Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) offers three Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing – (MSN-AGACNP)
- BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice – (BSN-DNP AGACNP)
- Post-Master’s Certificate – (PMC-AGACNP)
All three tracks are delivered online with asynchronous coursework, allowing working nurses to study on their own schedule while completing face-to-face clinical hours at approved local healthcare facilities.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN-AGACNP | $51,382 | 24 Months |
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $81,541 | 34–44 Months |
| Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP | $27,925 | 12 Months |
HPU is Hawaii’s first institution to offer online post-MSN nursing certificates and boasts a 100% first-time pass rate on AGACNP licensing exams (2019). Graduates across all tracks are eligible to sit for national board certification through the ANCC or AACN.
HPU’s AGACNP tracks are designed for registered nurses seeking advanced practice roles in high-acuity hospital environments, including ICUs, emergency departments, and trauma units.
The MSN and BSN-DNP pathways offer full degree credentials while the Post-Master’s Certificate is a streamlined option for already-MSN-prepared nurses adding a new specialty.
All programs share the same core AGACNP specialty courses and clinical hour requirements. At $1,117 per credit, HPU’s tuition is competitive for a CCNE-accredited program with dedicated clinical placement support.
Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP (MSN-AGACNP)
The estimated cost for the MSN-AGACNP program is $51,382 ($1,117/credit × 46 credits) and would take approximately 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-AGACNP is a 46-credit program combining 18 credits of core MSN coursework with 28 credits of AGACNP specialization courses. Students may transfer up to 12 eligible graduate credits from an accredited institution.
Core Courses (18 credits):
- NUR 6000 – Introduction to Advanced Practice Roles (3 credits)
- NUR 6010 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NUR 6020 – Advanced Nursing Research (3 credits)
- NUR 6025 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NUR 6030 – Advanced Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (3 credits)
- NUR 8050 – Development and Implementation of Health Care Policy (3 credits)
AGACNP Specialization Courses (28 credits):
NUR 6980 – Fundamentals of Acute Care I (3 credits)
Introduces evidence-based evaluation and management of acute and critical illnesses in adult and gerontologic patients, emphasizing pathophysiology, diagnostics, and advanced clinical decision-making that integrates pharmacology, genetics, aging, and holistic care considerations.
NUR 6982 – Advanced Clinical Decision Making (3 credits)
Develops high-level diagnostic reasoning and critical care management skills through didactic and simulation experiences, focusing on ABG interpretation, ventilator management, cardiac interventions, and analysis of complex diagnostic data in critically ill adults.
NUR 6983 – Fundamentals of Acute Care II (3 credits)
Builds on foundational acute care knowledge with deeper exploration of complex disease processes in adult and geriatric populations, strengthening evidence-based assessment and advanced decision-making within pharmacologic and holistic care frameworks.
NUR 6984 – AGACNP Practicum I (3 credits)
Introduces the Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner role through supervised clinical practice, emphasizing competency development, role integration, healthcare systems navigation, and foundational clinical decision-making (126 hours).
NUR 6985 – Fundamentals of Acute Care III (1 credit)
Provides focused advancement of acute and critical care management concepts, reinforcing clinical reasoning and evidence-based interventions for adult and gerontologic populations.
NUR 6986 – AGACNP Practicum II (6 credits)
Expands clinical proficiency through immersive practice experiences, enhancing advanced assessment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and management of acutely ill patients while integrating healthcare policy and community resources (252 hours).
NUR 6987 – AGACNP Practicum III (6 credits)
Culminates practicum training with mastery of advanced clinical competencies, comprehensive patient management across the acute care continuum, and professional role refinement (252 hours).
NUR 7000 – Project Proposal Paper (3 credits)
Serves as the program’s scholarly capstone, guiding students in the development of a faculty-mentored project proposal that synthesizes theory, research, and clinical expertise.
See the official curriculum page for more details.
MSN Clinicals
MSN-AGACNP students complete a total of 630 supervised clinical hours across three practicum courses in hospital-based acute care settings such as ICUs, trauma units, and emergency departments. HPU provides clinical placement support to help students find approved sites near their location.
- NUR 6984 – AGACNP Practicum I: 126 clinical hours
- NUR 6986 – AGACNP Practicum II: 252 clinical hours
- NUR 6987 – AGACNP Practicum III: 252 clinical hours
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (preferred)
- Active, unencumbered U.S. RN license
- Completed Statistics/Research or Evidence-Based Nursing course
- Prior acute care or inpatient experience recommended (not required)
Application materials required:
- Completed application + $55 application fee
- Official transcripts
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Statement of purpose
BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice – AGACNP (BSN-DNP AGACNP)
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP AGACNP program is $81,541 ($1,117/credit × 73 credits) and would take approximately 34 months full-time or 44 months part-time to complete.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-DNP AGACNP is a 73-credit doctoral pathway that integrates MSN-level AGACNP specialty content with DNP-level coursework in evidence-based practice, systems leadership, quality improvement, and population health — eliminating the need to earn a separate MSN first. Students may transfer up to 12 eligible graduate credits.
Foundational MSN Core Courses include:
- Advanced Practice Roles in a Diverse Society
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
- Advanced Physical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning
- Advanced Nursing Research
- Development and Implementation of Health Care Policy
AGACNP Specialization Courses include:
- Fundamentals of Acute Care I, II, and III
- Advanced Clinical Decision Making
- AGACNP Practicum I, II, and III
DNP-Level Courses include (examples):
- Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement
- Population Health and Systems Leadership
- Healthcare Informatics and Technology
- DNP Capstone Project (3 practicum courses)
See the official curriculum page for more details.
DNP Clinicals
Clinical hours are completed face-to-face in acute care hospital environments. The BSN-DNP track includes the same AGACNP practicum courses as the MSN track, delivering 630+ supervised clinical hours, plus additional DNP capstone practicum hours focused on systems-level practice improvement.
- AGACNP Practicum I, II, III: 630 combined clinical hours
- DNP Capstone Practicum: 3 additional courses targeting organizational and systems-level interventions
- Settings: ICUs, trauma units, EDs, telemetry, specialty acute care clinics
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university
- Active, unencumbered U.S. RN license
- Completed Statistics/Research or Evidence-Based Nursing course
- Prior acute or inpatient nursing experience recommended
Application materials required:
- Completed application + $55 application fee
- Official transcripts
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Statement of purpose
Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP (PMC-AGACNP)
The estimated cost for the PMC-AGACNP program is $27,925 ($1,117/credit × 25 credits) and would take approximately 12 months to complete on a full-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The PMC-AGACNP is a 25-credit, specialization-only certificate for MSN-prepared nurses. No capstone project is required. All core graduate nursing competencies are presumed complete from the student’s existing MSN degree.
Certificate Courses (25 credits):
- NUR 6980 – Fundamentals of Acute Care I (3 credits)
- NUR 6982 – Advanced Clinical Decision Making (3 credits)
- NUR 6983 – Fundamentals of Acute Care II (3 credits)
- NUR 6984 – AGACNP Practicum I (3 credits)
- NUR 6985 – Fundamentals of Acute Care III (1 credit)
- NUR 6986 – AGACNP Practicum II (6 credits)
- NUR 6987 – AGACNP Practicum III (6 credits)
See the official curriculum page for more details.
Certificate Clinicals
PMC-AGACNP students complete 500+ supervised clinical hours across three practicum courses in acute care hospital settings. HPU provides dedicated placement support to connect students with preceptors and approved sites near their location.
- NUR 6984 – AGACNP Practicum I
- NUR 6986 – AGACNP Practicum II
- NUR 6987 – AGACNP Practicum III
- Settings: ICUs, EDs, trauma units, surgical units, inpatient hospitals
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited nursing program
- Active, unencumbered U.S. RN license
- Completed Statistics/Research or Evidence-Based Nursing course
- Completed MSN Core Courses within the past 5 years (or currently practicing as an APRN):
- Advanced Practice Nursing Roles (NUR 6000)
- Advanced Pathophysiology (NUR 6010)
- Advanced Nursing Research (NUR 6020)
- Pharmacology (NUR 6025)
- Physical Assessment (NUR 6030)
- Development & Implementation of Health Care Policy (NUR 8050)
- HPU will conduct a Gap Analysis upon application to identify any missing competencies
- Missing NUR 6000, NUR 6020, or NUR 8050 may be taken as co-requisites in the first semester
Application materials required:
- Completed application + $55 application fee
- Official transcripts
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Statement of purpose
- Semester-specific syllabi (may be requested for Gap Analysis)
Tuition
All HPU AGACNP programs are priced at $1,117 per credit hour. Additional fees include a $55 application fee and a $200 enrollment deposit (applied toward your account upon enrollment).
Federal financial aid, employer tuition assistance, and military/veteran tuition benefits are available.
More curriculum details are available here.
Application Deadlines
- MSN-AGACNP: Summer 2026 – April 24, 2026
- BSN-DNP AGACNP: Summer 2026 – April 24, 2026
- PMC-AGACNP: Summer 2026 – April 10, 2026
Accreditation
All HPU nursing programs — including the MSN, BSN-DNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP tracks — are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
HPU is also accredited by the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC/WSCUC) and participates in NC-SARA for distance education in member states.