Boise State University offers 1 acute care nurse practitioner track:
- BSN to DNP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $57K-$63K | 3 years (8 semesters) | 70 |
Tuition is calculated from Boise State’s published per-credit range, not a published program total.
Boise State’s AGACNP is a doctorate-only pathway open to RNs in 21 states, with no RN experience requirement and student-initiated clinical placements.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BSN to DNP |
| Population Focus | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP), patients age 12 and older |
| Format | Mostly Online |
| Campus Visits | Two required summer intensives in Boise, Idaho |
| Clinical Hours | 780 across four clinical courses |
| Clinical Placement | Student identifies preceptors and sites; school completes the paperwork |
| RN Experience | None required |
| Distinctive Coursework | Acute Care Procedures and Diagnostics |
| Start Terms | Fall (full-time) or spring (part-time) |
| Tuition | $820-$895 per credit, same rate for all states |
| Certification | AGACNP-BC (ANCC) or ACNPC-AG (AACN) |
| Accreditation | CCNE (DNP), through December 31, 2030 |
| State Restrictions | Licensure requirements met in 21 states only |
BSN to DNP AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the BS to DNP, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at Boise State is approximately $57,400-$62,650 (70 credits at $820-$895/credit). The program can generally be completed in about 3 years full-time.
BSN to DNP AGACNP Curriculum
The full-time plan runs 70 credits over eight consecutive semesters, summers included. Acute care specialty content begins in the fifth semester.
- NURS-DNP 510, 516, 518, 519: advanced physiology, pharmacotherapeutics, health assessment, and assessment lab (Year 1)
- NURS-DNP 534/535: Diagnosis and Management Across the Lifespan, theory and clinical (6 credits, Fall 2)
- NURS-DNP 536/537: Acute Care Management of Adult/Geriatric Health and Illness I, theory and clinical (7 credits, Spring 2)
- NURS-DNP 549: Acute Care Procedures and Diagnostics (3 credits, Summer 2)
- NURS-DNP 550: Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics II (3 credits, Summer 2)
- NURS-DNP 538/539: Acute Care Management II, theory and clinical (7 credits, Fall 3)
- NURS-DNP 541: Acute Care Clinical Practicum (4 credits, Spring 3)
- DNP core: biostatistics, evidence-based practice, informatics, quality and safety, population health, policy and economics, APRN leadership, and three DNP seminars
More curriculum details are available here.
Clinical Requirements
- Total hours: 780 hours of direct patient care
- Rotations: three 180-hour rotations plus one 240-hour practicum
- Clinical start: fourth semester for fall full-time entrants, sixth semester for spring part-time entrants
- Placement: students initiate contact with preceptors and sites in their own area; the clinical placement team completes the administrative process once a site is identified
- Health requirements: vary by state and health system
You Should Know: Boise State does not arrange placements. Students who cannot secure an acute care preceptor locally should expect delays in clinical progression.
Campus Requirements
- Intensives: two mandatory summer intensives on campus in Boise
- Costs: travel, room, and board are the student’s responsibility
- Length and dates: not published for the DNP
RN Experience and Licensure
- Experience: no minimum RN experience required at application or before clinicals
- License: valid, unencumbered RN license
- Practice state: must be an RN in a state where the program meets licensure requirements
You Should Know: Boise State’s licensure disclosure lists 21 states where the program meets APRN requirements: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. All other states, DC, and the territories are listed as not met.
BSN to DNP AGACNP Admissions
- Degree: BSN; master’s-prepared applicants may have courses waived after transcript review
- Documents: personal statement (500 words maximum), resume or CV, three letters of recommendation
- Interview: video interview for finalists
- Fall deadline: July 1 priority, August 1 final
- Spring deadline: September 1 priority, November 1 final
- Fees: $65 Graduate College application fee plus $20 nursing fee
You Should Know: Fall entry is full-time and spring entry is part-time. Choosing spring pushes the first clinical course from the fourth semester to the sixth.
Be aware: Boise State’s Master of Nursing AGNP no longer accepts applications; the BSN to DNP replaced it. The separate 29-credit Post-Master’s DNP serves practicing APRNs and includes no AGACNP coursework.
Tuition
Boise State lists tuition and distance education fees at $820-$895 per credit, with one rate regardless of residency.
| Program | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP AGACNP | 70 | $57,400-$62,650 |
- Clinical course fees: $0-$1,100 per clinical course
- Graduation fee: $20
- Intensives: travel, lodging, and meals for two trips to Boise
Important: Boise State publishes a per-credit range, not a single rate for this program. The estimate above spans that range and excludes clinical fees.
See the official program cost page.
Financial Aid
Graduate students apply through the Boise State financial aid office. The program offers no tuition waiver for Boise State employees.
Why Choose This ACNP Program?
- No RN experience gate. New BSN graduates can apply and enter clinical courses without logging acute care or ICU time first.
- Single rate across states. RNs in all 21 eligible states pay the same per-credit tuition as Idaho residents.
- Two campus trips in three years. Coursework is online; on-campus time is limited to two summer intensives in Boise.
- A procedures course. NURS-DNP 549 covers acute care procedures and diagnostics before the final two clinical courses.
The program suits RNs in the 21 eligible states who want a doctorate, have no acute care experience yet, and can find their own hospital preceptors.
Accreditation and Certification
Boise State’s Doctor of Nursing Practice is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The current accreditation dates from March 2020 and runs through December 31, 2030, with the next evaluation in spring 2030.
CCNE also accredits the school’s baccalaureate and master’s programs. No post-graduate APRN certificate program is listed, and Boise State does not offer an AGACNP certificate.
The university holds institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Graduates are prepared for adult-gerontology acute care certification: the ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC) exam or the AACN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (ACNPC-AG) exam.