Admissions

Below are the minimum program requirements for a graduate certificate program at UCF:

• Fulfill general UCF graduate admissions requirements. Visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog for details.
• Passed an undergraduate statistics course.
• Degree(s) from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent:
  • Earned a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing or non-nursing field for the interdisciplinary Healthcare Simulation and Hispanic Serving Healthcare Professionals certificate programs.
  • Earned an MSN degree (or higher) for the nurse educator and nurse practitioner certificate programs.

For the nurse practitioner graduate certificate programs only:

• Must be licensed APRN in the State of Florida. **If you do not meet this requirement, please refer to the post-baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs for AGACNP, AGPNP and FNP.
• Must have completed prerequisite courses for the respective program: AGACNP, AGPCNP, FNP

International Applicants

Applicants who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Please note: Online programs do not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status. If you have questions, please contact the International Services Center at global.ucf.edu or call 407-823-2337.

AGACNP, AGPCNP and FNP Certificate Programs

The nurse practitioner post-graduate certificate programs for APRNs are taught primarily in Florida. If there are online components allowed during this certificate program, you may enroll in these online components as long as you will be physically located in a Nurse Licensure Compact state for the duration of your education. 

UCF College of Nursing faculty are authorized to teach in Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) states. Due to nursing education restrictions imposed by non-NLC states, UCF is unable to offer courses, clinicals, or other educational services regardless of modality within non-NLC states. Should you be physically located within a non-NLC state for more than a vacation or brief visit, regardless of your legal state of residence or the type of license you have, you will be unable to apply or continue your nursing degree program at the UCF College of Nursing. This includes, but is not limited to, students accepting traveling nurse positions in a non-NLC state. Although Colorado is a NLC state, the UCF College of Nursing cannot enroll students who will complete clinical practice hours there due to Colorado statute requirements for worker’s compensation insurance coverage.

Applicants may contact the College of Nursing’s Assistant Dean of Students with any questions regarding non-NLC states.

Healthcare Simulation, Nurse Educator and Hispanic Serving Healthcare Professionals Certificate Programs

Applicants must be physically located in a Nurse Licensure Compact state for the duration of their education.

UCF College of Nursing faculty are authorized to teach in Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) states. Due to nursing education restrictions imposed by non-NLC states, UCF is unable to offer courses, clinicals, or other educational services regardless of modality within non-NLC states. Should you be physically located within a non-NLC state for more than a vacation or brief visit, regardless of your legal state of residence or the type of license you have, you will be unable to apply or continue your nursing degree program at the UCF College of Nursing. This includes, but is not limited to, students accepting traveling nurse positions in a non-NLC state. Although Colorado is a NLC state, the UCF College of Nursing cannot enroll students who will complete clinical practice hours there due to Colorado statute requirements for worker’s compensation insurance coverage.

Applicants may contact the College of Nursing’s Assistant Dean of Students with any questions regarding non-NLC states.

Please note: Online programs do not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status. If you have questions, please contact the International Services Center at global.ucf.edu or call 407-823-2337.

In addition to learning more about the programs and application process, you’ll gain tips on writing your essay, how often you need to come to campus (if at all) and more. Register now.

Before submitting your application and writing your essay, it is recommended that you schedule an appointment with an advisor to discuss the essay and your goals for graduate study. To schedule your appointment, contact the College of Nursing’s Graduate Student Services Office.

• Official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) reflecting prior education, recent clinical and/or practice accomplishments, any recent scholarly work (publications, presentations, grants and/or research participation), awards and scholarships received, additional professional certifications, volunteer activities, and membership, leadership and activities with professional organizations and community service organizations. For recent graduates, this can include accomplishments as a student.
  • For Hispanic Serving Healthcare Professionals applicants, CV should also reflect licensure/certification in a healthcare field and service to your organization (interpreter, preceptor, charge nurse, etc.).
• Three (3) professional recommendations.
• Written essay (see below)
• Note: GRE is not required.

Your essay will need to address the following and meet the requirements below.

Note: Essay is not required for application to the Hispanic Serving Healthcare Professionals certificate program.

1. Describe your future career plans and how the program to which you are applying will help you achieve your career goals.
2. Describe the changes you would make in your personal and professional life to ensure success in your graduate nursing education.
3. Identify one significant contemporary issue or problem in U.S. healthcare and explore how members of the nursing profession can help address that issue or solve that problem.

Written essay requirements:

• Length:
  • 500 words or less for entire essay – not each question
• Double spaced
• 12-point Times New Roman font
• 1-inch margins

An interview with faculty may also be required.

Graduate Certificates

Admissions are decided by a committee of faculty and staff within the College of Nursing, based on an applicant’s overall GPA, GPA of the last 60 hours of undergraduate program, CV, and written essay (no essay required for Hispanic Serving Healthcare Professionals certificate).

Apply online at the UCF College of Graduate Studies.