UT Tyler ACNP Programs

University of Texas at Tyler offers a Post-Master’s Certificate for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP Certificate).

Key program highlights include:

  • Doctoral-level certificate requiring 30 credit hours with 750 total clinical hours
  • Two-year program delivered online with sequential coursework
  • Designed for MSN-prepared nurses who have completed prerequisite advanced practice courses

The program prepares graduates to care for adults and adolescents with acute or chronic illnesses across healthcare settings, with emphasis on evaluation, diagnosis, and management through a head-to-toe body systems approach.

Program Track Overview

Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP

The estimated cost for the AGACNP Certificate program is approximately $16,500-$23,460 (30 credits, exact graduate nursing rate not specified in documents) and would take 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.

Certificate Curriculum

The AGACNP Certificate curriculum requires 30 semester credit hours delivered over 2 years with courses taken sequentially, combining four didactic courses focused on principles of acute care with six practicum courses totaling 750 clinical hours.

Year 1:
1st Semester (6 Credits):

NURS 7351 – Principles of Acute Care 1 (3 credits) – First didactic course exploring AGACNP role in managing adult and geriatric patients with acute, chronic, and critical illnesses across healthcare settings

NURS 7352 – Principles of Acute Care 2 (3 credits) – Second didactic course building on NURS 7351 concepts with continued body systems review in head-to-toe progression

2nd Semester (6 Credits):

NURS 7353 – Principles of Acute Care 3 (3 credits) – Third didactic course building upon NURS 7351 and 7352 with continued head-to-toe body systems progression

NURS 7354 – Principles of Acute Care 4 (3 credits) – Final didactic course completing head-to-toe body systems review for evaluation, diagnosis, and management of acute, chronic, and critical conditions

3rd Semester (6 Credits):

NURS 7383 – Practicum I for the AGACNP (3 credits, 125 clinical hours) – First clinical course implementing AGACNP role across healthcare settings

NURS 7384 – Practicum II for the AGACNP (3 credits, 125 clinical hours) – Second clinical course building upon NURS 7383 experiences

Year 2:
1st Semester (6 Credits):

NURS 7385 – Practicum III for the AGACNP (3 credits, 125 clinical hours) – Third clinical course building upon prior practicum experiences

NURS 7386 – Practicum IV for the AGACNP (3 credits, 125 clinical hours) – Fourth clinical course with continued interprofessional team collaboration

2nd Semester (6 Credits):

NURS 7387 – Practicum V for the AGACNP (3 credits, 125 clinical hours) – Fifth clinical course advancing clinical competencies

NURS 7388 – Practicum VI for the AGACNP (3 credits, 125 clinical hours) – Final clinical course preparing for role transition upon graduation

Total Program: 30 Semester Credit Hours, 750 Clinical Hours

More curriculum details are available here.

Certificate Clinicals

Certificate students complete 750 direct patient clinical hours distributed evenly across six practicum courses (125 hours each), with precepted clinical experiences focused on implementing the AGACNP role as member of interprofessional teams.

Clinical Requirements:

  • Total 750 direct patient clinical hours required
  • Six practicum courses (NURS 7383, 7384, 7385, 7386, 7387, 7388)
  • Each practicum course requires 125 precepted clinical hours
  • Clinical experiences across healthcare settings
  • Focus on evaluation, diagnosis, and management of adult and geriatric patients experiencing acute, chronic, and critical illness
  • Students serve as members of interprofessional teams
  • Development and implementation of evidence-based, person-centered care plans required
  • Limited seminar time incorporated to prepare for role transition upon graduation
  • Courses must be taken sequentially with prerequisite completion required

Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions

Prerequisites: Students must have completed the following graduate-level coursework before starting the AGACNP program:

  • Advanced Pathophysiology (NURS 5350)
  • Advanced Health Assessment (NURS 5352)
  • Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (NURS 5354)

Academic Requirements:

  • MSN degree from nationally accredited nursing program
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 for last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate work
  • Undergraduate statistics course completed with grade of “C” or better
  • Degree from institution accredited by agencies recognized by Department of Education (verifiable through DOE database)

Clinical Experience:

  • One year of full-time direct patient care within last four years required for APRN post-master’s certificate applicants
  • One year of experience as RN within four years prior to application date

Licensure Requirements:

  • Current unencumbered licensure as Registered Nurse in state(s) where clinical practicum will occur

Application Materials:

  • One-page personal statement
  • Official transcripts verifying minimum 3.0 GPA
  • CV or resume strongly recommended to verify relevant work history
  • Three professional and/or academic references with Reference Form
  • Proof of current unencumbered RN licensure

International Applicants:

  • Must meet admission requirements for international students seeking graduate degree
  • Evidence of English proficiency required: TOEFL iBT 79, TOEFL PBT 550, PTE 53, or IELTS 6.5 overall band score and 6.0 in each subsection

Application Process:

  • Step 1: Apply to university through Graduate School
  • Step 2: Submit official transcripts directly to gradadmissions@uttyler.edu
  • Step 3: Submit nursing documents via Nursing Document link
  • Application fee: $50 domestic students, $75 international students (waived for UT Tyler alumni)
  • Transfer students: Maximum nine credit hours allowed, subject to review for equivalency

Admission Levels:

  • Full Acceptance Status: Met all admission requirements
  • Conditional Acceptance Status: Met some but not all requirements, reviewed by Graduate Studies Committee
  • Provisional Acceptance Status: Available for certain programs

Application Deadline:

  • August 9 (Fall admission)

Additional Considerations: UT Tyler gives consideration for admission based on: demonstrated commitment to chosen field, involvement in extracurricular activities/employment/community service, family responsibility for raising children, and geographic region of residence.

Tuition

  • Texas Residents: Approximately $26,100-$34,800 (tuition and fees only, based on 3-4 semesters)
  • Out-of-State Students: Approximately $53,796-$71,728 (tuition and fees only, based on 3-4 semesters)

The AGACNP Certificate requires 30 credit hours typically completed over 2 years (approximately 3-4 semesters depending on course sequencing).

Graduate tuition for Texas residents is based on state tuition ($928 for 9 credit hours per semester) plus board tuition ($5,804 for 9 credit hours per semester) and mandatory fees ($1,968 per semester for 9 credit hours).

Out-of-state students pay higher state tuition ($8,714 for 9 credit hours per semester) plus board tuition ($7,250 for 9 credit hours per semester) and the same mandatory fees.

Per Semester Cost Breakdown (9 Credit Hours):

  • Texas Residents: $8,700 (state tuition $928 + board tuition $5,804 + fees $1,968)
  • Out-of-State Students: $17,932 (state tuition $8,714 + board tuition $7,250 + fees $1,968)

Additional Costs:

  • Application fee: $50 for domestic students, $75 for international students (waived for UT Tyler alumni)
  • Books and supplies: Approximately $2,920 per academic year
  • Housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses vary by student circumstances
  • Loan fees: Approximately $300 per semester if borrowing federal loans

Cost of Attendance Considerations: Total cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, housing, food, books, supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and loan fees.

Actual costs vary based on residency status, living arrangements (at home with parents, on-campus, or off-campus), and individual choices.

For 9 credit hours per semester, total cost of attendance ranges from $23,664 (resident at home) to $40,154 (out-of-state off-campus).

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate program at University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing is a doctoral-level certificate from a nationally accredited nursing program. All certificates are awarded by The University of Texas at Tyler and reflected on the student’s official transcript once conferred. Graduates are eligible to sit for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).

Academic Standards

GPA Requirements:

  • Students must maintain cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • All graduate degree regulations and policies applicable to certificate program

Program Completion:

  • All courses must be taken sequentially
  • Students should consult advisor for degree requirements and schedule planning
  • Program requirements and course offerings subject to change

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