The Berkeley College Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization (MSN - FNP) program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is a national accreditation agency that identifies those nursing programs in the United States that exhibit effective educational practices. CCNE accreditation signifies quality education as it has recognized excellence, innovation, and best practices in Berkeley College's MSN program’s faculty, nursing curriculum, and lab facilities.

Importantly, CCNE's accreditation affirms Berkeley College's continued commitment to educating and graduating qualified nursing professionals who will be able to serve diverse communities.

CCNE accreditation ensures the quality and integrity of graduate programs in nursing. Accreditation by CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices.

Yes, as a graduate of Berkeley College’s CCNE accredited MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner Specialization program, you will be eligible to participate in the following certification examinations:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center Board Certification (ANCC)
• The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANP)

Both board certification examinations are nationally recognized as evidence of specialization in the nurse practitioner (NP) profession.

By earning a master’s degree in nursing, you have more options for upward mobility. Nurses possessing their MSN degree have the ability to:

• Achieve higher entry-level earnings
• Continue their education and carry out research
• Enter a stable career path that has many job opportunities
• Secure leadership roles
• Become an expert in the field while gaining the respect of your workplace colleagues
• Achieve personal fulfillment

The Berkeley College Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program offers nurse professionals the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge of nursing theory, research, informatics, and health policy. You will care to diverse populations and cohorts of patients in clinical and community-based systems, and implement safe and quality practices in a variety of settings and roles.

The Family Nurse Practitioner track does require individuals to be employed as a Registered Nurse in direct patient care settings.

Yes. All students wishing to apply to the MSN program are required to possess a current RN license. Make sure your license is current and unencumbered prior to submitting your application.

At least 60 days prior to enrolling in any clinical course, each MSN student must show proof of possessing a New Jersey RN license or an RN license from a state that is included in the Nurse Licensure Compact of the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators (ICNLCA).

Students are required to have a BSN degree from an accredited college or university including courses in statistics, research, and physical assessment. Applicants for the MSN program are expected to possess a solid academic foundation in the health sciences and extensive clinical preparation. All students wishing to apply to the MSN program are required to possess a current RN license.

At least 60 days prior to enrolling in any clinical course, each MSN student must show proof of possessing a New Jersey RN license or an RN license from a state that is included in the Nurse Licensure Compact of the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators (ICNLCA).

The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner program at Berkeley College is open to licensed professional nurses who possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and an unencumbered, unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the State of New Jersey or APRN certification from the State of New Jersey where the APRN is an upgrade of the RN license resulting in only one license that is both an RN and an APRN license. Applicants must also show proof of having completed courses in statistics, research, and physical assessment. Please see the MSN Admission page for additional information on Admission requirements.

Applications for the Family Nurse Practitioner program are considered for admission to the Woodland Park and Online MSN program for the fall, winter, and spring semesters. The application deadline is one week before classes begin. All admissions documents must be submitted by that date. If there is insufficient enrollment for a particular semester, applicants will be informed of the cohort cancellation and will have an opportunity to defer their application to another semester.

Applications are accepted on a rolling admission for all options. An offer of admission will be valid for 12 months from the start date of the program. Applicants denied admission will be allowed to reapply after 180 days.   

To accommodate varying schedules and work time commitments, the MSN program is offered in a hybrid format with lecture courses being conducted online in a synchronous format. The program also contains clinical courses, which are to be completed at off-site facilities that must be located in the State of New Jersey. Several courses contain a simulation requirement, which must be completed at the Woodland Park campus. 

No, the Program does not require applicants to submit GMAT or GRE scores.

The amount of time to complete the program will depend on your course load per semester. The sample program sequences provide more detailed information on the number of semesters necessary to complete the MSN program.

Your education at Berkeley will help you reach your potential in both personal and career goals. While Berkeley College cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific career outcome, such as a job title, promotion, or salary increase, we encourage you to explore potential jobs and employment settings. Earning an MSN degree can open up many new career options and increase your earning potential. There are numerous career paths for the Family Nurse Practitioner including:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Chronic Pain Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Case Manager
• Nurse Researcher
• Nurse Advocate
• Nursing Director/Manager/Coordinator

To learn more about funding your education, read our Guide to Financial Aid.

The MSN program is designed to allow the working nurse to advance in her/his MSN degree while continuing to work within the community. With the various course offering delivery formats, students can incorporate their course and student schedule into their professional life.

The Family Nurse Practitioner track requires 630 clinical practice hours and simulation training that will be conducted both on campus and virtually. All clinical rotations must be approved by the Graduate Nursing Department and must be completed in the State of New Jersey.

Yes, the MSN Capstone courses require students to complete a project related to their specialization. The project will incorporate a variety of weekly deliverables that measure the student’s progress toward meeting the program outcomes.