The graduate certificate programs are offered to advanced practice registered nurses who are interested in obtaining certification in another patient population focus. Upon successful completion of a graduate certificate program, the student can sit for the national certification exam for their chosen population focus. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing graduate certificate programs offered include Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC), Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PHMNP). Post-graduate certificate students must demonstrate the same national advanced nursing practice concentration competencies required of all students in the nurse practitioner tracks at the degree-granting academic institution. An extensive gap analysis of previous coursework will be conducted to determine if additional courses are required to meet the competencies and program outcomes. The gap analysis will consist of a thorough review of documents, such as previous transcripts, course objectives, syllabi, and documentation of supervised clinical hours.
Applicants for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC) post-graduate certificates start their studies in the Spring semester. They will complete the post-graduate certificate in four semesters, including the summer term. The Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) post-graduate certificate program starts in the summer term and is completed over three semesters. Students are required to complete graduate certificate programs within 2 years.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) - At the completion of a graduate certificate program, students will be able to:
- Utilize nursing science with knowledge from other disciplines to implement evidence-based advanced nursing practice.
- Integrate core professional behaviors to provide ethical and equitable care in advanced nursing practice.
- Lead interprofessional teams to coordinate person-centered and population-based healthcare.
- Translate critically appraised evidence from nursing and related sciences into advanced nursing practice.
- Utilize relevant information systems and technology to drive decision-making in advanced nursing practice.
- Evaluate improvement science initiatives designed within diverse health systems.
The graduate certificate programs are distance education (DE) programs. All students in a graduate certificate program must abide by the nursing board and state regulations in the state where the student resides and/or will be completing the clinical experiences. Distance Education programs in the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, cannot currently admit students from the states of Alaska, Arizona, and California due to state educational restrictions.
Graduate certificate students may only complete a clinical practicum in the state of their official residence and licensure. It is the responsibility of the graduate student to ensure the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing has a state authorization with their state of residence. Students may complete clinical practicum in states other than their official state of residence only if they cannot obtain authorization in their state of residence and it is agreed upon among the student, Concentration Coordinator, Graduate Clinical Coordinator, and Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs.
Students who reside in Knoxville, Tennessee, will be offered clinical site placements with verified preceptors through the collective efforts of the student, Concentration Coordinator, and Graduate Clinical Coordinator and assisted with clinical site placement and preceptor verification in other areas of Tennessee. We make every effort to support students outside of Tennessee in ensuring clinical placement; however, due to regulatory requirements or a lack of available preceptors and sites, the CON may be unable to accommodate clinical placements in other states.
If a student moves during their time in the graduate certificate program, it is their responsibility to:
- Update their official residence address on file with the University through MyUTK.
- Notify the College of Nursing Graduate Programs at congrad@utk.edu and the concentration coordinator.
Students who reside outside of Tennessee and plan to complete a clinical placement in a state other than Tennessee will need to take additional steps to comply with the requirements of that state. Before applying to and beginning a program, you should become familiar with your state’s licensing and professional requirements and that of the state in which you plan to reside as a practitioner. You may also email the College of Nursing Graduate Programs at congrad@utk.edu. The University cannot guarantee that its DE programs in the College of Nursing will meet all the requirements for licensure in any particular state. If the student moves from the state of Tennessee after admission to the program, continuation in the program will depend on the availability of the program within the new state where the student physically resides.
You can find additional information about pre-licensure distance education requirements in individual states, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website.
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