Georgia State University ACNP Programs

Georgia State University offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGACNP
  • Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP

All programs are available online with residency-neutral tuition at $450 per credit hour for all students regardless of location.

Program Tracks Overview

Program NameEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN AGACNP$21,600–$24,9602–3 years (FT)
Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP$7,650–$11,2501–2 years

Students must attend a required week-long on-campus experience at program start and complete required in-person skills testing throughout the program.

Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP

The estimated cost for the MSN-AGACNP program is $21,600-$24,960 and would take 2-3 years to complete on a full-time basis.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN-AGACNP curriculum requires 48 semester hours consisting of 22 core credits and 26 specialty credits.

Required Core Courses:
  • NURS 7315 – Advanced Pathophysiological Concepts Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
  • NURS 7330 – Diagnostic Reasoning and Procedures (2 credits)
  • NURS 7500 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
  • NURS 7550 – Pharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 credits)
  • NURS 7600 – The Culture of Healthcare (3 credits)
  • NURS 7940 – Advanced Professional Nurse Practice Issues (2 credits)
  • NURS 7950 – Theoretical Foundations and Research Methods for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
  • CNHP 7800 – Interprofessional Collaboration for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
Required Specialty Courses:

NURS 7010 Gerontological Nursing (3)
This course examines aging from social, ethical, and health perspectives. Students study normal aging processes and common health concerns in older adults. End-of-life care, legal considerations, and ethical decision-making are emphasized.

NURS 7340 Common Health Problems of Adults (5)
This course prepares students to assess and manage common adult health conditions in ambulatory settings. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, diagnostic selection, and treatment planning in collaboration with providers. The course also supports nurse practitioner role development.

NURS 7080 Ambulatory Care of Women (6)
This course focuses on health promotion and management of women’s health across the lifespan. Students address reproductive, chronic, and preventive care needs while considering cultural and policy influences. Clinical experiences refine advanced practice skills through interdisciplinary collaboration.

NURS 7360 Advanced Practicum (4)
This capstone practicum integrates prior coursework into supervised clinical practice. Students select a focus area for intensive experience and strengthen advanced assessment, management, and decision-making skills. Clinical performance is evaluated in partnership with primary care providers.

More curriculum details are available here.

MSN Clinicals

The MSN-AGACNP program requires 500 clinical hours completed across three specialty courses. Students complete 180 hours in Common Health Problems of Adults, 140 hours in Ambulatory Care of Women, and 180 hours in the Senior Practicum capstone experience.

Clinical Requirements:

  • Total clinical hours: 500
  • Clinical experiences in ambulatory care, primary care, and specialty settings
  • Students must complete Nursing Student Health Form with applicable immunizations (updated annually)
  • Current American Heart Association Basic CPR Certification required
  • Student liability insurance required
  • Current U.S. RN licensure required
  • Criminal background check and drug screen required before clinical activities
  • Students responsible for all associated costs

MSN Admissions Requirements

Applicants must be registered nurses with a BSN degree or RNs with associate/diploma degrees who complete bridge coursework.

Application Requirements:

  • Graduation from accredited nursing program
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.75 on 4.0 scale (all undergraduate coursework)
  • Active RN license in Georgia or another U.S. state with evidence of Georgia Board of Nursing application
  • 1-2 years clinical practice as RN (preferably in specialty area)
  • Two letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable of academic/professional abilities (one from former faculty if out of nursing school less than 5 years)
  • Resume including education, work experience, professional development, activities, research, and publications
  • Statement of purpose/goals addressing educational and career goals
  • Two-page position paper on social or health issue in APA format
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  • Certificate of immunization (for applicants who never attended Georgia State)
  • International applicants: TOEFL scores (if native language is not English), additional international requirements

Bridge Course Requirements for Associate/Diploma RNs:

  • NURS 6910 – Caring for Families and Communities (5 credits)
  • NURS 6930 – Leadership and Management in Nursing (3 credits)
  • Online health assessment course (if not completed at undergraduate level)

Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP program is $7,650-$11,250 and would take 1-2 years to complete depending on course exemptions and enrollment status.

Certificate Curriculum

The Post-Master’s Certificate curriculum allows students to waive core courses if previous master’s coursework is deemed equivalent. Past education and experience are evaluated to determine which courses may be exempted.

Required Core Courses (may be exempted):

  • NURS 7315 – Advanced Pathophysiological Concepts Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
  • NURS 7330 – Diagnostic Reasoning and Procedures (2 credits)
  • NURS 7500 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
  • NURS 7550 – Pharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 credits)
  • CNHP 7800 – Interprofessional Collaboration for Advanced Practice (3 credits)

Required Specialty Courses:

  • NURS 7010 – Gerontological Nursing (3 credits)
  • NURS 7340 – Common Adult Health Problems (7 credits, 135 clinical hours)
  • NURS 7959 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care 1 (6 credits, 140 clinical hours)
  • NURS 7960 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II (7 credits, 225 clinical hours)

Certificate Clinicals

The certificate program requires 500 clinical hours across three specialty courses focusing on acute care adult-gerontology populations. Students complete 135 hours in Common Adult Health Problems, 140 hours in AGACNP 1, and 225 hours in the AGACNP 2 capstone course.

Clinical Requirements:

  • Total clinical hours: 500
  • Clinical rotations in acute care settings
  • Required week-long on-campus experience at program start
  • Required in-person skills testing throughout program
  • Same health, certification, insurance, background check, and drug screen requirements as MSN program

Certificate Admissions Requirements

Applicants must hold a master’s degree in nursing and be eligible for certification as adult-gerontology primary care NP, family NP, or another nursing specialty.

Application Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in nursing
  • Active Georgia RN license
  • 1-2 years clinical practice as RN (clinical practice in area related to specialty track)
  • Two letters of recommendation (one from former faculty if out of nursing school less than 5 years)
  • Resume
  • Statement of purpose/goals
  • Two-page position paper on social or health issue in APA format
  • Official transcripts from institutions granting MS degree in nursing and any graduate coursework institutions
  • $50 application fee
  • Entrance exam waived for certificate applicants
  • Certificate of immunization (for applicants who never attended Georgia State)
  • International applicants: TOEFL scores, additional requirements

Tuition

Graduate tuition is $450 per credit hour for all online students regardless of location (residency-neutral rate). Students enrolled in 6 or more credit hours pay a $660 per semester online learning fee.

See the official tuition page for more details here.

Application Deadlines

MSN-AGACNP:

  • Fall admission: May 15
  • Spring admission: November 1

Post-Master’s Certificate:

  • Fall and Spring semester starts available (specific deadlines vary by specialty)

Accreditation

The Master of Science program and Post-Master’s Certificate program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s examination for adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. The APRN national certification exam first-time pass rate for 2024 averaged 97% across specialty tracks.

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