Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Post-Master’s Certificate is designed as a non-degree course credit option for nurses with a master’s degree in nursing.¹ This clinical area of content and advanced practice prepares nurses to work in acute, primary, or long-term care settings. This program provides theory and clinical experiences to prepare the nurse for certification by the state of California and for national certification as an adult clinical nurse specialist.

Program Highlights

• Graduates may apply for national certification through examination by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and may be eligible for California advanced practice certification.
• The program is designed for the working professional, offering evening lectures and customized clinical experiences.
• Students may enroll part-time and take advantage of summer courses.
• Clinical experiences include health care services for diverse cultural/ethnic groups, the poor, the underserved, and the homeless.
• Students may receive traineeships (partial tuition reimbursement) when available through a federal grant.
• Students receive personalized attention in a supportive Christian environment from faculty who are experienced as clinical nurse specialists or nurse practitioners in a variety of settings.
• Financial aid is available through scholarships and loans.

Learn more about the program and our faculty.

School of Nursing Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice at Azusa Pacific University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The traditional baccalaureate nursing program, upper-division transfer (2+2/LVN to BSN) programs, entry-level master’s program, and the nurse practitioner program are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Azusa Pacific University (APU) is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).