George Washington University School of Nursing (GW Nursing) offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- MSN: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
All three tracks are delivered primarily online with required on-campus simulation events at GW’s Virginia Science and Technology Campus (VSTC) in Ashburn, Virginia.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | ~$78,240 | ~2–3 years (part-time) |
| DNP AGACNP | ~$117,360 | ~3–4 years (part-time) |
| Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP | ~$32,600 | ~2 years (5 semesters, part-time); ~1 year if prior APRN certification |
GW Nursing is ranked #12 for Best Online Master’s Programs in Graduate Nursing (U.S. News & World Report, 2026), and all tracks prepare graduates to sit for both the ANCC and AACN AGACNP certification exams.
Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the MSN: AGACNP program is approximately $78,240 (48 credits × $1,630/credit) and would take approximately 2–3 years to complete on a part-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN requires 48 total credits across professional core, research, and field-specific coursework.
Professional Core:
NURS 6202 – Concepts in Population Health
Explores strategies for promoting quality health outcomes through prevention, wellness, and chronic disease management across diverse and vulnerable populations.
NURS 6203 – Nursing Leadership
Focuses on evidence-based leadership principles to enhance patient outcomes and professional practice through theory, team building, communication, and change management.
NURS 6205 – Health Policy, Quality, and Political Process Research
Analyzes the policymaking process with emphasis on healthcare cost, quality, and access.
Research:
NURS 6207 – Evidence-Based Practice for Health Care Researchers
Develops analytical skills to evaluate, integrate, and apply research findings for evidence-based clinical practice.
NURS 6208 – Biostatistics for Health Care Research
Covers core biostatistical methods and modeling used to interpret healthcare research data.
Field-Specific:
NURS 6220 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
Examines advanced physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying health alterations across the lifespan.
NURS 6222 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
Prepares advanced practice nurses to perform comprehensive assessments and apply diagnostic reasoning in clinical decision-making. Prereqs: NURS 6220, NURS 6234.
NURS 6233 – Genetics for Healthcare Providers
Introduces foundational genetic concepts and their application in patient care and clinical decision-making.
NURS 6234 – Advanced Pharmacology for Nursing
Covers pharmacologic principles and therapeutic applications across major drug classes for managing disease throughout the lifespan. Prereq: NURS 6220.
NURS 6235 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP I: Introduction to Practice
Introduces management of complex acute and chronic conditions across various care settings, emphasizing applied clinical reasoning. Prereqs: NURS 6220, NURS 6222, NURS 6234.
NURS 6236 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP II: Complex and Acute Illness
Builds on clinical skills for managing acute and unstable conditions in adults through evidence-based interventions. Prereqs: NURS 6220, NURS 6222, NURS 6234, NURS 6235.
NURS 6237 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP III: Complex and Chronic Disease Management
Focuses on advanced management of complex acute and chronic illnesses across care settings, integrating theory and clinical practice. Prereqs: NURS 6220, NURS 6222, NURS 6234, NURS 6235, NURS 6236.
See the full curriculum details here.
MSN Clinicals
Students must complete a minimum of 600 clinical hours with an approved preceptor. Students are encouraged to find their own preceptor, though the program provides support for locating local clinical sites. All clinical rotations are conducted in Northern Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C.
- NURS 6235: AGACNP I – 120 clinical hours
- NURS 6236: AGACNP II – 240 clinical hours
- NURS 6237: AGACNP III – 240 clinical hours
Two required on-campus events: the Clinical Learning and Skills Intensive (CLASI) prior to clinical courses, and AGACNP Clinical Simulation Events during NURS 6235, 6236, and 6237.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from a regionally accredited college or university
- Preferred minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- At least 1 year of critical care experience (ICU, Trauma, CCU, or ED) within the past 5 years
- Active, unencumbered RN license from a U.S. state or territory
- Must be a resident of DC, Maryland, or Virginia
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one recommender must hold a graduate degree)
- Current résumé
- Statement of Purpose (250–500 words): academic objectives, career goals, and how qualifications align with the AGACNP role
- Online application via GW Application System (not NursingCAS)
Doctor of Nursing Practice – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the DNP: AGACNP program is approximately $117,360 (72 credits × $1,630/credit) and would take approximately 3–4 years to complete on a part-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
The DNP requires 72 credit hours, incorporating all MSN-level AGACNP specialty courses plus advanced doctoral coursework and a DNP Project sequence.
- NURS 6208: Biostatistics for Health Care Research
- NURS 6220: Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
- NURS 6222: Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
- NURS 6233: Genetics for Healthcare Providers
- NURS 6234: Advanced Pharmacology for Nursing
- NURS 6235: AGACNP I – Introduction to Practice
- NURS 6236: AGACNP II – Complex and Acute Illness
- NURS 6237: AGACNP III – Complex and Chronic Disease Management, Adolescents/Elderly
- NURS 8400: Epidemiology and Population Health
- NURS 8401: Organizational Concepts in Nursing
- NURS 8402: Knowledge Management in Nursing
- NURS 8403: Translating Research into Practice
- NURS 8405: Healthcare Quality Improvement
- NURS 8417: Health Policy and Analysis
- NURS 8418: Healthcare Economics, Finance, and Reimbursement
- NURS 8419: Analytical Methods and Appraisal for Evidence-Based Practice
- NURS 8489: DNP Project Scholarly Inquiry
- NURS 8490: DNP Project Planning
- NURS 8491: DNP Project Implementation
- NURS 8492: DNP Project Evaluation and Dissemination
See the full curriculum details here.
DNP Clinicals
Students must complete a minimum of 1,100 post-baccalaureate practice hours, including at least 600 direct clinical hours with an approved preceptor and 500 indirect DNP practice hours built into coursework. Clinical placements are coordinated jointly by the student and program director, restricted to Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
- NURS 6235: AGACNP I – 120 clinical hours
- NURS 6236: AGACNP II – 240 clinical hours
- NURS 6237: AGACNP III – 240 clinical hours
- Remaining 500 hours: indirect practice hours integrated into DNP coursework
Required on-campus events include CLASI prior to clinical courses and AGACNP Clinical Simulation Events during NURS 6235, 6236, and 6237.
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Minimum BSN from a regionally accredited college or university
- Preferred minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Active, unencumbered RN license from a U.S. state or territory
- Must be a resident of DC, Maryland, or Virginia during clinical courses
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools
- Two letters of recommendation
- Current résumé
- Statement of Purpose: career goals relative to doctoral study, preliminary DNP project idea, and vision for post-DNP contributions to nursing scholarship and evidence-based practice
- Online application via GW Application System
Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate: AGACNP program is approximately $32,600 (20 credits × $1,630/credit) and can be completed in approximately 5 semesters (~2 years) part-time, or as few as 3 semesters for applicants with prior FNP or AG-Primary Care APRN certification.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate requires 20 credit hours focused entirely on AGACNP specialty clinical coursework. See the full curriculum details here.
- NURS 6235: AGACNP I – Introduction to Practice
- NURS 6236: AGACNP II – Complex and Acute Illness
- NURS 6237: AGACNP III – Complex and Chronic Disease Management, Adolescents/Elderly
Certificate Clinicals
Students complete a minimum of 600 clinical hours with an approved preceptor, distributed across the three AGACNP clinical courses. Students are encouraged to find their own preceptor, with program support available. All clinical placements are in Northern Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C.
- NURS 6235: AGACNP I – 120 clinical hours
- NURS 6236: AGACNP II – 240 clinical hours
- NURS 6237: AGACNP III – 240 clinical hours
Two required on-campus simulation events: CLASI before clinical courses and AGACNP Clinical Simulation Events during NURS 6235, 6236, and 6237.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university
- Preferred minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- At least 1 year of full-time critical care experience (ICU, Trauma, CCU, or ED)
- Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification required
- Active, unencumbered nursing license
- Must be a resident of DC, Maryland, or Virginia during clinical courses
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools
- Two letters of recommendation
- Current résumé
- Statement of Purpose (250–500 words)
- Online application via GW Application System
Tuition
GW Nursing charges $1,630 per credit hour for all graduate programs (FY26 rates: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026).
Additional program-specific fees include a $350 Simulation Lab fee, a $350 CLASI fee, and a $35 per-credit online/off-campus registration fee.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Application Deadlines
MSN: AGACNP – Fall 2026 Entry:
- Application Opens: September 1, 2025
- Priority Deadline: December 1, 2025
- Final Deadline: June 15, 2026
DNP: AGACNP – Fall 2025 Entry:
- Application Opens: September 1, 2024
- Priority Deadline: December 1, 2024
- Final Deadline: July 1, 2025
Post-Master’s Certificate: AGACNP – Summer 2025 Entry:
- Application Opens: September 1, 2024
- Priority Deadline: December 1, 2024
- Final Deadline: February 1, 2025
Accreditation
GW Nursing’s AGACNP programs prepare graduates to sit for both the ANCC and AACN nationally recognized AGACNP certification examinations. GW Nursing is subject to state authorization requirements; the AGACNP tracks are currently restricted to applicants residing in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia for clinical coursework — applicants from AL and LA are not eligible for online programs.