Rosalind Franklin University (RFU) College of Nursing offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) tracks:
- Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) – AGACNP
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – AGACNP
Both programs are delivered primarily online with in-person clinical residency requirements, making them accessible for working APRNs.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Graduate Certificate – AGACNP | $14,015–$15,755 | 9–12 months (part-time) |
| DNP – AGACNP | ~$93,115 | 27 months (full-time) or 32 months (part-time) |
Standout features include faculty who are actively practicing AGACNPs, optional advanced skills workshops at RFU’s North Chicago and Colorado Springs campuses, and structured board exam preparation embedded into the final term of each program.
Post-Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate AGACNP program is ~$14,015–$15,755 (15–17 QH at $870/credit, plus required fees) and can be completed in as few as 9–12 months on a part-time basis across 3–4 terms.
Certificate Admissions & Prerequisites
Applicants must already hold an advanced practice credential and active APRN licensure. This is not an entry-level NP program.
- Graduate (master’s or doctoral) nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Graduated from an accredited APRN program (NP, CRNA, or equivalent)
- Minimum 1 year of full-time APRN experience in an acute care setting (or part-time equivalent)
- Current, unencumbered RN and APRN license in the U.S.
- Three graduate-level APRN Core prerequisite courses required:
- Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology (lifespan)
- Advanced Health Assessment (all human systems)
- Advanced Pharmacology (pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, therapeutics)
- Missing prerequisites may be completed at RFU or another accredited institution
- Current CV/resume required (via NursingCAS application)
- No GRE required; no letters of recommendation required
- Virtual interview with Program Director required; includes gap analysis of prior clinical hours
- Background check required prior to matriculation
- Prior felony conviction may affect NCLEX/APRN licensure eligibility
Certificate Curriculum
Total: 15–17 Quarter Hours (QH) (NAAC 759 waived for students with prior equivalent graduate Health Promotions coursework)
- NDNP 757 – Differential Diagnosis, Decision-making and Treatment in Acute & Critical Illness I (4 QH)
- NAAC 758 – Applied Decision-making and Pharmacologic Treatment in Acute & Critical Illness (4 QH)
- NAAC 759 – Health Promotion for Advanced Practice (2 QH) waivable
- NAAC 870 – Clinical Residency I (2 QH)
- NAAC 871 – Clinical Residency II (2 QH)
- NAAC 872 – Clinical Residency III & Role Preparation (3 QH)
Certificate Clinicals
All students must complete a minimum of 500 direct patient care hours across a variety of acute care clinical settings. Hours are distributed across three clinical residency courses and are adjusted based on a gap analysis of prior supervised clinical experience from previous APRN training.
Clinical rotations may occur in acute care hospitals or specialty outpatient practice settings. Optional in-person skills workshops at RFU’s North Chicago and Colorado Springs campuses cover airway management, ultrasound-guided techniques, chest tube insertion, and cadaver lab practice. All other didactic coursework is delivered online.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the DNP-AGACNP program is approximately $92,365 (101 QH at $845/credit plus required multi-year fees) and is completed in 27 months full-time or 32 months on a decelerated part-time schedule.
DNP Admissions & Prerequisites
- BSN from a regionally accredited institution required
- Minimum overall, science, and nursing GPA of 3.0 (preferred)
- Minimum 1 year of full-time RN critical care experience at time of matriculation (2 years preferred)
- CCRN certification highly recommended for a competitive application
- Current, unencumbered RN license in the U.S.
- No GRE required; no formal letters of recommendation required
- CV with names and contact info for 3 professional references required
- Completion of a biostatistics course within the past 2 years recommended (not required)
- Background check required prior to matriculation
- Transfer applicants not accepted at this time
- Application deadline: April 15, 2026
- Virtual interview with Program Director conducted; assesses emotional intelligence and graduate-level competencies
DNP Curriculum
Total: 101 Quarter Hours (QH) across 3 years
Year 1 (50 QH):
- NAAC 711 – Clinical Correlations (2 QH)
- NAAC 758 – Applied Decision-making and Pharmacologic Treatment in Acute & Critical Illness (4 QH)
- NAAC 810 – Clinical Residency I (8 QH)
- NDNP 725 – Advanced Health Assessment (4 QH)
- NDNP 752 – Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing (5 QH)
- NDNP 753 – Advanced Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 QH)
- NDNP 756 – Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology for Nurse Anesthesiology and Acute Care (6 QH)
- NDNP 757 – Differential Diagnosis, Decision-making and Treatment in Acute & Critical Illness (4 QH)
- NDNP 763 – Clinical Application of Gross Anatomy in Anesthesia & Acute Care (5 QH)
- NDNP 901 – Applied Statistics and Research Methods for Evidence-based Practice (3 QH)
- NDNP 903 – Synthesizing Evidence to Inform Practice (2 QH)
- NDNP 910 – Health Policy, Economics & Finance (2 QH)
- NDNP 912 – Leadership, Quality/Safety & Outcomes Management (2 QH)
Year 2 (44 QH):
- NAAC 714 – Clinical Seminar & Leadership/Professional Role I (4 QH)
- NAAC 715 – Clinical Seminar & Leadership/Professional Role II (4 QH)
- NAAC 759 – Health Promotion for Advanced Practice (2 QH)
- NAAC 820 – Clinical Residency II (8 QH)
- NAAC 830 – Clinical Residency III (8 QH)
- NAAC 840 – Specialty Clinical Residency IV (4 QH)
- NDNP 906 – Doctoral Project Planning I (2 QH)
- NDNP 907 – Doctoral Project Planning II (3 QH)
- NDNP 921 – Implementation of the DNP Scholarly Project I (3 QH)
- NDNP 922 – Implementation of the DNP Scholarly Project II (3 QH)
- NDNP 924 – Implementation of the DNP Scholarly Project III (3 QH)
Year 3 (7 QH):
- NAAC 716 – Clinical Seminar & Leadership/Professional Role III (4 QH)
- NDNP 933 – Doctoral Project Dissemination (1 QH)
- NDNP 934 – Doctoral Project Manuscript Completion (2 QH)
Two optional Special Degree Distinctions are available:
- Distinction in Research — for students pursuing formal research methodology and scholarly dissemination
- Distinction in Evidence-Based Practice — for students focused on EBP leadership and outcomes evaluation
DNP Clinicals
The DNP program requires students to complete supervised clinical residency hours across four residency courses (NAAC 810, 820, 830, 840), with preceptorship provided by APRNs and/or physicians at approved clinical sites. Key in-person requirements include:
- Quarter 2 (Fall, Year 1): 1 week per month on-site for Clinical Application of Gross Anatomy and Advanced Health Assessment (cadaver lab, sonoanatomy, and physical assessment skills labs)
- Quarter 4 (Spring, Year 1): 1–2 days per month on-site for advanced skills including intubation/airway management, arterial and central line insertion, suturing, and point-of-care ultrasound
- Specialty Residency IV (NAAC 840): Students complete a final rotation in a specialty area of their choosing from approved sites
- Board exam preparation is integrated into the final Clinical Seminar course (NAAC 716)
Tuition
Post-Graduate Certificate: $870 per credit hour
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Executive Student Council Fee | $40 (one-time) |
| Student Services & Technology Fee | $725/year |
| Graduation Fee | $200 (one-time) |
DNP – AGACNP: $845 per credit hour (all three years)
| Fee | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Student Council Fee | $120 | — | — |
| Student Services & Technology Fee | $725 | $725 | $725 |
| Student Health & Wellness Fee | $325 | $325 | $325 |
| Graduation Fee | — | — | $200 |
| Osmosis Subscription | $190 | — | — |
| Typhon Fee | $110 | — | — |
| Simulation Fee & White Coat | $1,450 | — | — |
| ACLS/PALS/BLS Fee | — | $300 | — |
| Clinical Requirements Fee | $750 | $1,500 | — |
See the official tuition page for more details.
Application Deadlines
- DNP-AGACNP: Application submission and verification deadline is April 15, 2026
- PGC-AGACNP: Applications accepted year-round; interviews conducted on a rolling basis
Accreditation
The RFU College of Nursing’s DNP-AGACNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The Post-Graduate Certificate AGACNP program is pursuing initial CCNE accreditation — accreditation has not yet been granted, and prospective students should verify current status on RFU’s accreditation webpage before enrolling.
Graduates of the PGC program are eligible to sit for the AGACNP certification exam through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN); ANCC eligibility is contingent on official CCNE accreditation being granted.
More Illinois ACNP Programs
- Bradley University - Peoria
- Loyola University - Chicago
- Rush University - Chicago
- University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago