Post-Masters Diploma Nurse Practitioner

Program overview

Get the skills you need to work as a community-based nurse practitioner with Athabasca University’s online Post-Masters Diploma – Nurse Practitioner.

This primary health care program will prepare you to diagnose and treat common illnesses and injuries in clients of all ages. When you graduate, you will be ready to provide care in settings such as primary care offices or community health centres.

Please note that this program does not prepare nurse practitioners to work in acute care settings or to focus on a clinical specialty. Nurse practitioners holding a license in a specialty other than Family-All-Ages may be eligible to complete the post-masters diploma program and should contact the program director to inquire about this option.

Program details

The Post-Masters Diploma – Nurse Practitioner is a 30-credit online graduate program. You must complete at least 12 credits through Athabasca University.

There are 3 intakes each year: in September, January and May.

• Application deadlines

All courses are online grouped study, with defined start and end dates. There is also a 1-week on-site component during the Health Assessment course.

You will write a comprehensive examination during the final course in the program. Following graduation you will be eligible to write the Family-All-Ages Nurse Practitioner exam. The program is recognized by all Canadian Colleges of Registered Nursing except Quebec.

Clinical practicums

Your clinical practicums are completed during each of the life-stage courses. All clinical practice must be completed in Canada and you must hold current registered nurse licensure in the province where you are completing your clinical practice program.

Completion times

Finish this program in as little 2 years of study. You can take up to 5 years to complete all requirements.

Admission requirements

You must have a master’s degree in nursing with a minimum grade point average of 3.2. You must also have a minimum of 4,500 verified hours of recent work experience as a registered nurse. Admission is competitive; meeting the minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission.

• See full Post-Masters Diploma – Nurse Practitioner admission requirements

Required courses

Detailed information about courses in this program can be accessed using the following link:

Tuition and fees

The Post-Masters Diploma – Nurse Practitioner has:

• an application fee
• a program admission fee
• a laboratory fee
• per-credit clinical fees

Tuition is then paid on a course-by-course basis.

• See all Post-Masters Diploma – Nurse Practitioner fees

Application deadlines and start dates