Adult/Gerontology and Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) Post Master’s

Prerequisites
Prerequisites for either program includes evidence of graduate course work in advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacology. Interested applicants who do show evidence of these pre-requisite courses should consult the College of Nursing and Health Sciences course schedule.
Clinical Experiences
All students in the 21-credit option must complete 560 hours of documented clinical experience. Students in the 12-credit option must complete 280 hours of clinical experience in the in the chosen specialty. All practicum experiences are subject to the approval of the certificate program coordinator and the agency providing must be under contract with the UMass Boston College of Nursing. Students are advised that preceptors must be either Master’s prepared NPs, or MDs with current licensure.
Students need to contact the program director in order to arrange their practicum. Prior to beginning the clinical practicum all students are subject to clinical clearance required of all students in the generic master’s program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should indicate in their statement of interests and intent whether they are applying to the Family or Gerontology/Adult Nurse program of study 12- or 21-credit options. Only currently certified NPs can be considered for acceptance into the 12-credit option. A personal interview may be required; the Chair of the Graduate Admissions Committee will inform applicants of their admission to the program.

In addition to the general admission requirements for all graduate studies programs listed in the "Admissions" section of the Graduate Admission Application (pdf), prospective students applying to the post master’s nurse certificate programs must also meet the following requirements:

  1. A master’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE approved graduate program in nursing.
  2. A minimum cumulative grade point average in undergraduate work of 2.75.
  3. A minimum cumulative grade point average in graduate work of 3.0.
  4. Evidence of passing grades of B or better in graduate level courses in Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology and Advanced Health Assessment within the past 7 years.
  5. A current unrestricted Massachusetts license in nursing or a current license in another state in which the student lives or is doing their clinical practicum.
  6. Evidence of at least two years of strong professional nursing experience.
  7. Evidence of clinical placement commitments (necessary to fulfill the clinical objectives of the certificate) for master’s-prepared nurse practitioners.
  8. Evidence of national certifications in advanced practice nursing specialty.
  9. Applicants are not required to submit Graduate Record Examination Scores.
Applications may also be obtained from:
Graduate Admissions Office
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393
Tel 617.287.6400