UNC Charlotte offers 2 Acute Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP
Both programs are delivered in an on-campus format with clinical placements supported through partnerships such as Atrium Health and local hospital systems.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $12,636 | 2 years (full-time, Fall entry) |
| Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP | $5,379 | 1 year (full-time, Fall entry) |
Students benefit from advanced simulation experiences, strong community clinical partnerships, and preparation for national AGACNP certification.
Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the MSN AGACNP program is approximately $12,636 for NC residents or $53,859 for non-residents in base tuition (47 credits), and would take about 2 years to complete on a full-time basis with Fall-only admission.
MSN Curriculum
The 47-credit curriculum includes core, advanced clinical core, concentration, and capstone coursework.
Core Courses (9 credits):
- NURS 6101 Theoretical Basis for Nursing Practice
- NURS 6160 Research in Nursing and Health Professions
- NURS 6115 Health Policy and Planning in the U.S.
Cognate & Clinical Core (15 credits):
- NURS 6274 Advanced Human Pathophysiology
- STAT 6127 Introduction to Biostatistics
- NURS 6210 Family Health in Advanced Practice Nursing
- NURS 6220 Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 6230 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
- NURS 6430 Advanced Health Assessment Practicum
Concentration Courses (20 credits):
NUNP 6202 – Complex Healthcare Management of Adults (3 credits)
This course trains students to manage acutely ill adults in varied care settings. Students use advanced assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapy to form diagnoses and build evidence-based care plans that include drug and non-drug treatment.
NUNP 6203 – Advanced Care of Critically Ill Adults (3 credits)
This course prepares students to manage adults with life-threatening and rapidly changing conditions. Students apply diagnostic reasoning and evidence-based interventions across critical care environments, with 240 supervised clinical hours.
NUNP 6250 – Advanced Primary Care and Health Promotion of Adults Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
This course focuses on adult primary care with a wellness and prevention approach. Students use case studies to assess, diagnose, and plan care for stable chronic conditions and common recurring acute problems across adulthood.
NUNP 6401 – Advanced Care and Health Promotion Adults Practicum (2 credits)
This practicum develops ambulatory care skills that support healthy lifestyle change and chronic illness management. Students practice assessment, monitoring, care coordination, and communication with 120 supervised clinical hours.
NUNP 6402 – Advanced Practice Nursing in Complex Care Practicum (4 credits)
This practicum builds skill in managing acutely ill adults with multisystem and urgent or emergent needs. Students focus on treatment planning and outcome tracking in arranged ambulatory settings with 240 supervised clinical hours.
NUNP 6403 – Advanced Care of Critically Ill Adults Practicum (4 credits)
This practicum trains students to deliver and evaluate advanced care for critically ill adults. Clinical experiences emphasize evidence-based management and outcome evaluation across settings, with 240 supervised clinical hours.
NUNP 6431 – Advanced Acute Care Skills Lab (1 credit)
This lab builds hands-on skills for advanced assessment and common acute and critical care procedures. Students complete guided skills practice across 60 lab/clinical hours.
Capstone (3 credits):
- NURS 6603 Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice
MSN Clinicals
Students complete a minimum of 600 supervised clinical hours.
- Clinical courses require 60 practice hours per credit
- Clinical sites may extend beyond Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
- Experiences include acute and critical care settings
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- Unencumbered North Carolina RN license
- BSN from an accredited program
- Minimum 12 months full-time acute care nursing experience (ICU preferred)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Undergraduate statistics course (C or better)
- ACLS certification
- Professional references
- Statement of Purpose
- GRE not required
- Interview may be required
Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s AGACNP Certificate is approximately $5,379 for NC residents or $22,962 for non-residents in base tuition (20 credits), and would take about 1 year to complete on a full-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The 20-credit plan includes advanced acute care didactic and practicum courses.
- NUNP 6202 Complex Healthcare Management of Adults
- NUNP 6203 Advanced Care of Critically Ill Adults
- NUNP 6250 Advanced Primary Care and Health Promotion
- NUNP 6401 Advanced Care Practicum
- NUNP 6402 Advanced Practice Nursing in Complex Care Practicum
- NUNP 6403 Advanced Care of Critically Ill Adults Practicum
- NUNP 6431 Advanced Acute Care Skills Lab
Certificate Clinicals
Certificate students complete at least 600 supervised clinical hours.
- Clinical courses require 60 hours per credit
- Placements focus on acute and critical care settings
- Travel outside the Charlotte region may be required
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution
- Unencumbered North Carolina RN license
- Minimum 3.0 MSN GPA
- Graduate courses in assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology (within 5 years)
- Professional references
- Statement of Purpose
- Competitive admission with Fall entry
Tuition
Graduate tuition is billed per credit hour. For 2025–2026, estimated tuition is approximately $268.94 per credit hour for NC residents and $1,145.94 per credit hour for non-residents, plus university and college fees. Additional College of Health & Human Services program fees apply per credit hour.
More curriculum details are available here: Tuition & Fees.
Application Deadlines
- MSN AGACNP: October 1 (priority), January 1 (final), Fall admission only
- Certificate AGACNP: October 1 (priority), January 1 (final), Fall admission
Accreditation
UNC Charlotte’s nursing programs are accredited through nationally recognized nursing accrediting bodies and prepare graduates for eligibility to sit for the ANCC or AACN certification examinations for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners.
Other North Carolina ACNP Programs
- Duke University - Durham
- East Carolina University - Greenville