University of Louisville offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN-AGACNP)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP)
- Post-Graduate Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PGC-AGACNP)
All programs utilize the NursingCAS centralized application system and require one year of ICU experience (or commitment to complete before clinical courses begin).
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $36,750 | 2 years (full-time) |
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $57,000 | 3 years (full-time) |
| MSN-DNP AGACNP | $22,500 | 2 years (part-time) |
| Certificate AGACNP | $21,750 | 18–24 months |
Master of Science in Nursing
The estimated cost for the MSN-AGACNP program is $36,750 total tuition for Kentucky residents ($750 per credit hour) and $48,461 for non-residents ($989 per credit hour), and would take 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The 49-credit MSN-AGACNP curriculum prepares BSN-prepared registered nurses for national certification as acute care nurse practitioners through 34 credit hours of core coursework, 15 credit hours of specialty courses, 672 patient-centered clinical hours (8 credit hours), and 84 professional role clinical hours (1 credit hour).
The program emphasizes clinical knowledge and leadership skills to improve health outcomes through direct patient care.
MSN Core Courses (34 credit hours):
- NURS 607: Foundational Concepts of Evidence Based Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 643: Quality and Safety in Advanced Practice Nursing (2 credits)
- NURS 657: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse and Vulnerable Populations (3 credits)
- NURS 740: Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 741: Advanced Pathophysiology (4 credits)
- NURS 742: Advanced Physical Assessment (3 credits)
- NURS 749: The Business of Healthcare (2 credits)
- NURS 807: The Professional Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 credits)
- NURS 726: Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP I – 168 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 727: Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP II – 168 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 728: Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP III – 168 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 729: Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP IV – 168 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 840: Clinical Seminar I (1 credit)
- NURS 841: Clinical Seminar II (1 credit)
- NURS 842: Clinical Practicum in the Advanced Practice Role – 84 professional role hours (1 credit)
AGACNP Specialty Courses (15 credit hours):
NURS 754 – Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing (1 credit)
This course builds advanced clinical judgment skills for APRN practice. Students use multiple decision-making methods to choose safe, effective plans of care.
NURS 777 – The Adult/Gerontology Acute Care NP Role (1 credit)
This course explains the AGACNP role in acute care as an expert clinician and team leader. Students review role history, scope and regulation, interprofessional communication, and clinical privileges.
NURS 779 – Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care I (5 credits)
This course focuses on acute and critical care for cardiac, pulmonary, and bleeding-related conditions, including basic X-ray interpretation. Students learn to recognize key signs and symptoms, form diagnoses, and create culturally responsive care plans for adolescents and adults with complex illness.
NURS 780 – Procedures and Diagnostics for the Acute Care NP (2 credits)
This course teaches common acute care procedures and related diagnostic skills. Students practice indications, technique, and complication management in lab sessions before using skills in clinical settings.
NURS 781 – Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care II (3 credits)
This course covers acute care management for renal, autoimmune, gastrointestinal, and trauma-related conditions. Students refine differential diagnosis skills and develop culturally responsive care plans while working within a collaborative care team.
NURS 783 – Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care III (credit not listed)
This course addresses acute care problems in neurology, oncology, and endocrine systems, plus prevention and screening. Students strengthen diagnostic reasoning and plan development for adolescents and adults with complex or critical illness, with attention to care coordination in the health system.
NURS 792 – Pharmacology for the Acute Care APRN (1 credit)
This course applies pharmacology principles to acute care practice in special populations and specialized treatment areas. Students focus on safe medication selection and monitoring in higher-risk clinical situations.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-AGACNP program requires a minimum of 672 patient care clinical hours distributed across four clinical practicum courses (168 hours each) plus 84 professional role clinical hours.
Students complete population-specific patient care experiences in intensive care units, progressive care units, hospital units, and specialty provider offices.
One credit hour equals 84 clinical contact hours. Optional clinical practicum courses (NURS 730 and NURS 731) are available for students requiring additional clinical credit.
For students seeking initial APRN licensure in states requiring 750 clinical hours, an additional 84-hour clinical credit (1 credit hour) is available with standard tuition and fees applied.
MSN Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites and Application Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution and a CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLN-accredited nursing program (exceptions considered for non-US institutions)
- Recommended undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Verification of unencumbered RN license from a US state board of nursing (Kentucky or compact state license required prior to clinicals)
- One year of RN experience in ICU or one year of RN experience in any area plus commitment to complete one year in ICU before beginning clinical courses
- Official transcripts representing all college coursework
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to academic/professional nursing capabilities (from former faculty, current/past employers, or nursing/health professionals, completed within last year)
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Responses to all NursingCAS application questions
- Complete Graduate Admissions Application including reduced application fee
- Criminal background check through Castlebranch (must be approved prior to enrollment)
- International students: Course-by-course evaluation through WES or ECE; proof of English proficiency
Application Process: Applications submitted through NursingCAS plus Graduate School application. Holistic review considers professional goals, academic capabilities, GPA, work experience, leadership, and community engagement.
DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (BSN-DNP)
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP AGACNP program is $57,000 for Kentucky residents ($750 per credit hour for 76 credits) and $75,164 for non-residents ($989 per credit hour), and would take 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The 76-credit BSN-DNP AGACNP curriculum prepares BSN-prepared nurses for doctoral-level advanced practice through 61 credit hours of core DNP coursework and 15 credit hours of AGACNP specialty courses.
The program requires a minimum of 1,000 clinical, professional, and project hours over the last two years, combining advanced clinical knowledge with leadership skills for excellence in nurse practitioner practice.
DNP Core Courses (61 credit hours):
- NURS 560: Wellness in the Advanced Nursing Role (1 credit)
- NURS 607: Foundational Concepts of Evidence Based Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 643: Quality and Safety in Advanced Practice Nursing (2 credits)
- NURS 657: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse and Vulnerable Populations (3 credits)
- NURS 725: Analysis of Leadership and Health Policy (3 credits)
- NURS 740: Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 741: Advanced Pathophysiology (4 credits)
- NURS 742: Advanced Physical Assessment (3 credits)
- NURS 743: Epidemiology (3 credits)
- NURS 744: Synthesis and Evaluation of Evidence in Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 746: Program Development & Evaluation (3 credits)
- NURS 747: Finance Management (2 credits)
- NURS 748: Application of Leadership and Health Policy (1 credit)
- NURS 749: The Business of Healthcare (2 credits)
- NURS 840: Clinical Seminar I (1 credit)
- NURS 841: Clinical Seminar II (1 credit)
- NURS 842: Clinical Practicum in the Advanced Practice Role – 84 clinical hours (1 credit)
- NURS 843: Legal and Professional Topics in the APRN Role (3 credits)
- NURS 791: Applied Statistics for Evidence Based Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 750: DNP Project I: Project Inception – 110 clinical hours (3 credits)
- NURS 751: DNP Project II: Project Implementation – 110 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 752: DNP Project III: Project Evaluation, Analysis and Dissemination – 110 clinical hours (3 credits)
- NURS 787: Clinical Practicum for the DNP NP I – 336 clinical hours (4 credits)
- NURS 788: Clinical Practicum for the DNP NP II – 252 clinical hours (3 credits)
- NURS 789: Clinical Practicum for the DNP NP III – 84 clinical hours (1 credit)
AGACNP Specialty Courses (15 credit hours):
- NURS 754: Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing (1 credit)
- NURS 777: The Adult/Gerontology Acute Care NP Role (1 credit)
- NURS 779: Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care I (5 credits)
- NURS 780: Procedures and Diagnostics for the Acute Care NP (2 credits)
- NURS 781: Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care II (3 credits)
- NURS 783: Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care III (2 credits)
- NURS 792: Pharmacology for the Acute Care APRN (1 credit)
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN-DNP Clinicals
The BSN-DNP AGACNP program requires a minimum of 1,000 clinical, professional, and project hours distributed across the last two years.
Clinical practicum hours include 336 hours (NURS 787), 252 hours (NURS 788), 84 hours (NURS 789), and 84 professional role hours (NURS 842), totaling 756 direct patient care and professional clinical hours.
DNP project hours include 330 hours across three project courses (110 hours each in NURS 750, 751, 752) focused on project inception, implementation, and evaluation. Students who do not complete the DNP project within coursework must enroll in DOC 600 completion course until degree requirements are met.
BSN-DNP Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites and Application Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution and a CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLN-accredited nursing program
- Recommended undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts representing all college coursework
- Verification of unencumbered RN license from US state board of nursing (Kentucky or compact state license required prior to clinical start)
- One year of RN clinical experience in ICU or one year in any area plus commitment to complete one year in ICU before beginning clinical courses
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to academic/professional capabilities and scholarly career potential (from former faculty, current/past employers, or nursing/health professionals, completed within last year)
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Responses to all NursingCAS application questions
- $40 supplemental application fee to graduate admissions (in addition to NursingCAS)
- Criminal background check through Castlebranch (must be approved prior to enrollment)
- International students: Course-by-course evaluation through WES or ECE; English proficiency for non-native speakers
Application Process: Holistic review considering professional goals, academic capabilities, GPA, work experience, leadership, and institutional/community engagement. Applications submitted through NursingCAS plus supplemental graduate admissions application.
DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN-DNP)
The estimated cost for the MSN-DNP AGACNP program is $22,500 for Kentucky residents ($750 per credit hour for 30 credits) and $29,670 for non-residents ($989 per credit hour), and would take 2 years to complete on a part-time basis.
MSN-DNP Curriculum
The 30-credit MSN-DNP curriculum is designed for advanced practice nurses focusing on leadership in population health through doctoral-level coursework.
Clinical hours vary depending on previous master’s preparation, with students required to complete a minimum of 330 project/professional hours for a total of 1,000 post-baccalaureate hours.
Students with less than 670 documented clinical hours in their MSN degree must enroll in a clinical completion course to formally complete additional clinical hours.
MSN-DNP Core Courses (30 credit hours):
- NURS 725: Analysis of Leadership and Health Policy (3 credits)
- NURS 743: Epidemiology (3 credits)
- NURS 744: Synthesis and Evaluation of Evidence in Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 746: Program Development & Evaluation (3 credits)
- NURS 747: Finance Management (2 credits)
- NURS 748: Application of Leadership and Health Policy (1 credit)
- NURS 845: Introduction to the DNP Project and Data Management (1 credit)
- NURS 791: Applied Statistics for Evidence Based Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 750: DNP Project I: Project Inception – 110 clinical hours (3 credits)
- NURS 751: DNP Project II: Project Implementation – 110 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 752: DNP Project III: Project Evaluation, Analysis and Dissemination – 110 clinical hours (3 credits)
- Elective (3 credits)
Note: Advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment, clinical reasoning, and specialty coursework required for non-nurse practitioner MSN-DNP students or nurse practitioners seeking additional specialty.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN-DNP Clinicals
The MSN-DNP program requires a minimum of 1,000 total post-baccalaureate clinical hours. Students must provide documentation of previous clinical hours from their MSN program and complete a minimum of 330 project/professional hours distributed across DNP project courses: 110 hours each in NURS 750 (Project Inception), NURS 751 (Project Implementation), and NURS 752 (Project Evaluation, Analysis and Dissemination). Students with less than 670 documented clinical hours from their MSN degree will need to enroll in a clinical completion course to formally complete additional clinical hours to meet the 1,000-hour requirement.
MSN-DNP Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites and Application Requirements:
- Master of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution and BSN and MSN from CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLN-accredited nursing programs
- Recommended graduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts representing all college coursework
- Verification of unencumbered RN license from US state board of nursing
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to academic/professional capabilities and scholarly career potential (from former faculty, current/past employers, or nursing/health professionals, completed within last year)
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Responses to all NursingCAS application questions
- $40 supplemental application fee to graduate admissions
- Criminal background check through Castlebranch (must be approved prior to enrollment)
- International students: Course-by-course evaluation through WES or ECE; English proficiency for non-native speakers
Application Process: Holistic review process considering professional goals, academic capabilities, GPA, work experience, leadership, and institutional/community engagement. Applications submitted through NursingCAS plus supplemental graduate admissions application.
Post-Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the PGC-AGACNP program is $21,750 for Kentucky residents ($750 per credit hour for 29 credits) and $28,681 for non-residents ($989 per credit hour), and would take approximately 18-24 months to complete.
Post-Graduate Certificate Curriculum
The 29-credit Post-Graduate Certificate prepares master’s or terminal degree-prepared registered nurses for eligibility and national certification as Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners.
The curriculum includes prerequisite core courses (if not previously completed), specialty courses, clinical practicum hours, and professional role coursework.
A program of study is created based on gap analysis of official transcripts and professional credentials.
Prerequisite Core Courses (10 credit hours, if needed):
- NURS 740: Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 741: Advanced Pathophysiology (4 credits)
- NURS 742: Advanced Physical Assessment (3 credits)
AGACNP Specialty Courses and Clinical Requirements (29 credit hours total including core if needed):
- NURS 754: Clinical Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing (1 credit)
- NURS 777: The Adult/Gerontology Acute Care NP Role (1 credit)
- NURS 779: Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care I (5 credits)
- NURS 780: Procedures and Diagnostics for the Acute Care NP (2 credits)
- NURS 781: Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care II (3 credits)
- NURS 783: Diagnosis & Management in Acute Care III (2 credits)
- NURS 792: Pharmacology for the Acute Care APRN (1 credit)
- NURS 807: The Professional Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 credits) – not required for APRNs seeking second specialty
- NURS 726: Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP I – 168 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 727: Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP II – 168 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 728: Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP III – 168 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 729: Clinical Practicum for the MSN NP IV – 168 clinical hours (2 credits)
- NURS 840: Clinical Seminar I (1 credit)
- NURS 841: Clinical Seminar II (1 credit)
- NURS 842: Clinical Practicum in the Advanced Practice Role – 84 clinical hours (1 credit) – not required for APRNs seeking second specialty
More curriculum details are available here.
Post-Graduate Certificate Clinicals
The Post-Graduate Certificate requires minimum clinical hours based on previous preparation: APRNs seeking an additional specialty complete a minimum of 504 population-specific clinical hours, while all other students complete a minimum of 672 patient care clinical hours plus 84 professional role clinical hours.
Clinical hours are distributed across four clinical practicum courses (168 hours each in NURS 726-729) plus 84 professional role hours (NURS 842). One credit hour equals 84 clinical clock hours.
For students seeking initial APRN licensure in states requiring 750 clinical hours, an additional 84-hour clinical credit is available with standard tuition applied.
Post-Graduate Certificate Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites and Application Requirements:
- Master of Science in Nursing degree or terminal nursing degree (PhD, EdD, DNP) from a regionally accredited institution and CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLN-accredited nursing program
- Recommended graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts representing all college coursework
- Unencumbered RN license from US state board of nursing (Kentucky or compact state license required prior to clinicals)
- One year of RN experience in ICU or one year in any area plus commitment to complete one year in ICU before beginning clinical courses
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to academic/professional capabilities and potential (from former faculty, current/past employers, or nursing/health professionals, completed within last year)
- Current resume or curriculum vitae including RN license number
- Goal statement addressing reasons for applying, short/long-term goals, motivation for specialty, and professional growth/development
- University of Louisville Graduate Admission Application with application fee
- Criminal background check through Castlebranch (must be approved prior to enrollment)
- International students: Course-by-course evaluation through WES or ECE; English proficiency for non-native speakers
Application Process: Holistic review considering professional goals, academic capabilities, GPAs, work experience, leadership, and community engagement. Minimum 3.0 GPA required in all coursework for graduation.
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition at University of Louisville is $750 per credit hour for Kentucky residents and $989 per credit hour for non-residents. Full-time tuition (9+ credit hours per semester) is $6,746 for residents and $8,899 for non-residents.
The MSN-AGACNP program (49 credits) totals $36,750 for residents and $48,461 for non-residents.
The BSN-DNP program (76 credits) totals $57,000 for residents and $75,164 for non-residents.
The MSN-DNP program (30 credits) totals $22,500 for residents and $29,670 for non-residents. The Post-Graduate Certificate (29 credits) totals $21,750 for residents and $28,681 for non-residents.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The University of Louisville School of Nursing’s baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, postgraduate APRN certificate, and Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or the National League for Nursing (NLN).
Graduates from all AGACNP programs are prepared to apply for APRN certification in their population track upon graduation and are eligible for national certification examinations; however, educational preparation does not guarantee professional licensure, which is granted by individual state licensing authorities.
Other ACNP Programs for Kentucky Nurses
- Bellarmine University - Louisville
- Northern Kentucky University - Highland Heights
- University of Kentucky - Lexington