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We welcome your application for St. ��������'s Nurse Practitioner Post-Master's Second Certificate programs.

St. Kate’s has a streamlined admission process – no application fee, no GRE test – to accelerate your NP-Certificate onboarding experience. If you have questions along the way, don’t hesitate to contact your admission counselor. They’re here to help!

If you're applying for a DNP option (for individuals who don't have a graduate degree, or individuals who are master's prepared and wish to complete a DNP with second certificate), please use the instructions on this page.

We are currently accepting applications for 2025 enrollment in the Post-Master's Certificate options, for the following terms: 

• Summer 2025 (Neonatal and Psychiatric-Mental Health Certificates); classes begin the week of May 27
• Fall 2025 (Adult-Gerontology, Family and Pediatric Certificates); classes begin the week of August 25

The application deadline for all options is January 15. Please note that spaces are limited for some options, and admission is competitive. We strongly encourage candidates to submit the application and all required materials in advance of the deadline.

Eligibility

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree: A completed bachelor's degree from an institution that is accredited by one of the regional accrediting organizations (e.g. Higher Learning Commission).
• Graduate Degree: A completed master’s (MS) or doctoral (DNP) degree in an APRN program of study from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Grade Point Average: An undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) as well as a graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher each on a 4.0 scale, and a grade of not less than 'B-' in every nursing course. Applicants who do not meet these requirements should provide an explanatory statement along with the required admission essay, with rationale for an exception to the requirement. If you are unsure of your cumulative GPA, please use these as a guide to help you determine if an explanatory statement is necessary.
• Nursing License: A current, unencumbered RN license (and APRN license, if applicable).
• Work Experience: 
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health: At least one year of experience as an APRN in a patient care setting.
  • Neonatal: At least two years of NICU bedside nursing experience.
  • Adult-Gerontology, Family or Pediatric: At least one year of clinical experience as an RN or APRN.
• Prerequisites: Specific prerequisite courses are required for the Post-Master's Certificate options; review the next section for details.

State-level restrictions

Due to state-level regulations, we are unable to enroll students who will be residing in any of these states while enrolled in a Certificate option: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. This restriction also applies to individuals residing in Canada while enrolled.

Application form

Please read the application instructions below before completing the online application at the bottom of this page.

Admission essay

Prepare an essay that demonstrates written communication skills and clarifies your purpose in pursuing a Post-Master's Certificate. Do not exceed two typed, double-spaced pages:

• Describe a situation when you or your care team had a significant impact on a patient or group of patients. Choose an experience that relates to your Nurse Practitioner area of interest.
  • What impact did you have from your perspective?
  • What was the impact from the patient’s perspective?
  • How were you transformed by this experience?

If you have already submitted the application form, you may upload your essay via your Application Status page (instructions for accessing the status page were provided at the time you submitted the application). Please include your full name at the top of the essay.

If you wish to submit the essay prior to the application, or if you are unable to upload the document to your Application Status page, you may send the essay as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu with “Post-Master's Certificate Essay” in the subject line.

Explanatory statement

If you are an applicant who does not meet the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement or received a grade of C+ or lower in any nursing course, please include an explanation of factors that affected previous academic performance, as well as your plan to ensure academic success in a graduate program. This statement should be limited to 400 words and is in addition to the essay described above.

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Submit a current résumé highlighting professional and volunteer experiences.

If you have already submitted the application form, you may upload your résumé via your Application Status page (instructions for accessing the status page were provided at the time you submitted the application).

If you wish to submit the résumé prior to the application, or if you are unable to upload the document to your Application Status page, you may send the résumé as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu with “Post-Master's Certificate ��é���ܳ�é” in the subject line.

Admission Video

Using , record a 5-7 minute video addressing the topics below.  For best results, consider recording from a desktop computer or with your phone on a tripod or other stable surface, in a well-lit space with limited background noise.

You may wish to use notes for your talking points, but don’t be concerned about providing a scripted or polished presentation – this is meant to be informal and conversational. The goal is to help the admission committee get to know you, so feel free to be casual and comfortable.

• What types of clinical experience have you had? (comment specifically on experience related to your Nurse Practitioner area of interest)
• Address the reasons why you are pursuing a Post-Master's Certificate, including any experiences that have contributed to your interest. Explain how you plan to use this certificate in your career or practice.
• What qualities about the St. Kate's Mission & Vision attract you to study here? 
• Tell us briefly about your leadership roles and/or any involvement with professional organizations.

To submit your video: After submitting the application form, you will receive instructions for logging into your Application Status page. On that page, click on the link to the “Video Statement” form in your Application Checklist. Add or verify your contact information, and add the YouTube link in the field provided. Please make sure that the share settings on your video are “everyone” or “anyone with the link.”

If you have any questions, or need any special accommodations to complete the Video Statement requirement, please contact the Graduate Admission office (graduateadmission@stkate.edu).

Recommendations

One recommendation is required for Post-Master's Certificate applicants. The recommendation should be from a professional in a clinical setting. Personal references are not acceptable.  Please complete the Recommendations section of the application form, including name/contact information for your recommender, before you submit the application form. Recommender information cannot be added to the application after it has been submitted.

A link to the recommendation form will be sent when the Recommendations section of the application form has been completed. Please alert your reference in advance to expect an email from St. ��������. This is a confidential recommendation submitted directly from the reference to the Office of Graduate Admission; applicants who wish to view the recommendation are responsible for making the appropriate arrangements with their reference.

Transcripts

To review your admission file, we'll need transcripts from the college or university from which you earned your bachelor's and graduate degrees (and associate degree, if applicable), as well as the institution where you completed the prerequisite courses (if other than your graduate degree-granting institution). St. Kate's will review your admission file and make offers of acceptance using unofficial transcripts uploaded by you to your St. Kate's admission portal. However, official transcripts sent directly from your bachelor's and graduate degree-granting institution(s) are required, (as well as associate and prerequisite institutions, if applicable), and must be received before registration for courses is allowed.

Need assistance finding out how to order your official transcripts?  Contact your admission counselor for help!  See contact information at the bottom of this page.

All documents must be up-to-date and include your name, institution name, all courses taken with grades and degrees received (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded using your applicant status page (a link is sent once you’ve started an application) or sent as an attachment to graduateadmission@stkate.edu.  

To be considered official, electronic transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing college or university to St. Kate's (at graduateadmission@stkate.edu). Paper transcripts must be mailed in a sealed envelope directly from the registrar of each institution to the Office of Graduate Admission at St. �������� (see address below).

TOEFL/IELTS scores

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to complete the (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the IBT, or the (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5. This requirement is waived for students who have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the United States.

Credential evaluation

Applicants with a college or university degree completed outside of the United States must submit an official course-by-course evaluation from or . Original transcripts and official translations of all documents not in English must also be included. All costs related to document translation and evaluation are the applicant’s responsibility.

Interview

A virtual, synchronous interview may be requested by the Admission Committee, if needed for clarification of the information provided in the application materials.

Submitting materials

Please review all application instructions. Once you’ve submitted the online application, you will have access to your Application Status page to upload any supporting documents (instructions for accessing the status page were emailed at the time you submitted the application). If you are unable to upload electronic documents to your Application Status page, you may send items as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu. Paper documents may be mailed to:

St. ��������
Graduate Admission #4027
2004 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their application is completed by the deadline. The Admission Committee will not review your application until we have received all required documents. Fulfillment of the admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. No credentials will be returned to the applicant.

The following information pertains to applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Email your admission counselor at any time, or call us during office hours (8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).

Contact an admission counselor