Post Master's Advanced Certificate Program

About the Program

The College of Nursing at SUNY Upstate Medical University is the only college in the Syracuse area exclusively designed to further educate registered nurses (RNs), offering bachelor's, master's, post master's, and continuing education programs.

The College of Nursing's Post Master's Advanced Certificate Program offers three tracks: nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator.

These three- and four-semester programs enable master's prepared nurses to take advantage of career opportunities available to nurses with specialized training.

Our flexible programs, with many evening classes, make it possible to combine work, family and school responsibilities.

Expert faculty guide clinical learning under the preceptorship of experienced nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians in primary care settings throughout Central New York.

The College of Nursing has clinical contracts with more than 80 institutions and agencies. Students are expected to arrange their own preceptored sites with advisement from College of Nursing faculty.

The College of Nursing will accommodate students' interests as long as the settings and preceptors meet the requirements of the post master's program. Although every effort is made to accommodate a variety of work and family schedules, applicants should plan to enter the program when they have adequate time to fulfill the required clinical hours.

Fast Track Option

Currently certified nurse practitioners seeking certification in a second specialty area, who have appropriate academic and clinical experience as well as proven ability to work independently, may complete the post master's program within 12 months. This is achieved through a combination of independent study and prescribed course work. In addition to meeting entrance and program requirements, each applicant qualifying for this option must have a minimum of 1000 hours of recent clinical experience.

The Center for Continuing Nursing Education in the College of Nursing awards a certificate upon successful completion of the post master's program.