Online Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner (NP) Certification

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It’s in your nature to care — and to lead.

You’re already a master’s-prepared nurse. Now is the time to focus your career in a specialization that urgently needs experienced nursing leaders. Enroll in one of Maryville University’s online post-master’s nurse practitioner certificate programs and gain the clinical skills and knowledge you need to earn nurse practitioner (NP) certification in one of five critical areas: family practice, adult-gerontology primary care, adult-gerontology acute care, pediatric primary care, and psychiatric mental health.

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Access coursework 100% online with no campus visits required.

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Apply with no GMAT, GRE, or statistics needed.

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Choose from five concentrations.

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Complete clinicals locally in your preferred setting.

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Enjoy no waiting list once you’re accepted.

Five Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner (NP) Certificates

As the healthcare system evolves, new opportunities in holistic nursing leadership are steadily emerging. Now is the time to build on your current success and prepare for tomorrow with your choice of five online NP certificate programs.

A pediatric nurse practitioner with a patient

Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
(MSN FNPC)

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Nurse Practitioner smiling in camera with two patients in the background

Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
(MSN AGPCNPC)

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Nurses and doctor looking at x-ray

Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
(MSN AGACNPC)

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Female Nurse Practitioner doing a checkup on a child

Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Pediatric (Primary Care) Nurse Practitioner
(MSN PNPC)

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Family counseling session

Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN PMHNPC)

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Why Pursue Your Post-Master’s NP Certificate Online?

smiling nurse

Focus your nursing career on a high-demand specialization.

At Maryville, we’ve designed our 100% online postgraduate nurse practitioner programs to offer you a flexible, supportive, and convenient way to pursue NP certification in family practice, adult-gerontology primary care, adult-gerontology acute care, pediatric primary care, or psychiatric mental health. You’ll never have to come to campus, although we’d love to see you walk at graduation.

Keep working as you continue learning.

Our online nursing programs are structured so you can continue working while you complete your NP certificate. Upon graduating, you’ll have many career options available to you, including the opportunity to take the national nurse practitioner certification exam in your area of specialty.

What Can You Do With a Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate?

A post-master’s NP certificate can be a valuable credential for nurse practitioners looking to change or add to their specializations with certification in another area, such as family practice, adult-gerontology primary care, or pediatric primary care. In addition, earning a post-master’s NP certificate frequently results in career advancement and higher pay. By earning your post-master’s NP certificate online, you’ll become eligible to apply for national board certifications in your specialty area of choice.

Why Earn a Second Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate

Earning additional post-master’s NP certificates is a cost-effective way to expand your knowledge into other clinical specialties, increasing your value to employers and enabling you to provide high-quality care for a wider range of patients — or provide expanded services to existing patients. For example, a family practice nurse practitioner may earn a psychiatric mental health certificate to enhance their ability to care for the whole patient — body and mind. Each post-master’s NP certificate you earn will broaden your knowledge base and afford you more opportunities for career growth.

Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Career Paths

Completing your online post-master’s NP certificate at Maryville can qualify you for roles such as:

  • Family nurse practitioner (FNP)
  • Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP)
  • Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP)
  • Pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP)
  • Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)

In settings such as:

  • Educational institutions
  • Hospitals and clinics
  • Private practices
  • Outpatient care centers
  • Long-term care facilities

What Is the Typical Salary for an NP Post-Master’s Certificate Recipient?

According to PayScale, your online post-master’s NP certificate can qualify you to pursue careers with median annual salaries such as these:

Family nurse practitioner (FNP)

$97,000

Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP)

$90,000

Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP)

$96,000

Pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP)

$92,000

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)

$112,000

Career Outlook for Nurse Practitioners

Smiling nurse

Certified nurse practitioners are in high-demand

U.S. News & World Report ranked “nurse practitioner” third on its 2021 list of the 100 best jobs in America. That’s great news for the more than 220,000 nurse practitioners practicing in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects career growth to remain strong due to aging baby boomers and an increased focus on preventive care. With Maryville’s online post-master’s nurse practitioner certificate programs, you can gain the skills and experience to take full advantage of these opportunities.

What is the career outlook for NPs?

  • The BLS projects job openings for nurse practitioners to increase by a massive 52% between 2020 and 2030.
  • Psychiatric NP, general NP, and gerontological NP rank among the 15 highest-paying nursing careers, according to Nurseslabs.
  • The Association of American Medical Colleges expects the need for nurse practitioners to increase steadily due to an anticipated shortage of between 54,000 and 139,000 primary and specialty care physicians by 2033.
  • The median annual pay for nurse practitioners was $111,680 in 2020, according to the BLS.

Why choose Maryville for Your NP Post-Master’s Certificate?

When you choose Maryville University to earn your online post-master’s nurse practitioner certificate, you receive a flexible and highly regarded education from an experienced and accomplished faculty. Both U.S. News & World Report and Forbes have ranked our private, four-year institution as one of America’s best colleges. We’re also proud to have been named to the Military Friendly Schools list. Here are a few more reasons to choose Maryville for your online post-master’s nursing certificate:

  • Graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
  • Enjoy a flexible and convenient 24/7 online learning
  • Explore important topics that will help pave the way to a better future for yourself and the nurses who follow in your footsteps.
  • Conduct research via clinical inquiry courses that will challenge your assumptions.
  • Learn from an expert faculty of nursing leaders who openly share their experiences and insights regarding public health and the nursing profession.

We’re distinguished by our dedication to your success

Maryville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Forbes America's Top Colleges
Kiplinger Best College Values
CCNE Accredited

The Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate program at Maryville University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

Our students are finding success at Maryville – and so can you.

“Being brave is just doing it, just being here. Know that each class gives you what you need for the next class, and before you know it, you’ll be like me, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.

— Felecia W., Maryville Grad

Insights from our Faculty

We’ve asked Mykale Elbe, director of the MSN nurse practitioner program and assistant professor of nursing, for her thoughts on the post-master’s NP certificate programs. Here are her responses:

A post-master’s NP certificate allows for expansion of career opportunities and further training to better prepare students for areas they may already be practicing in that are outside of their original role.

Online Post-Master’s Certificate: Nurse Practitioner Programs Curriculum

If you’ve already earned your master’s degree in nursing and want to go further, specialize, or pivot in your nursing career, then a post-master’s certificate may be for you.

At Maryville University, we understand the breadth of the nursing profession and the specialization it takes to be a bold leader in the field. That’s why we designed our curriculum so you have five post-master’s certificate options to help you expand on your nursing career and practice where you want.

You can complete these certificate programs 100% online — the perfect format for working nurses who want to take their careers further and apply what they’ve learned on the job right away. See our curriculum page for details on each program.

Family NP

This 18-credit track features advanced courses in gerontology, pediatrics, and family health that can help you develop the skills necessary to become a family nurse practitioner and treat patients of all ages.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP

If you want to be a primary care NP who focuses on patients 13 and older, this 12-credit concentration can help you build the skills necessary to provide the best care possible.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP

Study advanced concepts related to acute care diagnosis and management and learn the skills to become an AGACNP in this 18-credit concentration.

Pediatric NP

If you want to devote your practice as a nurse to working with children, you can earn your online PNP certificate. This 15-credit track features advanced courses in health promotion, assessment, and diagnosis of children.

Psychiatric Mental Health NP*

Want to use your nursing degree to help diagnose, treat, and improve mental health? This concentration features 21 credit hours of courses in mental health assessment, diagnosis, and management.

To ensure the best possible educational experience for our students, we may update our curriculum to reflect emerging and changing employer and industry trends. Professional licensure and certification regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Students are encouraged to visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for the state in which they intend to practice to verify specific licensure requirements which includes ensuring the program of interest meets the licensure requirements prior to enrolling. Students may visit the professional licensure page or reach out to our team of enrollment advisors for guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nurse practitioners who hold a post-master’s NP certificate may pursue roles in a variety of settings, serving a wide range of patients. Completing your online post-master’s certificate in nursing can prepare you for careers such as:

  • Family nurse practitioner (FNP)
  • Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP)
  • Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP)
  • Pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP)
  • Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)

Find out more about career opportunities for post-master’s NP graduates.


Apply to the online post-master’s nurse practitioner certificate program at Maryville University.