The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is growing rapidly—affecting one in every thirty-six children in the U.S.—increasing the demand for ASD-specialized nursing care. This program prepares nurses to meet these challenges.
Designed for registered nurses, school nurses, or advanced practice nurses who focus on pediatrics, mental health, or the family, this three-semester program will prepare you to design and deliver comprehensive care to this unique and special needs population. This is also an on-campus program for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD level students.The program is offered over Fall and Spring semesters and Summer Session I. The certificate can be obtained in a year.
We offer the opportunity to work with nationally recognized faculty, clinicians, epidemiologists, and scientists in this field through lectures, seminars, interactive discussions, case-based learning, independent guided studies, and clinical fieldwork.
Program Length
Financial aid available?
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Learning Format
To obtain the certification, students will complete three core courses, which can be completed in three semesters through classroom and clinical experiences.
Click the link below to view the curriculum for this program in the University catalog.
BSN
RN
Click here for additional requirements
Decision Notification: mid-December
Decision Notification: mid-April
Decision Notification: early-May
*Dates subject to change without notice.
Your program costs will depend on your individual plan of study. Tuition is charged per CU based on your enrollment for the semester.
School of Nursing certificate programs are not eligible for federal aid. However, some tuition assistance may be available to you via alternative loan programs, please follow this link to find out more: https://srfs.upenn.edu/financial-aid/loans/private-alternative. Students can always apply for personal loans through their bank.
Students can also sign up for a payment plan if they do not have tuition reimbursement from their employer or if they can’t pay their bill in full. The link for the Penn Payment Plan is: Penn Payment Plan | Penn Student Registration & Financial Services| Penn SRFS (upenn.edu).
You will develop the skills to screen for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), to provide comprehensive care for the co-occurring behavioral, medical, and psychiatric conditions, and to integrate innovative nursing care into the lives of your ASD patients and their families.
