Clinical Nurse Specialist Certificate
The clinical nurse specialist graduate certificate is designed to provide advanced practice nurses with preparation as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and for nurses who hold a master’s degree in nursing and are prepared for other roles or population groups. The student will choose one of the following populations: adult-gerontology or pediatric.
Program Type
Graduate Certificate
Program Format
On Campus, Online
About the Clinical Nurse Specialist
Expand your knowledge and patient population with the 18-credit CNS Certificate. Practicum placements at UWM School of Nursing are a collaborative effort with students. Graduates of the CNS certificate, with a population focus on adult-gerontology or pediatrics will be eligible to take the national CNS certification exams in adult-gerontology or pediatrics offered by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC, 2013) or by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACCN) Certification Corporation.
Upon successful completion of the CNS certification exam, graduates may choose to apply for prescriptive privileges in the state of Wisconsin as an Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber or APNP. Currently, CNS certification exams are not available for maternal/infant populations.
Gainful Employment
This certificate program is subject to federal gainful employment regulations.
Due to new federal financial aid regulations, beginning with the summer 2017 term, students who had not previously been awarded federal financial aid at UWM and are enrolled in a standalone certificate program will no longer be eligible for federal Title IV aid. Students in a standalone certificate program who are seeking financial assistance may be eligible for private loans. Private loans are not guaranteed as they are subject to lender approval including a credit check.
FastChoice is a tool that will help you learn what to look for when shopping for a private loan. At the end of the short tutorial, it will provide a comparison shopping tool allowing you to sort, filter, and compare up to five lenders at one time.
Upon applying for the loan of your choice and being approved, the UWM Financial Aid Office will be notified by the lender to provide enrollment information. At such time the loan will be added to your financial aid award.
For previously enrolled students who have been awarded federal financial aid, see the Gainful Employment Certificate Disclosure Information: Gainful Employment Certificate Disclosure Information.
The CNS certificate consists of 18 credit hours of coursework. All courses are three credits each and are offered in a three-semester sequence so the program can be completed in 12 months. The three practicum courses vary by population focus and must be taken sequentially. The three theory courses vary by population focus, and the plan for theory coursework must be approved by the CNS option coordinator. The three courses must be graduate-level (700 or above) and provide content across the continuum from wellness through acute care for the selected population.
A minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Clinical – Nine credits required
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I – Adult Gerontology | NURS 832 | 3 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum II – Adult-Gerontology | NURS 833 | 3 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum III – Adult-Gerontology | NURS 834 | 3 |
Theory – Nine credits required
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Nursing Adult-Gerontology Chronic Illness | NURS 702 | 3 |
| Advanced Practice Nursing Adult-Gerontology Acute Illness | NURS 703 | 3 |
| Advanced Practice Nursing Adult-Gerontology Critical Illness | NURS 704* | 3 |
| Process of Aging | NURS 760* | 3 |
Clinical – Nine credits required
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum I – Pediatric | NURS 817 | 3 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum II – Pediatric | NURS 818 | 3 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist Practicum III – Pediatric | NURS 819 | 3 |
Theory – Nine credits required
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Therapeutics for Acute/Critical Illness in Children | NURS 6640 (Marquette) | 3 |
| Human Development: Theory and Research | ED PSY 640* | 3 |
| Development of the Family Over the Life Span | SOC WRK 771* | 3 |
| Advanced Practice Nursing-Care of the Child and Family | NURS 766+ | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Care of Children with Special Health Care Need | NURS 746+ (UW-Madison) | 3 |
+Students can choose NURS 766 or NURS 746
The admission requirements of the Clinical Nurse Specialist graduate certificate are consistent with those requirements specified by the UWM’s Graduate School. The admission requirements for the advanced practice certificate programs are in transition. Contact School of Nursing Student Affairs Academic Advisor prior to submitting an application. In addition, students must also meet the following requirements for the School of Nursing (more details in the application)
- A master’s or doctoral degree in Nursing from an accredited program providing preparation as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist.
- Certification in their current advanced practice registered nurse specialty as applicable.
- Completion with a grade of B or better of a graduate-level course in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment. Evidence of current prescriptive authority in the state of Wisconsin will be accepted in place of advanced pharmacology.
- Current registration as a Registered Nurse in the state of Wisconsin.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation, two (2) of which are from persons most knowledgeable about the applicant’s recent academic and work experiences.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Personal statement that includes rationale for certificate study and career goals.
- Personal interview with a faculty member may be requested.
- One year of clinical experience relevant to the chosen specialty.
- All applicants- even those already enrolled in a UWM graduate program- must apply to the UWM Graduate School through the Panthera admission application.
- Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the Panthera application before completing six credits in the certificate sequence.
- A master’s or doctoral degree in Nursing from an accredited program providing preparation as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, or certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Time Limit
The certificate program time limit is one year from the time of enrollment.
May 15
(Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis per space availability)