Admission Procedures Admission Eligibility Admission Requirements

Transfer Residency Requirement Academic Policies Completion Requirements

To receive the Post-Master’s Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) at the University of North Georgia (UNG), students must successfully complete up to 46 credit hours of family nurse practitioner coursework, including all clinical courses plus Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Physical Assessment if not already taken at the graduate level. An individualized plan of study is developed based on the student’s earned master’s degree.

Graduate Studies’ Admission Procedures

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Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Studies or from UNG’s website www.ung.edu/graduate/PostMasterFNP. Applicants must pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Studies, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. After the posted application deadline and upon review, a letter from the MS degree program will be sent to the application verifying acceptance or denial. In some instances, the applicant may be requested to come to Dahlonega for an interview or testing.

Students who are admitted to UNG but do not enroll within one year of acceptance must reapply through Graduate Studies. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned. These materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files and for three years for completed and accepted applicants who did not enroll.

Post-Master’s Cert in FNP General Admission Eligibility

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1. Master of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution with a nationally accredited school of nursing.
2. One year post-licensure clinical work experience in the United States.
3. Current unencumbered Georgia Registered Nurse license. 

Post-Master’s Cert in FNP Admission Requirements

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 The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Studies Application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative grade point average.
4. Current profession resume or vitae.
5. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the United States.

In accordance with Board of Regents’ policy, the following documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the term:

1. UNG Immunization Certificate. Former North Georgia and Gainesville State students are required to submit documentation for any new immunization requirements since last attended.

The following documents must be received prior to the first day of the initial term for which the student is enrolled:

1. Copy of Georgia Registered Nurse (RN) license.
2. Proof of FNP student liability insurance.
3. Completed Accident/Illness Waiver form.
4. Evidence of current CPR certification.
5. Criminal background check.
6. Completed Department of Nursing Medical form. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure all requirements are up to date.

Students who have not submitted all of the above documentation prior to the first day of the term will not be allowed to attend until all documentation has been received. Students are responsible for all course material and for all announcements and assignments. The decision to permit students to make up work that is required in any missed class resides with the instructor.

Transfer Residency Requirement

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To be awarded a Post Master’s Cert in FNP, students must earn a minimum of 12 hours of graduate degree requirements in residence. The program coordinator and the Dean of the College of Health Sciences & Professions must approve all transfer credit. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of less than a B was earned.

Post-Master’s Cert in FNP Academic Policies

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Academic Progression

Graduate nursing students progress through the program of study as long as a minimum of a B is earned in each graduate course. Some course grades are comprised of a theory or didactic component as well as a preceptorship component. A satisfactory (S) in preceptorship must be achieved for the student to earn a course grade of B or higher. Also, exams must average a minimum of 75 prior to other grades being added or averaged into the course grade. If less than a 75 average on exams is earned, the student will receive a C or less for the course and must repeat the course, if eligible to do so.

Academic Standing Policy

Graduate nursing students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

1. Probation — A student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
   b. Student earns a U or any other grade below B.
   
   No student may be a candidate for the degree or sit for the comprehensive examination while on probation due to a grade point average below a 3.0. Probation will be removed when the student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher. In cases where the student is placed on probation due to grade(s), probation will be removed when the course(s) is/are repeated and the grade is S or B or greater, and the overall grade point average is 3.0 or greater. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.
    
2. Suspension — A student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student earns two grades below B (including U’s).
   b. Student has already served three consecutive terms on academic probation.

Those students who believe that their academic progress was affected by extenuating circumstances may appeal the suspension to the Nursing Progression and Retention Committee. No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. If suspended, a student must apply to the Graduate Studies for readmission. Students seeking to reapply who have been suspended must submit a new application to Graduate Studies and a letter written to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences & Professions presenting a rationale for their readmission. They will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean and the program coordinator. 

Academic and Professional integrity Policy

At the end of each semester, the program faculty or the program coordinator may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan should be signed by the student and the program coordinator with copies forwarded to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences & Professions.

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Integrity

The Post-Master’s Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academics portion of the Graduate Catalog.

Post-Master’s Cert in FNP Completion Requirements

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1. Completion of designated semester hours in approved plan of study with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no grade of less than a B.
2. Completion of at least 12 semester hours in residence.
3. Completion of all certificate-related course requirements, including any transfer credits, within a six-year period.