Post-Master's Certificate in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan with Emergency Specialization

Certificate Level: Graduate
Admission Requirements: Master's degree
Certificate Type: Post-Master's
Number of Credits to Completion: 48.0 credits; 1,140 clinical hours
Instructional Delivery: Online
Calendar Type: Quarter
Expected Time to Completion: 3 years
Financial Aid Eligibility: Not aid eligible
Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Code: 51.3801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 29-1171

NOTE: No applications will be accepted for the 2026–2027 academic year. Please check back in summer 2027 for an update. 

About the Program

The Family/Individual Across the Lifespan with Emergency Specialization program focuses on applying advanced-practice nursing knowledge — including physical, psychosocial and environmental assessment skills — to manage common health and illness problems of clients of all ages and their families in primary and emergency care settings. It emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention. Family nurse practitioners primarily practice in ambulatory care settings, such as primary care clinics, physician offices, HMOs, outpatient clinics, schools, nursing centers, emergency departments, long-term care facilities, industry, the armed services, public health departments, correctional institutions and home health agencies. Emergency nurse practitioners primarily practice across the emergency care continuum. This rigorous program provides the education and skills necessary to function as a competent nurse practitioner and leader in primary and emergency care. In addition to preparing students for the primary care role across the lifespan, this program prepares students with the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures skills specific to the emergency care setting. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the ANCC’s Family Nurse Practitioner Examination and/or the AANP’s Family Nurse Practitioner Examination. In addition, graduates are eligible to sit for the AANP’s Emergency Nurse Practitioner Examination.

The nurse practitioner faculty is committed to quality and excellence in the nurse practitioner (NP) programs. Students meet on campus for mandatory on-campus intensive (OCI) learning experiences, simulation, and evaluation. Students will attend an in-person on-campus intensive in NURS 536 for one day during week one of the winter quarter. Students will attend an in-person on-campus intensive in NURS 673 for two days during week one of the winter quarter. Dates are subject to change. Mandatory on-campus visits are essential to students transitioning into the NP role. During the OCIs, students engage in simulated clinical learning experiences conducted in the College of Nursing and Health Professions' state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary patient simulation lab. These visits provide direct guidance and mentoring from faculty and the opportunity to collaborate with peers.

Admission Requirements

• A master's degree in nursing from a program fully accredited by NLN and/or CCNE is required for all applicants with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
• One to two years experience in ED, critical care or urgent care or trauma experience as an RN or APRN. ACLS, BLS, PALS is required.
• Two professional references are required from previous or current supervisors, managers, nursing faculty members or providers who can attest to the applicant's clinical knowledge, skill and potential aptitude for graduate study. References will not be accepted from colleagues or family members.
• An unrestricted United States RN license or eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse. An unrestricted Pennsylvania RN license or eligibility for licensure in the State of Pennsylvania is required, regardless of the state in which the student resides.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Program Requirements

Sample Plan of Study

* Note: This term is less than the 4.5-credit minimum required (considered half-time status) of graduate programs to be considered financial aid eligible. As a result, aid will not be disbursed to students this term.

Additional Information

For more information about this program, contact:

Graduate Nursing Division

CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu

Additional information is available on Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions webpage and on the Drexel University Online webpage.