Northern Kentucky University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
#2 Best Overall NP School
#20 Most Affordable NP School
#17 Most Flexible NP School
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Certificate
- Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
- Post-Master's Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) offers both MSN and post-master’s certificate programs with several nurse practitioner (NP) specializations. The MSN degrees and their corresponding certificate specializations include:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP)
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
The programs are 100 percent online, with preceptorships completed at approved sites near the student. In addition, the university offers post-master’s certificates designed for those already holding an NP certification who want to broaden their scope of practice with a second specialization. Those with a pediatric, women’s health, acute care, or nurse-midwifery certification can add an FNP certificate. In addition, family NPs can add an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP certificate, and NPs can earn a PMHNP certificate.
NKU offers private education at a much lower cost than most public institutions. Faculty know students by name even though the student body grows yearly.
Focus areas for all NP specializations include patient diagnosis and treatment, critical analysis of data, evidence-based practice, advanced systems thinking, accountability, personal behavior, and ethics and how these affect the care given, sensitivity to diverse patient and community populations, and effective communication.
The MSN-NP programs welcome applications from registered nurses who either hold a BSN degree or a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The latter must take two additional MSN courses. Classes last seven weeks each, and MSN students can complete the programs in just 20 to 22 months. Post-master’s certificates can be completed in 18 to 22 months, and second specialty certificates in just 12 to 14 months.
Graduates are eligible to take certification exams through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Northern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). NKU is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky.
What to Expect from the Northern Kentucky University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
Admission Requirements: All nursing applicants must hold an unencumbered RN license in their state of residence. The application process is streamlined with graduate entrance exams, a resume, and references not required. Application materials include an application, application fee (waived for alumni), official transcripts, and verification of an unencumbered RN license.
- Program-Specific Admission Requirements
- MSN: Hold a BSN degree from an ACEN, CCNE, CNEA-accredited nursing program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Nurses with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree may be granted admission and must take two additional MSN courses. All applicants must have completed an undergraduate statistics course with a grade of “C” or higher and have at least 1,000 hours of RN work experience.
- Post-Master’s Certificates: Hold a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree from an ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA-accredited program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Applicants must have at least 1,000 hours of RN work experience. Those earning a second specialty must provide proof of the appropriate earned NP specialization when applying.
State Restrictions: Although NKU accepts students from many states, there are several state restrictions for the school’s online NP programs. Students from the following states are not accepted into NKU online MSN or post-master’s certificate NP programs: Alabama, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington, Washington DC, and Wyoming.
As always, students in any state outside Kentucky should check with the admissions department of the NKU College of Health and Human Services School of Nursing to verify eligibility, as state approvals do change from time to time. Those in approved states should verify requirements for NP licensure with their state board of nursing.
Study Plan: The MSN – PMHNP and FNP can be completed in as little as 22 months. The Adult-Gerontology MSN and certificate paths take as little as 20 months. The FNP certificate takes about 22 months, and the PMHNP certificate can be completed in as little as 18 months. Finally, the second specialty FNP certificate can be completed in 14 months, and the AGNP certificate can be completed in just 12 months. Start dates land in January, March, April, June, August, and October. Courses last seven weeks each. The programs are 100 percent online, plus local clinicals. A capstone course is also included in the MSN paths and their corresponding certificate paths.
MSN Curriculum: Core courses for all tracks include Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice and Research; Advanced Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice and Research; Analysis and Application of Health Data for Advanced Nursing Practice; Health Care Policy and Economics in Population Health; Diagnostic Reasoning and Advanced Physical Assessment; Human Pathophysiology Advanced Clinical Pharmacology and Intervention for APRNs; and Role Development in Advanced Practice Nursing.
- AG-ACNP Specialty Courses: The AG-ACNP specialization comprises 46 credits and includes 500 hours of clinicals. Courses include Differential Diagnosis and Disease Management in Acute Care I-III; Advanced Technologies for Acute Care and Diagnostic Reasoning; Seminar in Health Promotion and Acute Care Clinical Decision-Making; Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Capstone; and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Residency I-IV.
- AG-PCNP Specialty Courses: The AG-PCNP specialization comprises 43 credits and includes 500 hours of clinicals. Courses include Primary Care of Adolescents and Adults I-III; Geriatric Primary Care and Pharmacology; Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Capstone; and Primary Care A/G Clinical I-IV.
- PMHNP Specialty Courses: The PMHNP specialization comprises 46 credits and includes 500 hours of clinicals. Courses include Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical I-IV; Psychopathopharmacology I-II; Psychiatric-Mental Health Assessment and Diagnosis; Management of Psychiatric-Mental Health Disorders; and Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Capstone.
- FNP Specialty Courses: The FNP specialization comprises 47 credits and includes 600 hours of clinicals. Courses include Primary Care of Adolescents and Adults I-III; Geriatric Primary Care and Pharmacology; Pediatric Primary Care and Pharmacology; FNP Capstone; and Primary Care FNP Clinical I-V.
Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: All specializations take the following courses: Diagnostic Reasoning and Advanced Physical Assessment; Advanced Clinical Pharmacology and Intervention for APRNs; Role Development in Advanced Practice Nursing; and Human Pathophysiology.
- AG-ACNP Specialty Courses: The AG-ACNP specialization comprises 34 credits and includes 500 hours of clinicals. Specialty courses follow the MSN listings.
- AG-PCNP Specialty Courses: The AG-PCNP specialization comprises 31 credits and includes 500 hours of clinicals. Specialty courses follow the MSN listings.
- PMHNP Specialty Courses: The PMHNP specialization comprises 34 credits and includes 500 hours of clinicals. Specialty courses follow the MSN listings.
- FNP Specialty Courses: The FNP specialization comprises 47 credits and includes 600 hours of clinicals. Specialty courses follow the MSN listings.
Second Specialty Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The second specialty to become an FNP for acute care, women’s health, or nurse-midwifery NPs comprises 19 credits and includes 500 hours of clinicals. Courses include Primary Care of Adolescents and Adults I-III; Geriatric Primary Care and Pharmacology; Pediatric Primary Care and Pharmacology; FNP Capstone; and Primary Care FNP Clinical I-IV.
Those with a pediatric nurse practitioner certification take 17 credits and complete 500 clinical hours. These students do not take Pediatric Primary Care and Pharmacology but do complete a fifth primary care clinical.
FNPs wishing to complete the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP certificate complete 19 credits and 500 clinical hours. Courses follow the specialty courses for the AG-ACNP MSN degree.
NPs who want to expand into psychiatric-mental health complete 19 credits plus 500 clinical hours. Courses include Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical I-IV; Psychopathopharmacology I-II; Psychiatric-Mental Health Assessment and Diagnosis; Management of Psychiatric-Mental Health Disorders; and Psychotherapy for Psych-Mental Health NP.
Online Experience: Northern Kentucky University delivers courses through the Canvas online learning management system (LMS). Students communicate through email, phone, chat, and online discussion boards. Courses may include readings, lectures, assignments, projects, and assessments. Students have access to services such as faculty support, academic advising, library and bookstore services, technical support, and career counseling.
On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for the NKU online nurse practitioner programs as they are 100 percent online. Clinical preceptorships must be completed at approved sites local to the student.
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Paying for the Northern Kentucky University Online Nursing Programs
Northern Kentucky University online MSN and post-master’s certificate tuition numbers are listed below, and do not include additional fees. Prospective students should contact the admissions department of the NKU school of nursing for cost clarifications and updates.
NKU graduate nursing students may be eligible for unsubsidized federal student loans through the FAFSA. Students may also secure private loans, tuition reimbursement programs through their employers, or outside scholarships and grants. To inquire about university scholarships and grants, students should contact the NKU School of Nursing.
Affordable tuition, MSN and post-graduate certificate options, as well as second specialty certificates, make the NKU nurse practitioner programs an attractive option.
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Certificate
Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Post-Master's Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Louie B Nunn Drive
Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
January, March, April, June, August, October
Yes
0
47
750
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AZ, CA, DC, HI, ID, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, WA, WY
Program Tuition
47
$578.00
$27,166.00
$578.00
$27,166.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
January, March, April, June, August, October
Yes
0
48
750
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AZ, CA, DC, HI, ID, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, WA, WY
Program Tuition
48
$578.00
$27,744.00
$578.00
$27,744.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
January, March, April, June, August, October
Yes
0
47
750
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AZ, CA, DC, HI, ID, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, WA, WY
Program Tuition
47
$578.00
$27,166.00
$578.00
$27,166.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
January, March, April, June, August, October
Yes
0
35
750
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AZ, CA, DC, HI, ID, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, WA, WY
Program Tuition
35
$578.00
$20,230.00
$578.00
$20,230.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
January, March, April, June, August, October
Yes
0
36
750
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AZ, CA, DC, HI, ID, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, WA, WY
Program Tuition
36
$578.00
$20,808.00
$578.00
$20,808.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
January, March, April, June, August, October
Yes
0
35
750
ACEN – Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AZ, CA, DC, HI, ID, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, WA, WY
Program Tuition
35
$578.00
$20,230.00
$578.00
$20,230.00
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.
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.