Post-Master’s Nursing Certificates 

About the Program

Open the door to new career opportunities with Post-Master’s Nursing Certificates from Vanderbilt University. Designed for nurses who already hold a master’s or doctoral degree, these certificates provide an educational route to earning another specialization. The PMC program builds upon your established clinical skills and knowledge, allowing you to expand and explore new professional opportunities. 

An individualized program of study is developed for each PMC student based on the student’s prior education and a gap analysis of courses or experiences needed to qualify for their specific specialty. Those selecting clinical specialties will benefit from a combination of didactic and clinical experiences that will enable them to master the required competencies and meet the criteria for national certification. Note: Not all specialties require clinical experiences, and some do not offer national certification. 

 A wide variety of advanced practice specialties are available for PMC students to choose from, including Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Emergency NP, Family NP, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP, and more.   

Key Takeaways  

• Propel your career forward or make a complete career pivot with a certificate from a top-ranked university 
• Build an individualized program of study based on your academic history, skills, and experiences 
• Choose from a variety of in-demand advanced practice certifications, such as Psychiatric-Mental Health NP, Pediatric NP – PC, Nurse-Midwifery, Women’s Health/Gender-Related NP, and more 
• Learn in a flexible hybrid format that combines online learning with in-person simulations, assessments, and clinical sessions 
• Gain access to an extensive nurse faculty practice network and state-of-the-art facilities 

Who Should Enroll?

The Post-Master’s Nursing Certificates program from Vanderbilt University is for nursing professionals who want to change or expand their current roles. Nurses interested in an area outside the specialization obtained during their master’s or doctoral programs can build upon their prior education and clinical knowledge to earn additional specialization in 13 specialties, including nursing education.  

PMC applicants must have a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing and have certain prerequisite courses from an accredited college or university.  

The academic specialty director will develop an individualized curriculum plan for the student based on an evaluation and gap analysis of their prior academic work. PMC and MSN students share classes and complete the academic and clinical requirements of their specialty together. The PMC student receives a certificate of academic achievement and is eligible to take the national certification exam for that specialty (if offered) upon certificate completion.