Nursing Post-Master's Certificate

About this field

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) play a crucial role in the medical system as clinicians with expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions. NP’s emphasis is on health promotion, management, and disease prevention. They work in a variety of settings including hospitals, health care provider offices, clinics, schools, academia, and other environments in which medical care is rendered. Students in the Valdosta State University Post-Master's certificate program develop critical thinking skills, gain an appreciation for diverse cultural perspectives, and learn how to address policy disputes and social problems related to health care. Upon completion of the program, Valdosta State Post-Master's students assume leadership in the fields of nursing and health care, making a positive impact on their communities and touching people’s lives every day.

The Valdosta State Difference

Our Post-Master’s program allows student with prior master's in nursing degrees to choose certificates from two advanced practice nursing tracks: Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Psych-Mental Health Nurse practitioner. The program is a hybrid/online model which may consist of 5 weekend class meetings during the fall and spring semesters, and 4 weekend college meetings during the summer.

Application Deadlines

Prior to admission to any graduate program at Valdosta State University, applicants must first submit a completed application packet to the Graduate School. A completed application packet includes official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, completed application form, fee, and any additional program requirements (listed below), submitted by the admission deadline. To be considered for the preferred term, all required materials must be received by the Graduate School no later than the close of business on the deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to allow adequate time for document submission and to ensure receipt of documents.

Admission Deadlines

• Fall Deadline: May 15
• Spring Deadline September 15

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program, an applicant must have:

graduated from a NLNAC-accredited or CCNE-accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point scale.

evidence of a valid (current, unencumbered) nursing license.

three letters of recommendation from persons whose observations of the applicant’s character and abilities are current. Letters of recommendation must be accompanied by the required General Graduate Recommendation Form.

POST-MASTER'S CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

In addition to the admission criteria listed above, applicants who have a master's degree in Nursing and who have graduated with at least a 3.0 GPA may be admitted to the department's Nurse Practitioner (FNP or FPMHNP) Post-Master's Certificate Program. Because these certification programs utilize past learning experience to satisfy some course requirements, programs of study are highly individualized and tailored to the needs of the students. Therefore, the applicant must meet with the School of Nursing's Graduate Nursing Program Director to complete a gap analysis and design a program of study for post-master's requirements. Out-of-state applicants should become familiar with their state's regulations governing distance-accessible programs.

Transfer Credit

Courses considered for transfer must:

be no more than 7 years of age at the time of admission, unless otherwise approved by the program;

be earned at an institution that is regionally accredited;

be graduate-level courses; and

not exceed specific program limitations on total number of hours.

All transfer requests are subject to approval by the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research.

PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROBATIONARY STATUS

Students must be recommended for Probationary status by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Graduate Faculty. To be reclassified as Regular status, probationary students must, at a minimum, maintain a 3.0 grade point average in the first 9 semester hours of graduate coursework and meet any and all contingencies and conditions set forth by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

PROGRAM RETENTION, DISMISSAL, AND READMISSION POLICIES

Students must have documentation of current malpractice insurance of $1,000,000/$3,000,000.

Students must have documentation of current health and accident insurance.

Students must have documentation of current certification in American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR.

Students must maintain current, unencumbered nursing license.

Students must provide evidence of current health status:

Current physical examination (by a licensed health care provider) on admission, affirming that they are free from communicable disease and able to function safely in a clinical environment.

Immunizations: Documentation must include but is not limited to MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), tetanus toxoid, varicella titer, hepatitis-B vaccination, and PPD tuberculin test as required by affiliating clinical agencies.

MMR, serologic evidence of immunity or prior vaccination.

Tetanus toxoid must remain up to date during tenure in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The CDC recommendations for healthcare personnel are utilized by our clinical agencies. Adults who have completed a primary series of a tetanus/diphtheria-containing product (DTP, DTaP, DT, Td) should receive Td boosters every 10 years. Students younger than age 65 years with direct patient contact should be given a 1-time dose of Tdap, if Td booster is scheduled prior to admission or during tenure in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Varicella (chickenpox) requires serologic proof of immunity, prior vaccination, or documented history of varicella disease.

Hepatitis-B vaccination or proof of immunity (anti-HBs at least 10 mIU/ml) is required. Students who initiate the recommended series for admission must provide proof of maintaining scheduled 3-dose series (dose #1 now, #2 in 1 month, #3 approximately 5 months after #2).

PPD (tuberculin skin test) is required annually or proof of a negative chest X-ray (every 5 years).

Influenza vaccine annually is recommended, but not required.

Students may be subject to background check and drug screening at any point during the program.

Students must have a minimum grade of “B” in all nursing courses.

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all graduate courses.

Students receiving two grades of “C” or below (“D,” “F,” “WF,” or “U”) will be dismissed from the program. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission. 

The maximum time allowed for completion of the master’s degree is 5 calendar years. No work completed more than 5 years prior to degree completion will be accepted toward the degree, except with special permission from the student’s major professor and the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and approval from the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research.

No more than 9 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into a master’s-level graduate program. This credit must be documented in the form of an official transcript at the time of admission. Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission, by the academic department. To be eligible, credit must be no more than 7 years old prior to completion of the degree.

PROGRAM GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their expected graduation date.

A 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.

Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive examination.

For inquiries about the Post-Masters FNP track please email Dr. Dee Ott, FNP Program Coordinator, at ldott@valdosta.edu.  

For inquiries about the Post-Masters FPMHNP track, please email Jamil Davis, FPMHNP Program Coordinator, at jamildavis@valdosta.edu.