Overview
The Parent-Child Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Post-Master’s Credential is designed as a non-degree course credit option for nurses with a master’s degree in nursing.* 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 a Parent/Child Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).
The School of Nursing offers additional post-master credentials and graduate nursing programs to help you meet your educational goals.
*Students may be given transfer credits for previous content completed in a master’s degree program.
Benefits and Distinctives
- Graduates may apply for national certification through examination by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and may be eligible for certain California certifications.
- 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
Azusa Pacific University receives accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In addition, the School of Nursing's programs earn accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the California Board of Registered Nursing.
University Reputation
Azusa Pacific University held its place for the second year in the most prestigious category of the U.S.News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2009, ranking in the third tier of the national category. Additionally, for the first time, APU ranked ninth among the best up-and-coming national universities. Previously, APU was ranked in the top 25 schools within the Western Universities-Master’s category, enjoying prominent placement and recognition for outstanding first-year and service-learning programs.
According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine, APU ranked number 6 in the nation in awarding the most master’s degrees to Hispanics. In addition, The Princeton Review included APU as 1 of 120 colleges in the 2009 Best in the West category.
