The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Graduate Certificate – AG ACNP
- BS-to-DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master’s DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate AGACNP | ~$16,918 | 3 Semesters (~1 Year) |
| BS-to-DNP AGACNP | ~$38,421 | 3 Years Full-Time |
| Post-Master’s DNP AGACNP | Varies by entry point | Varies by entry point |
UWM’s AGACNP offerings span three distinct entry points — post-graduate certificate for practicing APRNs, a BSN-entry doctoral pathway, and a post-master’s DNP for those already holding an advanced practice degree.
All tracks prepare graduates to sit for ANCC or AACCN AG ACNP national certification exams, with licensure eligibility in all 50 states upon certification.
Graduate Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated resident tuition cost for the UWM AG ACNP Graduate Certificate is approximately $16,918 (3 semesters × ~7 credits at $5,639.21/semester) and would take approximately 1 year (3 semesters) to complete. The program begins in Spring with consecutive Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters.
⚠️ Credit Discrepancy: The program overview page lists 18 credits; the academic catalog lists 21 credits (three 3-credit theory courses + three 4-credit practicum courses). The catalog figure of 21 credits is used throughout this page. Verify with UWM’s College of Nursing prior to enrollment.
Certificate Curriculum
The curriculum is structured in three paired theory-practicum blocks, progressing from chronic illness management through acute illness to critical illness.
- Theory Courses (9 credits)
- NURS 702 – Advanced Health and Illness Management for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I (3 cr.)
- NURS 703 – Advanced Health and Illness Management for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II (3 cr.)
- NURS 704 – Advanced Practice Nursing Adult-Gerontology Critical Illness (3 cr.)
- Practicum Courses (12 credits)
- NURS 822 – AG ACNP Practicum I (4 cr.)
- NURS 823 – AG ACNP Practicum II (4 cr.)
- NURS 824 – AG ACNP Practicum III (4 cr.)
Up to one 3-credit course may be transferred in from another institution, subject to faculty and DNP Program Director approval.
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
Certificate Clinicals
Practicum courses account for 12 of the 21 certificate credits (57%), distributed evenly across three progressive placements. Practicum placements are arranged collaboratively by UWM’s College of Nursing.
- NURS 822 – AG ACNP Practicum I (4 cr.)
- NURS 823 – AG ACNP Practicum II (4 cr.)
- NURS 824 – AG ACNP Practicum III (4 cr.)
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 required in all certificate courses to progress and receive certificate
- All courses must be completed within 1 year of enrollment
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s or doctoral degree in Nursing from an accredited program with preparation as NP, CNS, CNM, or CRNA
- Current APRN certification in existing specialty
- Current RN license in the state of Wisconsin
- Minimum 1 year of clinical experience relevant to the specialty (medical-surgical, ICU, PACU, or ED)
- Minimum 1 year of practice as an advanced practice nurse at time of starting coursework — acute care experience (inpatient, ICU, ED, PACU) highly preferred
- Graduate-level courses completed with B or better in: advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment (current Wisconsin prescriptive authority accepted in place of pharmacology)
- Three letters of recommendation (2 must address recent academic/work experience)
- Personal statement with rationale for certificate study and career goals
- Current resume or CV
- Minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA
- Faculty interview may be required
- Must apply through UWM Graduate School admissions system (applies even if already enrolled in a UWM graduate program)
- Contact the College of Nursing Student Affairs Academic Advisor before submitting an application — admission requirements are described as “in transition”
⚠️ Wisconsin RN License Required: Applicants must hold a current RN license in Wisconsin. Out-of-state applicants should verify eligibility before applying.
BS-to-DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated resident tuition for the UWM BS-to-DNP AGACNP program is approximately $38,421 and would take approximately 3 years full-time to complete. Non-resident students should budget approximately $78,714 at the same semester structure.
Estimate based on 6 semesters × $6,403.46 at the 8+ credit plateau, resident rate.
DNP Curriculum
The 65-credit post-baccalaureate curriculum is organized into four core areas plus a DNP project, with 27 credits dedicated to AGACNP specialty theory and practicum.
- Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice Core (9 credits)
- NURS 726 – Advanced Perspectives on Cultural Diversity and Disparities in Health Care (3 cr.)
- NURS 728 – Population Health for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr.)
- NURS 735 – Foundations of Scholarly Writing (3 cr.)
- Evidence-Based Practice Core (9 credits)
- NURS 720 – Biostatistics and Applications for Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
- NURS 725 – Advanced Evidence-Based Practice in Health Care (3 cr.)
- NURS 805 – Implementation Science Methods (3 cr.)
- Systems Core (12 credits)
- NURS 750 – Quality Outcomes and Safety (3 cr.)
- NURS 773 – Applied Health Informatics (3 cr.)
- NURS 803 – Health Systems Policy and Economics (3 cr.)
- NURS 804 – Health Systems Leadership (3 cr.)
- AGACNP Specialty Theory and Practicum (27 credits) — see Clinicals section below
- DNP Project Core (8 credits)
- NURS 993 – DNP Project I: Plan (2 cr.)
- NURS 994 – DNP Project II: Proposal (2 cr.)
- NURS 995 – DNP Project III: Leadership Practice Immersion (4 cr.)
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
DNP Clinicals
The AGACNP specialty component totals 27 credits and includes an advanced practice core, specialty theory, and three practicum courses. The DNP Project III (Leadership Practice Immersion) adds 460 additional clinical hours in the student’s specialty focus area.
- Advanced Practice Specialty Core (9 credits)
- NURS 707 – Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics
- NURS 753 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
- NURS 754 – Advanced Health Assessment
- Specialty Theory (9 credits)
- NURS 702 – Advanced Health and Illness Management for AG Acute Care I
- NURS 703 – Advanced Health and Illness Management for AG Acute Care II
- NURS 704 – Advanced Practice Nursing AG Critical Illness
- Practicum (9 credits)
- NURS 822 – AG ACNP Practicum I
- NURS 823 – AG ACNP Practicum II
- NURS 824 – AG ACNP Practicum III
- DNP Project III includes 460 additional clinical hours in the AGACNP specialty
- Practicums are in hospital or specialty clinic settings
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Nursing from a professionally accredited program
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale)
- One year of RN experience
- Current, unencumbered RN license
- Undergraduate statistics course completed with grade of B or higher within the last 5 years
- Three letters of recommendation (2 from persons familiar with recent academic/work experience)
- Personal statement
- Current CV or resume
- One writing sample
- Faculty interview may be requested
- Students admitted for Fall or Spring semester; part-time or full-time plans of study available
- Must complete all degree requirements within 7 years of first enrollment
- Minimum grade of B- required in all nursing courses; overall GPA of 3.0 required for degree
Post-Master’s DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost and duration for the UWM Post-Master’s DNP AGACNP program varies by entry point — an individualized plan of study is developed based on prior graduate coursework and transcript review.
Two primary post-master’s pathways exist:
- the Post-Generalist Master’s track (minimum 41 credits)
- the Post-Master’s track for other nursing master’s degrees, with credit requirements determined individually
Post-Master’s DNP Curriculum
The Post-Generalist Master’s (MN or equivalent) pathway requires a minimum of 41 credits. Students entering with other nursing master’s degrees (e.g., Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership) receive an individualized plan of study incorporating the AGACNP specialty requirements below.
- Post-Generalist Master’s Required Coursework (41 credits minimum)
- NURS 726 – Advanced Perspectives on Cultural Diversity and Disparities in Health Care (3 cr.)
- NURS 728 – Population Health for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr.)
- NURS 735 – Foundations of Scholarly Writing (3 cr.)
- NURS 804 – Health Systems Leadership (3 cr.)
- NURS 805 – Implementation Science Methods (3 cr.)
- Specialty Theory and Practicum (18 cr.)
- DNP Project I–III (8 cr.)
- AGACNP Specialty Requirements (for non-AGACNP advanced practice master’s entry — 27 credits)
- Advanced Practice Specialty Core: NURS 707, 753, 754 (9 cr.)
- Specialty Theory: NURS 702, 703, 704 (9 cr.)
- Practicum: NURS 822, 823, 824 (9 cr.)
Post-Master’s DNP Clinicals
Clinical practicum requirements mirror the BS-to-DNP specialty practicum (NURS 822, 823, 824 — 9 credits total). The DNP Project III (Leadership Practice Immersion) adds 460 additional clinical hours.
- NURS 822, 823, 824 – AG ACNP Practicums I, II, III (9 cr. combined)
- NURS 995 – DNP Project III: Leadership Practice Immersion (460 clinical hours; 4 cr., may span 1–2 semesters)
Post-Master’s DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Nursing from a professionally accredited program, minimum GPA 3.0
- One year of RN experience
- Current, unencumbered RN license
- Statistics course (B or higher) within the last 5 years
- Three letters of recommendation (2 from academic/professional contacts)
- Personal statement, CV or resume, one writing sample
- Faculty interview may be requested
- Students with a UWM master’s degree must formally reapply to the Graduate School before pursuing the DNP
- Must complete all degree requirements within 5 years of first enrollment (post-master’s track)
- Minimum grade of B- in all nursing courses; overall GPA of 3.0 required for degree
Tuition
UWM uses a tiered per-semester fee structure (not a flat per-credit rate). Rates shown are Spring 2026. Segregated fees are included in all rates below.
| Credits/Semester | Resident | Non-Resident | MN Reciprocity | Midwest Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,053.71 | $1,893.15 | $1,689.84 | $1,400.65 |
| 2 | $1,817.96 | $3,496.84 | $3,090.22 | $2,511.84 |
| 3 | $2,582.21 | $5,100.53 | $4,490.60 | $3,623.03 |
| 4 | $3,346.46 | $6,704.22 | $5,890.98 | $4,734.22 |
| 5 | $4,110.71 | $8,307.91 | $7,291.36 | $5,845.41 |
| 6 | $4,874.96 | $9,911.60 | $8,691.74 | $6,956.60 |
| 7 | $5,639.21 | $11,515.29 | $10,092.12 | $8,067.79 |
| 8+ | $6,403.46 | $13,118.98 | $11,492.50 | $9,178.98 |
An additional $30/credit instructional technology fee applies to all online and hybrid courses. Special course fees and differential tuition may apply and are not reflected in the table above. Students enrolled in standalone certificate programs are generally not eligible for federal Title IV financial aid; private loans may be available.
More tuition details are available here.
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program. UWM directs applicants to review the Graduate School application deadline chart for specific dates. Early application is recommended for certificate programs; late applications are possible but may delay certificate conferral. All applications must be submitted through the UWM Graduate School admissions system.
Accreditation
UWM’s nursing programs are accredited through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Graduates of all three AGACNP tracks are eligible to sit for the AG ACNP national certification exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACCN), with licensure eligibility in all 50 states upon certification.
More ACNP Programs In Wisconsin
- Marquette University - Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin Madison - Madison
- Viterbo University - La Crosse