Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies — Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

For admission to the program, an applicant must have:

• A master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program by either Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
• A post-graduate grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better
• A valid nursing license in the state in which you intend to complete your clinical experience
• Current American Heart Association Certification for Healthcare Providers in CPR (BLS)

Application Requirements

For consideration for admission, the following application materials must be submitted:

• Completed MCPHS Application
• Official college transcripts from every college attended
• 1 professional letter of recommendation
• Photocopy of current RN license
• Resume (may be included within application or as a separate document)

Once all supporting documents are received, your application will be complete and ready for review by the Admission Committee. Application materials can be mailed to the address below:

Online Programs
MCPHS University
Admission Office
179 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115

Students in the FNP CAGS program must have evidence of successful completion of the following courses:

• Advanced Pathophysiology across the lifespan
• Advanced Pharmacology across the lifespan
• Advanced Health Assessment across the lifespan
• Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse Scholarship for Advanced Nursing
• Building an Evidence-Based Practice
• Human Diversity Social and Policy Issues
• Translating and Integrating Scholarship Practicum

The courses must have been completed with a letter grade of B or higher at an accredited 4 year academic institution. Students who have not completed the academic equivalent of these courses previously will be required to take the course in order to complete the CAGS.

*Students who have completed a previous Masters in Nursing Nurse Practitioner Program that included a distinct Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner role course and are currently licensed as a Nurse Practitioner may not be required to complete this course. Please contact the School of Nursing for additional information. 

Residency Requirement

In addition to coursework, the FNP CAGS program requires students to attend three on campus residencies, generally which are 1-3 days in length. These residencies include: a new student orientation, a second year residency which takes place prior to entering track specific clinical coursework at the beginning of Year Two, and a final residency that coincides with the student's graduation.

MCPHS accepts nursing students into its programs from the following states:

Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C.

Admission into a nursing program is dependent on program availability in the state where the student is physically located at the time of matriculation. If a student moves to a different state after matriculation, continuation within the program will depend on the availability of the program within the new state where the student is physically present. It is the student's responsibility to notify the University of a change in physical presence. Program availability is subject to change.

The online testing in the program is monitored and proctored by ProctorU. Learn more about ProctorU using the information below.

• Create an Account
• Watch a Demo
• Schedule Exam
• Test Your Equipment