Colorado Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Programs

Post-graduate nursing certificates prepare nurses for advanced specialized knowledge. This program provides extended career growth and opens increased doors of opportunity for the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), providing extended education in a specialized field of nursing. Post-grad nursing certificate programs attract RNs who already hold a Master's Degree in Nursing. Read on to find out how to obtain a Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing in the state of Colorado.

Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Admission Requirements in Colorado

While admissions requirements will vary depending on the school, many post-master's nursing certificate programs will have similar requirements. The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs sets the following admission requirements:

• Grade level B or higher in all nursing courses
• Completion of the certificate within six years
• Completion of 25-34 credits at the graduate level
• Completion of an accredited master's degree in nursing
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• 3.0 GPA minimum of cumulative previous courses
• Passing scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language
• Unrestricted RN license
• Submission of all application materials by posted deadlines

Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Classes and Courses

Post-grad nursing certificate courses are usually centered around a specific nursing specialty. For example, the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner post-graduate certificate program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus includes the following courses:

• Integrated Behavioral Health Care and Common Psychiatric Presentations Across the Lifespan
• Advanced Assessment, Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology
• Diagnosis and Management of Adults for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Psychotherapy, Behavior Change and Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan

Program Length

While the length of post-grad nursing certificate programs can vary based on many factors, most can be completed in just a few semesters of study (1-2 years). Most programs offer full-time and part-time options, which will impact how long it takes a student to graduate. Many post-master's nursing certificate programs are designed with working RNs in mind, making them flexible enough to work around a career.

Tuition and Cost of Attendance

The location (city) of the school, whether it's private or public, expenses other than tuition costs, and technology fees all have a bearing on post-graduate certificate in nursing program costs in Colorado. Check into the possibility of taking a program part-time and if there is any financial aid help associated with the programs. The Family Nurse Practitioner post-master's certificate through the University of Northern Colorado, for example, costs $640 per credit hour.

Online Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Programs in Colorado

Online learning has become increasingly popular. Some important questions to ask while looking into online programs include:

• Do online Colorado post-grad nursing certificate programs offer 100 percent online education?
• Does this program offer minimal visits on campus?

Making sure the online program is accredited and reputable should be a top consideration. Online learning is not for every nurse, and the student taking online education needs to be very structured and motivated with no procrastination or missing assignments. Online education offers great flexibility, does not interfere with job duties, saves time and money, and allows the student to work at a chosen pace.

Featured Online School

The University of Northern Colorado offers a flexible, online post-master's nursing certificate in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty. Highlights include:

• This program takes about 20 months to complete with 540 hours of clinical training
• Offers credentials and national certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
• Advanced expertise in assessment, promotion, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and coordination of care in the critical patient
• 500 hours of supervised clinical instruction
• Builds practical, clinical, and leadership skills

Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Career Pathways in Colorado

Post-graduate nursing certificates only stand to improve patient outcomes due to the nurse broadening his or her skills. Some program specialties and careers available include:

• Emergency Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
• Nursing Informatics
• Nurse Educator

Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate Salary & Job Outlook

Salaries for RNs with post-master's nursing certificates vary depending on educational specialty, city, and employer. All states are declaring a shortage of doctors, and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are filling this gap in most states. The NP is increasingly in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, NPs earn an average salary of about $113,930 annually, or roughly $54.78 per hour.

List of Colorado Post-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Programs

RNs in Colorado ready to take the next step in their careers by earning a post-graduate nursing certificate can peruse the comprehensive list of schools and programs below.

Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.