University of Illinois Chicago ACNP Programs

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) offers 2 Acute Nurse Practitioner Tracks:

  • BSN-to-DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
  • AG-ACNP Post-DNP Certificate

UIC delivers both tracks in a hybrid format that uses online, blended, and on-campus learning across multiple UIC Nursing campuses.

Program Tracks Overview

Program NameEst. TuitionEst. Duration
BSN-DNP AGACNP$82,775~4 years (part-time)
Post-DNP Certificate AG-ACNP$24,725~1 year (varies by gap analysis)

UIC highlights faculty-arranged practicum sites and a 100% board certification pass rate for AG-ACNP graduates in 2022.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – AGACNP (BSN-to-DNP)

The estimated cost for the UIC BSN-to-DNP AGACNP program is about $82,775 (77 credits at ~$1,075 per credit) and would take about 4 years to complete on a part-time basis (UIC lists this focus area as part-time only).

DNP Curriculum

UIC delivers 77 credit hours across DNP core, APRN core, AGACNP focus courses, and DNP project/practicum courses in a hybrid format.
Courses shown in the 4-year plan include:

NURS 521 – Advanced Physiological and Pathophysiological Principles Across the Lifespan
This course explains advanced physiology and disease processes that shape clinical presentation across the lifespan. Students use these concepts to support diagnosis and treatment decisions.

NURS 531 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
This course builds advanced medication decision-making across the lifespan. Topics include drug selection factors, adherence barriers, and legal and prescribing issues.

NURS 532 – Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice
This course develops advanced history-taking and full physical exam skills for patients across the lifespan. Students practice documentation, identify normal versus abnormal findings, and apply diagnostic reasoning.

NURS 544 – APRN Role Transition and Professional Development
This course prepares students for the transition into APRN practice. Content covers professional standards, regulation, business and billing basics, legal responsibilities, and ethical decision-making.

NUSP 534 – Management of Health and Illness I: Adult-Gerontology NP Acute Care and Primary Care
This course introduces core adult-gerontology NP competencies for health promotion and illness management. Students focus on assessing and managing chronic and acute conditions in adult and older adult populations.

NUSP 536 – Management of Health & Illness II: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
This course expands adult-gerontology content with a focus on acute care practice. Students strengthen advanced assessment and management skills for higher-acuity adult and older adult conditions.

NUPR 539 – Nurse Practitioner Practicum I: Management of Health and Illness in Adults
This practicum provides supervised clinical practice in adult care. Students perform evaluations, build differential diagnoses, manage symptoms, and provide education and case management for complex conditions.

NUPR 540 – Nurse Practitioner Practicum II: Management of Health and Illness in Adults
This practicum builds clinical independence in adult and older adult care. Students refine diagnostic reasoning, care planning, and ongoing management for acute, episodic, and chronic problems.

NUPR 541 – Nurse Practitioner Practicum III: Management of Health and Illness in Adults
This final practicum advances competency in complex adult care across settings. Students integrate evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and patient education while managing higher-complexity cases.

See the official tuition page for more details.

DNP Clinicals

UIC requires 1,000 clinical practicum hours, and 675 hours occur in the AGACNP specialty.

UIC places students in acute care settings that can include hospitals, ICU, ER, and specialized outpatient sites.

UIC also states that faculty arrange practicum sites and qualified preceptors.

Clinical requirements include:

  • 1,000 total practicum hours
  • 675 AGACNP specialty hours
  • Rotations across medicine and surgery specialty areas

DNP Prerequisites and Admissions

UIC requires these baseline admissions items for DNP applicants:

  • A baccalaureate degree in nursing (or a non-nursing bachelor’s plus an RN license)
  • A 3.0 GPA for the final 60 semester hours of the first baccalaureate degree
  • A valid RN license (Illinois or a bordering state when clinicals occur in those states)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Required application essays
  • A resume or CV
  • A required interview (as part of the admissions process)
    UIC also requires focus-area experience for AGACNP:
  • At least 1 year of RN experience in adult acute care by admission (ICU experience preferred)

Post-DNP Certificate – (AG-ACNP)

The estimated cost for the UIC AG-ACNP Post-DNP Certificate program is about $24,725 (23 credits at ~$1,075 per credit) and would take about 1 year to complete if taken in a heavy course load, but UIC applies an individual gap analysis and may add courses for some students.

Certificate Curriculum

UIC lists 23 semester hours of required coursework for the AG-ACNP post-DNP certificate.
Courses listed include:

  • NURS 533 Applied Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Practice Nursing (2)
  • NUSP 534 Management of Health and Illness I: Adult Gerontology Acute or Primary Care NP (3)
  • NUSP 536 Management of Health and Illness II: Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP (3)
  • NUPR 539 Nurse Practitioner Practicum I (5)
  • NUPR 540 Nurse Practitioner Practicum II (5)
  • NUPR 541 Nurse Practitioner Practicum III (5)

Certificate Clinicals

UIC lists 675 clinical hours across three practicum courses, and faculty arrange sites and preceptors.
Clinical requirements include:

  • NUPR 539 Practicum I: 225 hours
  • NUPR 540 Practicum II: 225 hours
  • NUPR 541 Practicum III: 225 hours

Certificate Prerequisites and Admissions

UIC admits the post-DNP certificate for Fall only and accepts applications August through March. UIC states that the program targets DNP-prepared nurses who want AGACNP certification, and UIC may require extra APRN core courses for students who do not hold current APRN certification and licensure.

Tuition

UIC lists $1,075 per credit hour for its DNP programs (except nurse anesthesia) and notes that this figure applies to in-state and out-of-state enrollment.

UIC states that DNP and post-DNP certificate tuition uses professional program tuition set by the university and may vary by campus.

More curriculum details are available here.

Application Deadlines

UIC lists these Fall DNP timeline deadlines:

  • Early deadline: November 1
  • Standard deadline: January 15
  • Final deadline: April 1

Accreditation

UIC states that its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

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