is there a way to get public health certificate w/o BSN

I'm not exactly sure what you are asking. Generally, certificates are only offered at the Master's level, not the Bachelor's level, at least that I'm aware of. I'm not exactly sure what a "public health certificate" is.

My advice is just to suck it up and get your BSN. With so many options for online BSN programs nowadays, it's easy, quick and inexpensive. You can do it in less than a year, and less than $10K.

In order to be a PHN...you have to have a BSN

In order to be a PHN...you have to have a BSN

Not always, it must depend on the state. The health network I work for has in the past hired many associate's prepared nurses to work as public health nurses.

ah, got it. Carry on!

Actually, wait - as I mentioned earlier, I don't even know what a PHN certificate is - is this something unique to California? Because I've never heard of "certificates" other than post-graduate certificates. Can someone please explain what a PHN certificate is or link me to a program that offers such a thing?

Thanks for defending me!

Yes, in Cali in order to be a PHN, you must have a BSN degree and be awarded with a PHN certificate, which qualifies you as a PHN.

Is the PHN certificate a test that one has to take? How does one qualify to get this in California? I'm just very curious because I've never heard of such a thing.

Hi not sure if you have found your answers already but just wanted to add, working as a public health nurse has verrrryyy different requirements depending on what state or county you are in! All I know the details about is CA. In CA you must have a BSN specifically from a program that included clinical hours in the field, in community nursing, along with training in child abuse recognition. Most BSN programs include this, but some online programs do not include clinical hours. There may be an exception I am not aware of, such as you being able to take a few courses to meet requirements rather than a full on BSN. If so, such details are not listed on the BRN website but maybe you could call (and wait on hold for 10 minutes lol) and ask a live human being at the BRN what are other options to meet requirements for PHN. All I know is that when I graduated with my BSN, all I had to do was mail one additional form and a $75 fee and I obtained a PHN certificate. It has an actual certification number that is different than my RN license number, and it expires in 2 years. That is what a PHN certificate means in the state of California. I do also want to let you know that I applied to many PHN jobs in several different counties, and ALL of them required a BSN degree along with PHN cert... Hope that helps? I know plenty of other states have public health nurses with just an ADN however. Good luck in whatever you decide!

In California, you can skip BSN and get your PHN in an MSN program that offers Community Health/Public Health Nurse clinical hours. The MSN program does not have to be in Public Health. There are no California ADN programs that offer Public Health Nurse hours that will satisfy California BON requirements, currently.