Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is based on competitive selection from the pool of applicants who meet the College of Graduate Studies admission requirements from the designated home school.

Additional admission requirements for the Advanced Practice: Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate program include

1. a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program (NLNAC or CCNE) that includes satisfactory completion of the following courses at the master’s level:
   • Advanced Health Assessment with a didactic and clinical component equivalent to 3-4 semester credit hours;
   • Advanced Pathophysiology equivalent to 3 semester credit hours; and
   • Advanced Pharmacology equivalent to 3 semester credit hours;
2. eligibility to practice as a registered nurse in Tennessee or the compact state in which clinical assignments are completed;
3. overall GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale;
4. TOEFL score of 600 if native language is not English;
5. a written document prepared by the applicant that includes a resumé, a discussion of prior professional experience, future career goals, and reasons for pursuing the certificate program;
6. letters of recommendation from at least three persons (a minimum of one academic) familiar with the applicant’s academic and professional background and experience in nursing practice.

Application Procedures

Students are advised to contact the graduate program director in the School of Nursing before beginning the application procedure. Applications are due by October 1 for spring admission, February 1 for summer admission, and April 1 for fall admission.

Applicant must

1. submit application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php);
2. submit official copies of transcripts;
3. submit three signed letters of recommendation;
4. submit an updated vita or resumé;
5. submit a copy of R.N. license;
6. submit background check information;
7. submit proof of immunizations;
8. submit proof of malpractice insurance.

NOTE: Applicants residing in Middle Tennessee (Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Coffee, Davidson, Dickson, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Stewart, Wayne, Williamson, and Wilson counties) are randomly assigned to one of the three TBR institutions in Middle Tennessee (APSU, MTSU, or TSU). Students who reside in one of these counties must first apply to the RODP program at www.rodp.org/admissions/admissions-steps. Students approved and assigned to MTSU will then apply to the MTSU College of Graduate Studies.

Certificate Requirements

Candidate must complete 21 credit hours of graduate nursing courses.

Program Notes

Total contact hours – Advanced FNP Clinical/Practicum = 720.

Only two repeated course are allowed.

More than two grades below “C” will lead to dismissal from the program.