Application Information

Qualifications

Eligible applicants are those who:

  • Hold a degree of Master of Science in Nursing (or higher) from a nationally accredited nursing program and regionally accredited institution.
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on graduate degree work (Provisional admission may be considered if the overall GPA is 2.75-2.99 depending upon space available and other qualifications).
    • A minimum overall nursing GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Hold an active, unrestricted RN license in the state where the student plans to complete clinical hours.
  • Transfer students must provide a letter of good standing from the Nursing program in which currently enrolled or left incomplete.

PMHNP Certificate Programs Applicants

Students must provide evidence of completion of three separate comprehensive graduate-level course courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacotherapeutics, and advanced physical assessment.

AANP Exam Requirements

Please see the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) site for additional information.

American Nurses Credentialing Center (AANC) Exam Requirements

  • As part of the admission process, program faculty will review PRIMARY SOURCE DOCUMENTS (i.e. syllabi and course descriptions) from the time of student completion in order to assure evidence of completion three separate comprehensive graduate-level courses in APRN Core Courses (3P’s) Successful completion of the of the 3 P’s that include the following criteria (as defined by the ANCC) are required to sit for the ANCC Certification Exam:
    • Advanced physiology/pathophysiology, including general principles that apply across the lifespan; lifespan is defined as prenatal through old age and death.
    • Advanced health assessment, which includes assessment of all human systems, advanced assessment techniques, concepts and approaches.
    • Advanced pharmacology, which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories of agents.
    • For more information, please review the APRN Core Courses.

Additionally, PMHNP Certificate Program students must provide evidence of national certification and licensure as an APRN.

  • for the NEL Certificate Program: must have two years of practice experience at the RN level or higher.

National certification requires a minimum 500 clock hours of direct patient care in the advanced role and population. However, some students may have accrued appropriate supervised academic clinical  hours prior to admission. Therefore, the program will be personalized via gap analyses (see Appendix 1) to determine the number of clinical practicum hours required of each student. Any hours accrued prior to admission must have been academically supervised and completed in an appropriate psychiatric mental health setting (as detailed above). The number of practicum hours required to complete this program are equal to 9 academic credits (540 clock hours), based upon the gap analysis. Students will be responsible for committing to and scheduling clinical hours each semester with guidance from the track coordinator, taking into consideration his or her home and work commitments.

Students must satisfactorily complete background checks and drug screens upon admission.

New program applicants with a positive drug screen will be ineligible for admission to the program and will forfeit their admission “seat.” Please see the WVU SON Drug and Alcohol Screening Policy and the Health Information and Credential Documentation Policy.

Course offerings have been carefully tailored for adult learners to meet synchronously or asynchronously based on student feedback and course-specific content.

Note:  Any student who has been dismissed from the West Virginia University School of Nursing or any other nursing program may be considered for readmission if the dismissal was academic and was followed by successful completion of an additional degree. Any student who has withdrawn from the WVU School of Nursing program may be considered for readmission. Students may apply for readmission in accordance with the following guidelines and criteria but must follow the standard admission procedures. Students must meet all original admission requirements.

Apply To WVU

Depending on prerequisites completed, entry term into the program will vary from student to student. Students will be reviewed for admission on a rolling basis until July 1. Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions as they are reviewed.

Apply Now

  1. Click on the Apply Now button above.
  2. Please select the following options on the New Application screen:
    • Type of Student: Certificate
    • Which Program: Select your Post-MSN Program
  3. You will be asked to select a Progression Plan on the Nursing Application. The Post Graduate certificate is only offered as a full-time program.
  4. On the Supplemental Materials screen, you will upload the following:
    • Current curriculum vita or resume

Request Official Transcripts from All Colleges and Universities Attended

  1. It is preferred that official transcripts be sent via an online, secure service such as eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or Parchmentto graduateadmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
  2. Alternatively, sealed, untampered, physical official transcripts can be sent directly to: WVU Graduate Admissions, P.O. Box 6510, Morgantown, WV 26506-6510. 
  3. Current or former WVU students do not need to send transcripts from the Morgantown, Beckley, or Keyser campuses.
  4. Applicants who completed prior education outside of the U.S. must have their transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES).  Please request a “course-by-course” International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).

Note: Certificate seeking students, with approval from the certificate program, may transfer up to 6 of the required credits for a graduate certificate from a different institution or applied from another previous or concurrent WVU degree or certificate. Individual course credits may be applied to no more than two degrees, majors, or certificates. Courses applied to a certificate must have been completed no more than seven years prior to certificate conferral.

Acceptance

Candidates for admission are evaluated on the entire admission packet. The WVU School of Nursing accepts new Post-MSN Certificate students on a rolling admission basis and will review all qualified applications based on admission criteria. Acceptance is dependent upon space available in the program with the most qualified applicants being accepted at the time of review. Decisions will be emailed to students. Accepted students will receive information regarding orientation and course registration.

Enrollment in nursing courses is based upon readiness, availability of space and other essential resources.

Clinical rotations with approved preceptors in the final year of your program must be arranged with course faculty. Due to potential preceptor limitations, students may have to travel out of their local areas to their clinical sites and are required to provide their own reliable transportation. 

Gap Analyses

Some students applying to certificate programs may have accrued direct patient care hours prior to admission. Upon request, the student’s program of study will be personalized via gap analyses to determine the number of clinical practicum hours required of each student. Any hours accrued prior to admission must have been academically supervised and completed in a setting and population appropriate to the certificate program in which the student is enrolled. Students must obtain a completed Verification of Qualifying MSN Clinical Hours and Gap Analysis form from the director of their previous program within the first semester of enrollment.

If an application for admission into a graduate program is denied, the applicant may request the reasons for refusal of admission by writing to the specific graduate program coordinator (see Academics page). Note that meeting the minimum requirements for admission into a graduate program does not ensure admission. An applicant may appeal to the graduate program coordinator for reconsideration if the applicant can document either factual errors in processing the application or that the decision was arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory in nature. Appeals must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date of the admission denial. If the matter is not resolved satisfactorily within 30 calendar days of the receipt of the appeal by the graduate program coordinator, the applicant may appeal to the dean of the college or school. The decision of the dean, as the provost’s designee, shall be rendered within 20 calendar days of the receipt of the appeal and is final. Please see Graduate Admission Denial.

Contact info for director of Admissions and Enrollment:

 

Orientation

Students are required to attend an online orientation session prior to the start of the semester.