Azusa Pacific University FNP Programs

School of Nursing • Azusa, CA • Campus • $895/credit

Azusa Pacific University offers 2 Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner specialty (47 units) — also available as a combined MSN-FNP + School Nurse Services Credential (56 units)
  • Post-Master’s FNP Certificate (36 units) — for master’s-prepared nurses

It’s a faith-based program offered across three Southern California campuses (Azusa, Inland Empire, and San Diego), with flexible scheduling — evening lectures, part-time options, and summer courses — at a flat $895 per unit. All paths prepare graduates for California NP certification and the national FNP exams.

Program Tracks Overview

Program NameEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN FNP$42K Not clearly stated
MSN FNP + School Nurse Credential$50KNot clearly stated
Post-Master’s Certificate FNP$32KNot clearly stated

Azusa Pacific is one of the few programs that lets nurses pair Family Nurse Practitioner preparation with a California School Nurse Services Credential in a single master’s — taught in a flexible, faith-based format across three Southern California campuses.

MSN FNP

The estimated cost for the MSN FNP at Azusa Pacific University is about $42,000 in tuition (47 units at $895 each); the combined MSN-FNP with School Nurse Services Credential runs 56 units, or about $50,120.

The program’s length is not clearly stated, as APU offers both full-time and part-time pacing.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN-FNP totals 47 units — an academic core, an advanced practice core (the “three Ps” plus the APRN role), the FNP specialty sequence, and a comprehensive exam.

Courses are taught in person with evening lectures, and the faith-based mission shows up in coursework like bioethics and spiritual concept analysis.

The combined MSN-FNP + School Nurse Services Credential adds 9 units of school-nurse coursework (curriculum development, and theory and practice in school nursing) plus a California-approved audiometry course, for 56 units total.

GNRS 504 — Bioethics and Healthcare Policy (3)
Examines ethical decision-making and policy development in healthcare systems, with emphasis on human rights and leadership responsibilities. Applies bioethical principles to real-world issues from a Christian perspective.

GNRS 506 — Spiritual Concept Analysis in Health Care (3)
Explores spiritual care concepts through research and analysis grounded in a Judeo-Christian framework. Encourages reflection on personal beliefs and understanding of diverse faith traditions.

GNRS 508A — Research and Theory in Advanced Practice Nursing (4)
Prepares nurses to integrate theory and research into practice. Covers research methods, theoretical models, and statistical analysis, with emphasis on evaluating and applying evidence.

GNRS 513 — Advanced Nursing Practice Role (2)
Focuses on role development and leadership in advanced practice nursing. Examines responsibilities across clinical, educational, managerial, and policy settings.

GNRS 610 — Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Builds advanced understanding of disease processes and diagnostic reasoning. Integrates clinical findings with pathophysiology and introduces population-based health concepts.

GNRS 611 — Advanced Pharmacology (3)
Covers advanced pharmacologic principles, including drug actions, safety, prescribing, and pharmacogenomics. Emphasizes culturally responsive care and medication adherence.

GNRS 612 — Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4)
Develops advanced assessment and diagnostic skills across diverse populations. Focuses on health promotion, risk reduction, and culturally informed care strategies.

GNRS 601 — Primary Healthcare I: Adult and Aging (3)
Applies advanced clinical knowledge to diagnose and manage common conditions in adolescents, adults, and older adults. Explores treatment options and complex case management.

GNRS 602 — Primary Healthcare II: Population-based Health Interventions (3)
Introduces population health approaches to care. Emphasizes social determinants, cultural competence, and data-driven strategies for patient education and risk reduction.

GNRS 603 — Primary Healthcare III: Restorative and Palliative Interventions (3)
Focuses on chronic illness management, palliative care, and patient communication. Addresses care transitions, prognosis, and support for patients and caregivers.

GNRS 590D — Primary Health Care of the Young Family (3)
Covers pediatric and family-centered care from infancy through adolescence. Emphasizes development, prevention, and culturally informed management of common conditions.

GNRS 600 — Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience (12 clinical units)
Provides supervised clinical training with required patient care hours. Builds competency in advanced practice roles, documentation, and professional performance.

GNRS 597 — Comprehensive Examination Directed Study (1)
Prepares students for comprehensive exams by integrating clinical, research, and theoretical knowledge. Strengthens critical thinking through guided study and discussion.

More curriculum details are available here.

MSN Clinicals

Clinical training is delivered through GNRS 600 Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience (12 clinical units), with students enrolling in 2–6 clinical units per semester. A total required clinical-hour count is not clearly stated.

  • Clinical course: GNRS 600 Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience (12 units)
  • Pace: 2–6 clinical units per semester, with faculty approval
  • Total clinical hours: not clearly stated
  • Population focus: primary care across the lifespan
  • Scheduling: customizable clinicals designed to fit around work

MSN Admissions

Admission requires a BSN and an active RN license.

  • BSN from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Prerequisite coursework: health assessment, pathophysiology, nursing research, statistics, nursing leadership, and community health nursing
  • Copy of RN license status
  • Written statement (one to two pages) of professional goals
  • Current résumé and two professional recommendations (managers, supervisors, or faculty — not coworkers)
  • $45 application fee

Deadlines: Fall (August) start — priority April 1, final June 15; Spring (January) — priority October 20; Summer (May) — priority April 10. Up to 9 units of prior graduate work may transfer into the MSN.

Post-Master’s Certificate FNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate FNP at Azusa Pacific University is about $32,220 in tuition (36 units at $895 each), and the program’s length is not clearly stated, with part-time, evening, and summer options available.

Certificate Curriculum

The certificate is a 36-unit, non-degree option for master’s-prepared nurses. It carries the advanced practice core (the three Ps plus the APRN role) and the FNP specialty sequence, without the MSN’s academic core or comprehensive exam. Nurses with prior graduate coursework — or current NP, CNS, or nurse-midwife certification — may petition to challenge or waive courses.

  • GNRS 513 — Advanced Nursing Practice Role (2)
  • GNRS 610 — Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
  • GNRS 611 — Advanced Pharmacology (3)
  • GNRS 612 — Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4)
  • GNRS 601 — Primary Healthcare I: Adult and Aging (3)
  • GNRS 602 — Primary Healthcare II: Population-based Health Interventions (3)
  • GNRS 603 — Primary Healthcare III: Restorative and Palliative Interventions (3)
  • GNRS 590D — Primary Health Care of the Young Family (3)
  • GNRS 600 — Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience (12 clinical units)

More curriculum details are available here.

Certificate Clinicals

Clinical training runs through the same GNRS 600 Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience (12 units), at 2–6 clinical units per semester. A total clinical-hour count is not clearly stated.

  • Clinical course: GNRS 600 Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience (12 units)
  • Pace: 2–6 clinical units per semester, with faculty approval
  • Total clinical hours: not clearly stated
  • Population focus: primary care across the lifespan
  • Scheduling: customizable clinicals designed to fit around work

Certificate Admissions

The certificate is designed for master’s-prepared nurses.

  • Master’s in nursing from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited program (BSN and MSN transcripts), with a cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Copy of RN license status
  • Written statement of professional goals, current résumé, and two professional recommendations
  • $45 application fee
  • Current NP, CNS, or nurse-midwife certification holders may challenge or waive applicable courses

Deadlines: Fall start — priority April 1, final June 30; Spring start — priority July 1, final September 30.

Tuition

APU charges $895 per unit for its FNP programs. That puts the 47-unit MSN-FNP at about $42,065, the 56-unit combined MSN-FNP + School Nurse Services Credential at about $50,120, and the 36-unit post-master’s certificate at about $32,220 — tuition only, before course fees. The rate is the same regardless of residency, and up to 9 units of prior graduate work may transfer into the MSN.

APU is a Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly school, and the Nurse Faculty Loan Program can forgive up to 85% of loans for graduates who go on to teach nursing.

See the official cost page for more details: Graduate Cost of Attendance.

Accreditation

Azusa Pacific University’s baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the university is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. APU’s nurse practitioner program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. FNP graduates may apply to the California BRN for nurse practitioner certification and are eligible to sit for national FNP certification through the AANP or the ANCC.

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