2025 Best California Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Programs

Azusa Pacific University's Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education is designed for nurses aiming to become educators in clinical or academic settings. This hybrid program combines faith-integrated learning with hands-on practicums, requiring 21 units at $860 per unit, totaling $18,060. Ideal for MSN holders, it prepares graduates for teaching roles without requiring an entrance exam, offering rolling admissions for flexibility.

• Post-Master's Certificate
• Nurse Educator focus
• Clinical or academic settings
• 21 units
• $860 per unit
• Hands-on practicums
• Faith integration
• MSN required
• Builds upon MSN
• Prepares for teaching roles

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate at Azusa Pacific University is tailored for nurses with a master's degree seeking specialization in primary healthcare. This hybrid program, costing $860 per unit for 38 units, prepares students for California licensure and national certification. Flexible scheduling, including evening lectures, accommodates working professionals, with no entrance exam required for admission.

• 38 total program units
• Cost per unit: $860
• For nurses with master's degree
• Prepare for national certification
• Customizable clinical experiences
• Evening lecture options
• Multiple campus locations
• Supportive Christian environment
• 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio

Azusa Pacific University offers an online Post-Master's Certificate in Healthcare Administration and Leadership for MSN graduates aspiring to administrative roles. The program focuses on leadership, financial management, and organizational skills, with a total cost of $16,340 for 19 units at $860 per unit. It includes administrative practicums and does not require an entrance exam, providing a pathway to leadership positions in healthcare.

• 19 total program units
• Cost per unit: $860
• Online and campus options
• Requires Master's in Nursing
• Two administrative practicums
• Leadership and finance focus
• Yellow Ribbon School
• 13:1 student-faculty ratio
• Top 25 Nursing School

For nurses with a master's degree, Azusa Pacific University's online Post-Master's Certificate in Healthcare Administration and Leadership offers advanced training in healthcare management. The 19-unit program costs $860 per unit, totaling approximately $16,340, and emphasizes leadership, finance, and team management. No entrance exam is required, making it accessible for professionals aiming for administrative careers in nursing.

• 19-unit post-master's certificate
• Cost per unit: $860
• Online and campus options
• Requires master's in nursing
• Healthcare leadership focus
• Practical administrative practicum
• Minimum 3.0 GPA required
• Two professional recommendations
• Nursing administrative career advancement

California Baptist University offers a hybrid Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Masters Certificate program, designed for licensed registered nurses with an MSN degree. This 28-unit program focuses on holistic primary care across patient lifespans, emphasizing preventative health strategies. Requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA, an active RN license, and professional experience. The program combines rigorous didactic education with supervised clinical training, preparing graduates for national certification and advanced practice roles in underserved healthcare populations. No entrance exam is required for this program.

• 28-unit post-masters certificate
• Minimum 3.0 GPA required
• Active California RN license
• Comprehensive clinical training
• Serves diverse patient populations
• Preventative care focus
• Prepares for national certification
• One year RN work experience
• Advanced practice preparation

The Post-Master's in Nursing Certificate program at California Baptist University, with a concentration in Nursing Organizational Leadership, is available in a hybrid format. Tailored for working professionals, it offers flexibility with online and on-campus options, requiring 16-33 units. The program emphasizes holistic care, evidence-based practice, and professional development, preparing nurses for leadership roles. No entrance exam is mentioned, highlighting a faith-based approach to nursing education.

• Online and on-campus formats
• 3 Certificate Concentrations
• 3 Non-Certificate Programs
• $690 per unit cost
• 2-4 semester completion
• State-of-art Clinical Simulation Lab
• Faith-based holistic nursing perspective
• Advanced clinical practice training

California Baptist University's Nursing Informatics Post-Masters program is an online curriculum designed for licensed RNs with a master's degree. It bridges clinical expertise with information management, covering healthcare systems, technology workflow, and project management. The program includes 225 clinical hours and prepares graduates for national certification in nursing informatics. Requirements include a 3.0 GPA, active RN license, and MSN degree. No entrance exam is specified.

• Post-Masters Nursing Informatics
• Requires active RN License
• Minimum 3.0 GPA required
• 225 clinical hours included
• 5 specialized informatics courses
• National certification preparation
• CPR certification needed
• Background check required
• Must have MSN degree
• Prerequisites with B- minimum

The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Certificate at California Baptist University is a 33-unit hybrid program. It prepares experienced nurses to provide specialized care for adult and geriatric patients in acute settings, focusing on advanced assessment and evidence-based management techniques. The program includes supervised clinical practicum experiences. No entrance exam is required, and it emphasizes an interdisciplinary healthcare approach.

• 33-unit comprehensive certificate
• Hybrid program format
• Advanced acute care nursing skills
• Specialized adult-gerontology focus
• Evidence-based clinical training
• Supervised clinical practicum experiences
• Advanced interdisciplinary healthcare approach

The University of San Francisco's post-doctorate Family Nurse Practitioner certificate is tailored for RNs with a doctoral degree, aiming to enhance their clinical skills in diverse healthcare environments. This hybrid program emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention, requiring 500 clinical hours and a 3.0 GPA for admission. It prepares graduates for national board certification in approximately one year, without specifying an entrance exam. Ideal for those seeking to broaden their practice scope, the program blends online coursework with practical experiences.

• Post-doctorate certificate program
• Hybrid learning model
• 500 clinical hours required
• Minimum 3.0 GPA recommended
• National board certification preparation
• Completed in one year
• DNP/PhD prerequisite
• Multiple healthcare practice settings

Targeting DNP holders, the University of San Francisco's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate equips nurses to address psychiatric and substance abuse disorders. This hybrid program, featuring weekend intensives, mandates 500 clinical hours and a 3.0 GPA, leading to national certification in about a year. It focuses on diagnosing, treating, and prescribing for mental health conditions, offering a flexible path for nurses to specialize without mentioning an entrance exam requirement.

• Certificate for DNP holders
• Minimum 500 clinical hours
• Hybrid learning format
• National certification preparation
• One-year completion option
• Requires 3.0 GPA
• Weekend intensive classes
• Advanced practice specialization

National University's Post-Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate is a hybrid program tailored for nurses with an MSN, DNP, or PhD, aiming to enhance their primary care skills. This 53-quarter-unit program blends online coursework with in-person clinical practicums, requiring 600 hours of hands-on experience. It focuses on differential diagnosis, patient management, and evidence-based care, preparing graduates for national certification. With year-round enrollment and no application fee, students can complete the program in about 12 months, making it an efficient path to advancing in primary healthcare roles.

• 12-month average completion time
• Online and in-person options
• 53 quarter units total
• 600 clinical practicum hours
• No application fee required
• Year-round enrollment
• Prepares for national certification
• Designed for advanced practice nurses

The Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate at National University is an online program designed for advanced practice nurses seeking specialization in mental health. This 51-quarter-unit curriculum equips students with the skills to assess, diagnose, and treat psychiatric conditions across all age groups, including prescribing medications. The program includes 540 clinical practicum hours and prepares graduates for the ANCC certification exam. With CCNE accreditation, year-round enrollment, and no application fee, it offers a flexible and reputable pathway to becoming a PMHNP, requiring a 3.0 GPA for admission.

• Online and in-person options
• 12-month average completion time
• Year-round enrollment
• 540 clinical practicum hours
• CCNE accredited program
• No application fee
• Prepares for ANCC certification
• Covers adults and pediatric populations
• Requires 3.0 cumulative GPA

Point Loma Nazarene University's online Post-Graduate Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner program is tailored for nurses aiming to advance their careers without sacrificing their current roles. This fully online program, requiring a 3.2 GPA and at least one year of nursing experience, spans approximately 2.3 years, offering flexibility with asynchronous coursework and optional synchronous sessions. Students benefit from small cohort sizes, evidence-based curriculum, and clinical rotations, preparing them for ANCC and AANP certification exams. With a focus on holistic patient care, the program is ideal for those looking to thrive in the expanding nurse practitioner field, projected to grow 52% by 2030. Costing $820 per unit, it includes on-site immersion days and certification exam preparation.

• Fully online asynchronous format
• 7 semesters to completion
• 33-42 total units
• Required RN license
• Current healthcare experience
• Optional synchronous sessions
• Clinical rotations secured
• $820 per unit cost
• On-site immersion days
• Certification exam prep