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Combined Master of Nursing/Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate (MN/PHCNP)

Accelerate your nursing career with a Combined MN/PHCNP Certificate

If you want to pursue the many career-enhancing opportunities open to Nurse Practitioners, but don’t already hold a Master of Nursing, our Combined Master of Nursing/Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate is for you.

In this program, you’ll earn a Master’s degree and prepare to write the College of Nurses of Ontario (external link) ’s NP – Primary Health Care (Ontario) exam at the same time.  

It’s a demanding, career-enhancing program that:

  • Prepares students to provide care to individuals, families and communities.
  • Provides opportunities to analyze and integrate theories, models, concepts, and frameworks from advanced practice nursing and related disciplines.
  • Incorporates principles of evidence-based practice and contributes to knowledge development for the role of the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner.
  • Prepares nurses to practice in an ethical and legal manner that reflects an understanding of human values, diversity, and health and social policy related issues.

Students who complete this program are well positioned to accelerate their careers in nursing as Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioners in a variety of practice and leadership roles and settings. 

Program at a Glance

Program Formats

  • Full-time (up to two years)
  • Part-time (up to four years)

In-Person Learning

Start Date

September Entry

Program Approval

College of Nurses of Ontario

Degree/ Credential Earned

MN/ PHCNP Certificate

Tuition Fees

Tuition fee details

Graduates of Toronto Metropolitan University's Combined MN/PHCNP Certificate program go on to become Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioners and work in:

  • Community health centres
  • NP-led clinics
  • Long term care
  • Palliative care
  • Aboriginal centres
  • Community-based facilities
  • Ambulatory care centres
  • Family health teams

Nurse Practitioners work in direct care, health promotion and the treatment and management of chronic health conditions.

They have an expanded scope of practice and can diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and perform certain procedures.

Preparing tomorrow’s health care leaders

Toronto Met’s Combined MN/PHCNP Certificate program is part of Canada’s largest nursing school. But it's our small classes, outstanding faculty, and unmatched sense of community that draws the country’s best and brightest nursing professionals here.

Conveniently located in downtown Toronto, the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing is a hub for advancing nursing knowledge and transforming nursing practice.

Our faculty members are leaders in their fields – researchers, clinicians, and gifted educators whose caring and commitment create an unparalleled learning environment.

Our students are smart, committed professionals preparing to take their careers to the next level in:

  • Leadership
  • Education
  • Advanced practice
  • Research
  • Public health and more

We offer them rich, rewarding opportunities for practice, education and research, and support their success with resources like our Advanced Health Assessment Lab, monthly research colloquia, Faculty Advisors, and dedicated Graduate Placement Coordinators.

Graduates from our programs go on to advanced practice and leadership roles across health care sectors and play an active role in shaping the future of our health system.

Courses in the Combined MN/PHCNP program prepare students to work as Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioners in a variety of practice and leadership roles and settings.

The curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in advanced theory, research, and clinical practice, integrating self-direction as an essential element in the role of the Nurse Practitioner.

Courses

The Combined MN/PHCNP Certificate is an intense, career-enhancing program that can be taken full or part-time. Students earn a master’s degree and prepare to write the College of Nurses of Ontario’s NP – Primary Health Care (Ontario) exam concurrently.

The program is comprised of 4 required Master of Nursing courses and 7 required Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate courses.

Full-time students have up to 2 years or 6 terms to complete their courses. 
Part-time students have up to 4 years or 12 terms. Classes run year-round.

The curriculum prepares students to apply legislative and ethical models to a variety of practice situations through assignments, seminar discussions, and clinical practice. These may include consultation, prescriptive authority, the ordering of laboratory and diagnostic tests and the certification of death.

Evidence-based practice principles are incorporated into each course to help students assess, diagnose, and manage health issues appropriately. Strategies to influence health and social policy are also incorporated.

Students develop their capacity to contribute to knowledge development through critical questioning. 

To be considered for the Combined Master of Nursing/Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (MN/PHCNP) Certificate program, you must meet the minimum requirements:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in nursing, or its equivalent
  • A minimum CGPA or equivalent of 3.00 (B) overall with 3.00 (B) average in the last two years or 20 graded courses of study.
  • Equivalent of two years full-time nursing practice (3640 hours) within the past five years.  Strong preference is given to candidates with continuous RN experience in a direct clinical practice setting.
  • Proof of current registration or proof of registration eligibility with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)

See our  (google doc) MN/PHCNP Application Guide (external link)  for more details.

Admission to Toronto Metropolitan University’s graduate nursing combined MN/PHCNP certificate program is extremely competitive.  We look for applicants who have good academic standing in nursing and non-nursing subjects. Strong preference is given to students with a 3.67 (A-) average or above in the final half of their undergraduate nursing program or last 20 one-term/semester courses.

Calculate Your GPA

Funding Your Master of Nursing

There are a number of funding packages – internal and external – available to Master of Nursing students. Internal funding can include graduate scholarships, graduate awards, and teaching assistant positions. External funding can include funding from nursing organizations, as well as from the provincial and federal governments.

Returning full-time students who did not receive an entry Scholarship or Award, but who perform at the level required will be eligible for consideration for a TMGF and/or a Graduate Departmental Award (GDA) after their first year in the Master of Nursing program. Such awards will be dependent on availability of funding.

Returning full-time students who did receive an entry Scholarship or Award must refer to their Terms and Conditions document for information related to the terms of renewal. Note that typically an internal scholarship, fellowship or award is tenable for the term set out in the award letter, usually two terms or three terms; they are not renewable. Eligible students will automatically be considered for scholarships, fellowships and awards in subsequent years.

Assistantships

Research Assistants

As a Research Assistant (RA), students assist principal investigators in conducting research activities not related to the student’s studies. The minimum rate of pay is defined by the Granting Council (SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR) or organization/institution which is funding the principal investigator. When that institution is Toronto Metropolitan University, the minimum rate of pay is defined in the OPSEU Collective Agreement, Article 14, Section 14.06. The terms of employment of graduate students will be consistent with this collective agreement. However, the minimum recommended rate of pay for graduate students is the rate at which Graduate (Teaching) Assistants are paid, which is outlined in the CUPE 3 Collective Agreement.

Graduate (Teaching) Assistants

At Toronto Met, a Graduate (Teaching) Assistant or GA refers to a graduate student who is employed to assist with teaching or related duties. The student has be a Toronto Met student currently enrolled on a full-time basis in one of the university’s Master’s or PhD programs.

This type of employment opportunity is typically offered by a department or school. Full-time graduate students can be employed for a maximum of 10 hours per week. The rate of pay can be found on the Human Resources website in the CUPE Local 3904 Unit 3 Collective Agreement. Students may be offered a GA position by their program, and/or the positions will be posted on the HR website.  Click GA Opportunities for current postings.  Terms of employment of graduate students will be consistent with the collective agreements between the university and its employee groups.

Internal Awards and Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships and awards available to full-time Master of Nursing students on a competitive basis. Click on the individual scholarship or award name for detailed information including eligibility criteria and application deadlines.

External Awards and Scholarships

Funding from Nursing Organizations and Associations

As a nurse in Ontario, you can apply for educational grants, bursaries, and scholarships from nursing organizations and associations.

Find out more about opportunities and eligibility.

Tuition fees in the Masters of Nursing and PHCNP Certificate programs are course-based.  Your fees will be calculated based on the number of courses that you take per term; one unit is equal to one course.

As a student of the School of Graduate Studies, ancillary fees also apply to cover health benefits, access to the athletic centre, and more.

To determine the overall tuition cost of your program, multiply the number of required degree or certificate courses by the tuition amount found on the detailed Fees Information page.

The approximate total domestic tuition cost for the MN Course Stream Program is $12,500 plus ancillary fees.  Total tuition for International students is approximately $33,000 plus ancillary fees.

A tuition deposit is due upon acceptance into the program.