Family Nurse Practioner
The Post-Masters Nurse Practitioner Certificate Programs are designed for students who already have their Master's degree in Nursing. Courses are offered online and one evening per week. Clinical hours are arranged with individual preceptors. Program completion prepares you to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Certification Exam. We have the following programs:
Admission
Admission to the Post Masters Family Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Anesthesia programs are open to graduates of masters nursing programs from institutions of higher education that are fully accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agencies and either NLNAC (National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission) or CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education). Applicants must hold a current Ohio registered nurse license. (Nurse Anesthesia applicants may hold an unencumbered current registered nurse license from states other than Ohio). Admission shall not be denied on the basis of race, religion, age, sex, color, disability, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, marital or veteran status.
Applications for admission will be reviewed once per year by the Nursing Professional Review Committee. The most qualified applicants will be selected on a space-available basis.
Admission Criteria (Family Nurse Practitioner)
- Baccalaureate and Master's degrees from an institution of higher education that is fully accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency.
- Baccalaureate degree from a NLNAC and/or CCNE accredited undergraduate nursing program.
- Masters degree in nursing from a NLNAC and/or CCNE accredited graduate nursing program.
- Current licensure as a registered nurse in Ohio.
- Evidence of capacity for graduate study. A blended cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 for all undergraduate and graduate studies is required.
- Congruence of the applicant’s goals with the objectives and resources of the Otterbein University Nursing Department.
- Two years full-time or part-time equivalent nursing work experience within the last five years.
- Ability to articulate one’s professional goals and express one’s self clearly as evidenced by the admission essay.
Admission Procedure (Family Nurse Practitioner)
Materials required for admission to the Post Masters Program must be submitted to the Graduate School at the address listed below. All contents of the admission file become the legal property of the University and are not returnable or transferable.
- Complete the graduate Application for Admission.
- Request official transcripts from all previous colleges or universities attended be sent to the Graduate School. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the Graduate School. If hand-delivered, transcripts must be in an unopened envelope from the issuing institution.
- Submit a professional resume.
- Give an Otterbein University Graduate Nursing Recommendation Form to two individuals that can support your application to pursue graduate studies (one reference from an RN is preferred). At least one should be from an employer. If the applicant has been in school during the last five years, the other recommendation should be from a nursing professor. Otterbein University reserves the right to contact persons providing recommendations and to contact the recommender to acknowledge receipt of a recommendation.
- Submit a 2-4 page essay (typewritten, double-spaced). The essay should: Summarize professional background. Discuss professional goals and how these goals can be achieved in the Post Masters NP Program. Describe past experiences and reflections that have influenced these goals. Describe personal contributions that can be made to the nursing program and wider community. This essay should be carefully prepared and edited since it is considered an important component of the admission application.
- Provide a current Ohio RN license number on the Application for Admission form. The Graduate School will verify current Ohio RN licensure on the Ohio Board of Nursing website and a copy of the license verification will be added to the student file.
- Optional but strongly encouraged: Schedule an appointment with the Nursing Admissions Advisor in the Graduate School for program information.
All admission materials including transcripts must be submitted to:
Otterbein University
The Graduate School
Roush Hall, Room 208
1 South Grove Street
Westerville, OH 43081
Admission Process (Family Nurse Practitioner)
To be considered for full admission in the Post Masters NP program, all admission materials must be submitted to the Graduate School according to the published deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all materials have been submitted by the appropriate deadline. Check with the Graduate School at 614-823-3210 or the website for admission deadlines.
The completed application materials are reviewed by the Nursing Professional Review Committee to determine whether the applicant is accepted into one of the Post Masters NP programs and may enroll in graduate course work. Admission and denial letters will be mailed by the Nursing Department to the applicants home address. Questions regarding the application process or admission status should be directed to the Graduate School at 614-823-3210.