Colorado Technical University offers 2 Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN-FNP (68 quarter credits) — master’s, for BSN-prepared RNs
- Post-Graduate FNP Certificate (26–52 quarter credits) — for MSN-prepared nurses in a non-FNP role
Both are delivered online through CTU’s virtual campus, in five-week courses, with required hands-on weekend labs in Colorado at the start and end of the program. Each includes 630 direct-care clinical hours and prepares graduates to sit for FNP national certification.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN FNP | $39,475 (68 cr × $540) | ~9 terms (~1.75 years) |
| Post-Graduate Certificate FNP | $15K–$30K (26–52 cr × $540) | ~3–7 terms |
CTU offers a fully online, accelerated FNP at the master’s and post-graduate certificate levels — five-week courses with hands-on Colorado weekend labs — built for working nurses who need flexibility.
MSN FNP
The estimated cost for the MSN FNP at Colorado Technical University is about $39,475 in tuition (68 quarter credits at $540 each), and the program runs about nine terms (each term is two five-week sessions), roughly 1.75 years.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-FNP is 68 quarter credits — a 16-credit MSN core (evidence-based practice, informatics, policy, population health) plus a 52-credit FNP concentration covering the “three Ps,” the NP role, FNP didactic courses (adult/geriatric, women’s health, pediatrics), and three practicums with a lifespan lab.
Core (16 credits)
- NRSG612 — Integrating Theory and Research for Evidence-Based Practice (4)
- NRSG615 — Healthcare Informatics and Technologies (4)
- NRSG617 — Policy and Politics in Nursing and Healthcare (4)
- NRSG625 — Promoting and Preserving Health in a Diverse Society (4)
FNP Concentration (52 credits)
NRSG650 — Advanced Pathophysiology for the Nurse Practitioner
Builds advanced understanding of physiology, pathology, and disease across the lifespan for nurse practitioner practice.
NRSG651 — Advanced Pharmacology for the Nurse Practitioner
Covers pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics across the lifespan for advanced practice nursing.
NRSG652 — Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner
Develops advanced physical assessment skills for patients across the lifespan.
NRSG653 — Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner Lab
Lab course applying advanced physical assessment skills through hands-on competency verification.
NRSG654 — Role of the Nurse Practitioner
Examines the nurse practitioner role, scope of practice, and regulatory requirements in advanced practice nursing.
NRSG655 — FNPI Advanced Nursing Practice: Care of the Adult, Geriatric, and Frail Elderly
Applies advanced practice knowledge to holistic, evidence-based care of adult, geriatric, and frail elderly patients.
NRSG656 — FNPII Advanced Nursing Practice: Women’s Health
Applies advanced practice knowledge to holistic, evidence-based care of women across the lifespan.
NRSG657 — FNPIII Advanced Nursing Practice: Pediatrics
Applies advanced practice knowledge to holistic, evidence-based pediatric care.
NRSG660 — FNPI Practicum: Advanced Nursing Care of the Adult, Geriatric, and Women Patients
Supervised practicum applying advanced practice skills in care of adult, geriatric, women, and pregnant patients.
NRSG661 — FNPII Practicum: Advanced Nursing Care of the Pediatric Patient
Supervised practicum applying advanced practice skills in pediatric care.
NRSG662 — FNPIII Practicum: Advanced Nursing Care Across the Lifespan
Integrates evidence-based practice, policy, informatics, and FNP competencies in advanced care across the lifespan.
NRSG663 — FNPIII Advanced Nursing Care Across the Lifespan, Lab
Lab course verifying advanced nursing competencies through hands-on FNP skills demonstration.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The program includes 630 direct-care clinical hours across three practicums, plus hands-on labs in Colorado.
- Total hours: 630 direct-care clinical hours
- Practicums: adult/geriatric/women’s, pediatrics, and across the lifespan
- On-campus: weekend labs in Colorado at the start and end of the program
- Population focus: primary care across the lifespan, including underserved and vulnerable populations
- Assessment lab: requires a face-to-face clinical competency verification with faculty
MSN Admissions
Admission requires a BSN, an RN license, and one year of recent direct-care experience.
- BSN from an institutionally accredited institution
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 over the last 90 quarter (60 semester) hours (2.75–2.99 may be provisional)
- Active, clear, unencumbered U.S. RN license
- Minimum one year of recent direct-care nursing experience
- Current resume
Provisional admits must pass their first two MSN courses with a 3.0 GPA for full admission. Confirm your state is on CTU’s eligible-licensure list before applying.
Post-Graduate Certificate FNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate FNP Certificate at Colorado Technical University runs about $15,205–$30,305 in tuition (26–52 quarter credits at $540 each), depending on prior MSN coursework.
Duration ranges from about three to seven terms.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is for MSN-prepared nurses in a non-FNP role and covers the same 52-credit FNP concentration as the master’s — the “three Ps,” the NP role, FNP didactic courses, and the three practicums.
Nurses already in an APRN role (in a non-family focus) may transfer applicable courses, reducing the total to as few as 26 credits.
- NRSG650 — Advanced Pathophysiology for the Nurse Practitioner (4)
- NRSG651 — Advanced Pharmacology for the Nurse Practitioner (6)
- NRSG652 — Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner (4)
- NRSG653 — Advanced Physical Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner Lab (2)
- NRSG654 — Role of the Nurse Practitioner (3)
- NRSG655 — FNP I: Care of the Adult, Geriatric and Frail Elderly (6)
- NRSG656 — FNP II: Women’s Health (2)
- NRSG657 — FNP III: Pediatrics (2)
- NRSG660 — FNP I Practicum: Adult, Geriatric and Women Patients (8)
- NRSG661 — FNP II Practicum: Pediatric Patient (6)
- NRSG662 — FNP III Practicum: Across the Lifespan (7)
- NRSG663 — FNP III Across the Lifespan, Lab (2)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate carries the same 630 direct-care clinical hours as the MSN.
- Total hours: 630 direct-care clinical hours
- Practicums: adult/geriatric/women’s, pediatrics, and across the lifespan
- On-campus: hands-on labs in Colorado
- Population focus: primary care across the lifespan
- Scope: actual credits set by review of prior MSN coursework
Certificate Admissions
The certificate is for nurses holding an MSN in a non-FNP concentration.
- MSN (non-FNP concentration) from a programmatically accredited program
- MSN GPA of 3.0
- Active, clear, unencumbered U.S. RN license
- Resume showing one year of recent direct-care experience
Final credit count and cost are set after a review of prior MSN work. Confirm your state is on CTU’s eligible-licensure list before applying.
Tuition
CTU charges $540 per quarter credit for the MSN-FNP and FNP certificate (2026 rate). That puts the 68-credit MSN-FNP at about $39,475 total, and the certificate at roughly $15,205 (26 credits, for APRNs in another focus) to $30,305 (52 credits, for non-APRN MSN holders).
Note CTU bills in quarter credits, so credit totals run higher than semester-credit schools. Additional fees include a one-time $170 student setup fee, a $265-per-term technology fee, and a $200 graduation fee.
See the official tuition schedule for current rates: Tuition and Fees.
Accreditation
The Master of Science in Nursing and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate (Family Nurse Practitioner) programs at Colorado Technical University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. FNP graduates are eligible to sit for national FNP certification through the ANCC or the AANP.
Note: CTU has determined the curriculum does not meet licensure requirements in several states (including California, Louisiana, New York, and Washington), so applicants should confirm their state is eligible.
Consider More Family NP Programs in Colorado
- Colorado Mesa University - Grand Junction
- Regis University - Denver
- University of Colorado, Colorado Springs - Colorado Springs
- University of Colorado, Anschutz - Anschutz
- University of Northern Colorado - Greeley