center for International Education for more information.
Prospective applicants should note that federal financial aid is not necessarily available for all certificate programs. Some certificate programs do not allow the use of federal financial assistance if a student pursues a certificate as a stand-alone certificate rather than in conjunction with a degree program. For example, while federal financial aid can be used for an FNP certificate program, it cannot be applied towards a CNS-P certificate if it is not completed simultaneously to a degree program.
Northern Arizona University offers online advanced practice MSN degrees and post-MSN certificates with FNP and PMHNP specializations, as well as an online post-MSN certificate for clinical nurse specialists looking to get certified for prescribing. NAU's FNP programs focus on serving underserved populations, particularly those in rural areas.
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
Post-Graduate Certificate – CNS – Prescribing (for current CNS's)
Post-Graduate Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
Post-Graduate Certificate – Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
P.O. Box 4125
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Summer
Yes
0
48
N/A
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, CA, LA, MA, NY, ND, OR, TN, WA
Program Tuition
48
$1,231.91
$59,131.80
$1,231.91
$59,131.80
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Summer
No
1
51
N/A
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, CA, LA, MA, NY, ND, OR, TN, WA
Program Tuition
51
$1,307.65
$66,690.00
$1,307.65
$66,690.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
CNS – Clinical Nurse Specialist
Fall, Summer
Yes
0
9
N/A
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
None specified
AL, CA, LA, MA, NY, ND, OR, TN, WA
Program Tuition
9
$1,646.67
$14,820.00
$1,646.67
$14,820.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Summer
Yes
0
39
N/A
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, CA, LA, MA, NY, ND, OR, TN, WA
Program Tuition
39
$1,330.00
$51,870.00
$1,330.00
$51,870.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall, Summer
No
1
36
N/A
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, CA, LA, MA, NY, ND, OR, TN, WA
Program Tuition
36
$1,235.00
$44,460.00
$1,235.00
$44,460.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science, and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].