This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2026-2027 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
The 21-credit Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner is designed to prepare master’s- or doctorate-prepared nurses already established in advanced practice to obtain the education and experience to certify in an enhanced scope of practice. Students will incorporate new skills and knowledge to care for individuals across the lifespan with common acute and chronic illnesses. The program will educate students in the concepts of health maintenance across the lifespan. Students will develop knowledge in the diagnosis and management of illness and will learn to provide advanced nursing care to patients from infancy to geriatrics. Graduates will be prepared to obtain a health history, conduct physical examinations, order and interpret diagnostic studies (e.g., lab tests, scans, X-rays), make a differential diagnosis, prepare a case management plan, prescribe medications and treatments, collaborate with physicians and other health professionals, and counsel patients on health behaviors and treatment options.
Upon completion of the certificate program, graduates will be able to sit for the family nurse practitioner certification, which is a prerequisite for Virginia state licensure application. Certification is offered by the American Nurses Certification Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Program goal
The goal of the VCU School of Nursing post-professional Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner is to prepare advanced practice registered nurses for dual certification in the nurse practitioner F.N.P. role specialty.
Student learning outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- Synthesize knowledge and theories from nursing and related sciences to improve health outcomes for individuals, population and systems
- Demonstrate leadership to foster interprofessional collaboration that advances health care practices and influences health policies
- Integrate evidence and organizational science into practice to enhance outcomes
- Demonstrate core competencies in the F.N.P. advanced practice specialty
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Spring | Rolling admissions |
Note: There are no specific test requirements for this certificate.
To be considered for admission to the School of Nursing, applicants must:
- Be eligible for readmission or be in good standing at the last college or university attended.
- Meet the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School.
- Submit a complete application with all required materials to the School of Nursing.
- Have an earned master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from an accredited nursing school (e.g. ACEN, CCNE, CNEA.) Applicants with entry to practice-level master's degrees are not eligible for this program.
- Have a current Virginia or multi-state R.N. license at the time the admissions application is submitted (applicants without an R.N. license in the U.S. should consult with the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and the Virginia Board of Nursing for the steps needed to obtain a Virginia R.N. license.)
- Have completed four separate comprehensive nursing graduate-level lifespan courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology and advanced practice nursing roles.
- Provide additional information with the application according to the English language proficiency guidelines for applicants who are international or non-native English speakers without a degree from a U.S. high school, college or university (additional information can be found on the ‘Required materials’ tab of the VCU International Admissions website.)
Degree requirements
Twenty-one graduate credit hours are required for the post-professional Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner.
In addition to general VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, a candidate for the post-professional certificate must be recommended by the faculty and must:
- Meet academic requirements of the Graduate School
- Complete all requirements for the prescribed curriculum within six calendar years of the first registration for work to be credited toward the degree
- Earn a minimum grade of B or pass grade in all nursing courses
- Earn a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all work presented for graduation
- Conform to School of Nursing policies with respect to pass/fail grading for course work or thesis study
The degree will be granted only after all requirements have been fulfilled and all fees to the university have been paid. Degrees are not granted in absentia unless a written request is made to the dean and permission is granted.
Curriculum requirements
Students in nurse practitioner certification certificate programs are required to have completed advanced health assessment, pharmacotherapeutics, pathophysiology and advanced practice nursing roles courses. A gap analysis is required to determine a specific plan of study.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 673 | Primary Care of Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric Populations | 3 |
| NURS 692 | Primary Care of Pediatric Populations | 3 |
| NURS 714 | Primary Care of Special Populations | 3 |
| NURS 735 | Family Primary Care Practicum I | 1 |
| NURS 736 | Family Primary Care Practicum II | 2 |
| NURS 743 | Family Primary Care Practicum III | 2 |
| NURS 752 | Family Primary Care Practicum IV | 2 |
| NURS 754 | Management of Complex Patients Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| NURS 763 | Family Primary Care Practicum V | 2 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this certificate is 21.
Students who complete the requirements for this program will receive a Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Contact
Debra Shockey, D.N.P., RN, CPNP-PC
Clinical associate professor and graduate program director
dpshockey@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1930
Additional contact
Fonda Neal
Educational program coordinator for doctoral programs
fneal@vcu.edu
(804) 828-0836
Program website: nursing.vcu.edu/programs/dnp