Program Description

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree in nursing or a doctorate in nursing practice from an accredited nursing program
• Minimum 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s) of all previous graduate coursework¹
• Active, unrestricted registered nurse license in the state in which practicum hours will be completed
• Curriculum vitae
• Goal statement (no more than 250 words) describing reasons for seeking the certificate in the identified specialty and professional goals (starting with spring 2026 admission term, goal statement is no longer required)
• Admission essay is required starting with spring 2026 admission term responding to the following questions (two pages, double spaced, 500 words):
  • How do you plan to contribute to the nursing profession and healthcare community after earning your M.S.N. degree?
  • How has your experience, professional development and service within the profession contributed to your readiness for graduate education?
  • What experience do you have working as a nurse caring for the underserved, high-risk, or vulnerable populations?
• Syllabi of all courses to considered for transfer in the gap analysis
• Three professional letters of reference from healthcare professionals, either a supervisor and/or an advanced practice nurse who can speak to the applicant's professional capabilities
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

For applicants who have not practiced as an advanced practice registered nurse within the two-year period preceding application to the certificate, completion of graduate-level courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment must not be greater than five years old at the time of the student's first semester of course registration in the certificate.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: March 1
• Spring Semester
  • Priority deadline: October 1
• Summer Term
  • Priority deadline: March 1

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by these deadlines will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Meet standards for advanced practice certification or other advanced professional distinction.
2. Demonstrate competencies based on professional standards to assume advanced roles in nursing and for leadership and career advancement, including doctoral study.
3. Communicate, integrate and apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills to provide equitable, evidence-based and inclusive nursing care, and to promote quality outcomes in nursing and health care.

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Mostly online
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Meet standards for advanced professional distinction.
2. Demonstrate competencies based on professional standards to assume advanced roles in nursing and for leadership and career advancement, including doctoral study.
3. Communicate, integrate and apply advanced nursing knowledge and skills to provide equitable, evidence-based and inclusive nursing care, and to promote quality outcomes in nursing and health care.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree in nursing or a doctorate in nursing practice from an accredited nursing program
• Minimum 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s) of all previous graduate coursework¹
• Active, unrestricted registered nurse license in the state in which practicum hours will be completed
• Curriculum vitae
• Goal statement (no more than 250 words) describing reasons for seeking the certificate in the identified specialty and professional goals (starting with spring 2026 admission term, goal statement is no longer required)
• Admission essay is required starting with spring 2026 admission term responding to the following questions (two pages, double spaced, 500 words):
  • How do you plan to contribute to the nursing profession and healthcare community after earning your M.S.N. degree?
  • How has your experience, professional development and service within the profession contributed to your readiness for graduate education?
  • What experience do you have working as a nurse caring for the underserved, high-risk or vulnerable populations?
• Syllabi of all courses to considered for transfer in the gap analysis
• Three professional letters of reference from healthcare professionals, either a supervisor and/or an advanced practice nurse who can speak to the applicant's professional capabilities
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

For applicants who have not practiced as an advanced practice registered nurse within the two-year period preceding application to the certificate, completion of graduate-level courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment must not be greater than five years old at the time of the student's first semester of course registration in the certificate.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: March 1
• Spring Semester
  • Priority deadline: October 1
• Summer Term
  • Priority deadline: March 1

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by these deadlines will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Fully online