The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers 5 acute care nurse practitioner tracks:
- MSN AGACNP (optional RNFA subspecialty)
- MSN PNP-AC
- BSN to DNP AGACNP
- BSN to DNP PNP-AC
- Post-Graduate APRN Certificate (AGACNP or PNP-AC)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $36.5K | 2-2.3 years (6-7 semesters) | 45 |
| MSN PNP-AC | $36.5K | 2-2.3 years (6-7 semesters) | 45 |
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $64.4K | 3-3.3 years (9-10 semesters) | 79 |
| BSN-DNP PNP-AC | $64.4K | 3-3.3 years (9-10 semesters) | 79 |
| Certificate | $21.7K | 1.3 years (4 semesters) | 27+ |
Tuition is calculated from the published per-credit rate and per-course fee.
UAB offers both acute care population foci at the MSN, BSN-DNP, and certificate levels, all at one $744 distance rate regardless of residency. NP pathways are closed to residents of 16 states.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN, BSN to DNP, Post-Graduate APRN Certificate |
| Population Focus | AGACNP; PNP-AC |
| Format | Mostly Online: online classes plus on-campus orientation and intensives |
| Campus Visits | Orientation and annual intensives; count and length not published for MSN |
| Clinical Hours | Clock hours not published; practica listed in credits only |
| Clinical Placement | School assists with sites and preceptors from 5,000+ clinical affiliates |
| RN Experience | None stated for AGACNP; 1 year full-time pediatric RN for PNP-AC |
| Distinctive Coursework | Optional 9-credit RN First Assist (RNFA) subspecialty |
| License Requirements | Unencumbered RN license in the state of clinical practicum |
| Start Terms | Summer and fall; certificate summer only |
| Tuition | $744 per credit, resident and non-resident, plus $235 per course |
| Certification | AGACNP-BC or ACNPC-AG; CPNP-AC |
| Accreditation | CCNE (MSN, DNP, post-graduate APRN certificate) |
| State Restrictions | NP pathways closed to 16 states |
Requirements Shared Across All Tracks
Clinical Requirements
- Practicum sequence: a specialty focus course plus three practica (4, 4, and 5 credits) in consecutive fall, spring, and summer terms
- Supervision: acute and critical care advanced practice providers; pediatric acute care providers for PNP-AC
- Placement: UAB assists students in securing sites and preceptors from more than 5,000 clinical affiliates; placement is not described as guaranteed
- Clock hours: not published for any track
- Licensure: unencumbered, unrestricted RN license in the state where the practicum takes place
Be aware: UAB lists 10 clinical credits for the MSN and 20 for the DNP, but the current plans of study show practicum courses totaling 13 credits (MSN) and 16 specialty practicum credits (DNP).
Campus Requirements
- Orientation: on-campus orientation in Birmingham
- Intensives: on-campus intensives in the specialty sequence; DNP students attend an annual intensive
- Travel estimate: UAB budgets about $800 per year for DNP intensive travel and lodging
- Coursework: online with synchronous class sessions
RN Experience and Licensure
- AGACNP: no RN experience requirement published for the MSN, DNP, or certificate
- PNP-AC: at least one year of full-time RN experience in direct pediatric care, required by program start
- Qualifying pediatric settings: urgent care, emergency departments, specialty clinics, inpatient floors, critical care units
You Should Know: The pediatric experience gate applies at program start, not before clinicals. An applicant short of one year at the summer deadline may need to target the following fall.
Common Admissions (MSN and BSN-DNP)
- Degree: BSN from a regionally accredited institution; MSN applicants need a CCNE- or CNEA-accredited program
- GPA: 3.0 cumulative or on the last 60 semester hours
- Testing: GRE (297 verbal plus quantitative) or GMAT (480) if GPA is below 3.2; scores within five years
- References: three professional letters
- Prerequisite: descriptive statistics, equivalent to UAB MA 180, before starting
- Deadlines: Summer 2027 entry, October 8, 2026; Fall 2027 entry, February 11, 2027
- International students: not eligible for F-1 or J-1 visas; U.S. RN license required
You Should Know: UAB does not accept NP students from California, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, or Wyoming. The exclusion covers the MSN, BSN-DNP, certificate, and subspecialty options.
MSN AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at UAB is approximately $36,535 (45 credits at $744/credit plus the per-course fee). The program can generally be completed in about 2 to 2.3 years.
MSN AGACNP Curriculum
- APRN core (18 credits): NUR 612, 613, 614, 729, 735, 737
- NCA 618L: Focus on Practice Specialization (3 credits, summer)
- NCA 621: Advanced Adult/Gerontology Nursing I, Acute Care (4 credits, fall)
- NCA 685L: Practicum I (4 credits, fall)
- NCA 622: Advanced Adult/Gerontology Nursing II, Acute Care (4 credits, spring)
- NCA 686L: Practicum II (4 credits, spring)
- NCA 623: Advanced Adult/Gerontology Nursing III, Acute Care (3 credits, summer)
- NCA 692L: Practicum III (5 credits, summer)
More curriculum details are available here.
RNFA Subspecialty
- Credits: 9 (NFA 620 Surgical Techniques, NFA 621 and NFA 622 Advanced Perioperative Nursing)
- Added cost: about $7,401 (9 credits at $744 plus three course fees)
- References: two of three letters must attest to RN experience and perioperative patient care skills
- Post-baccalaureate route: a non-degree RNFA certificate is open to BSN nurses holding CNOR certification
You Should Know: UAB’s AGACNP page lists RNFA as summer admission only, while its subspecialty page lists fall entry only. Confirm the entry term before planning around the add-on.
MSN PNP-AC
The estimated tuition for the MSN Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at UAB is approximately $36,535 (45 credits at $744/credit plus the per-course fee). The program can generally be completed in about 2 to 2.3 years.
MSN PNP-AC Curriculum
The PNP-AC plan mirrors the AGACNP credit structure, with pediatric courses in place of the adult-gerontology sequence.
- APRN core (18 credits): NUR 612, 613, 614, 729, 735, 737
- NCC 618L: Focus on Practice Specialization (3 credits, summer)
- NCC 621, 622, 623: Advanced Pediatric Nursing I-III, Acute Care (4, 4, 3 credits)
- NCC 685L, 686L, 692L: Practicum I-III (4, 4, 5 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN PNP-AC Admissions
- Pediatric experience: one year full-time direct pediatric RN care by program start (see shared section)
- References: two letters from pediatric supervisors or providers encouraged
BSN to DNP AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at UAB is approximately $64,416 (79 credits at $744/credit plus the per-course fee). The program can generally be completed in about 3 to 3.3 years.
DNP AGACNP Curriculum
The DNP uses the same specialty sequence as the MSN, renumbered at the 700 level, after two years of doctoral and APRN core coursework. UAB does not publish an MSN awarded en route.
- Doctoral core: NUR 700, 733, 740, 742, 743, 745, and NQI 702
- DNP project: NUR 738 Project Planning (3 credits), NUR 739 Project Seminar (7 credits over two terms)
- NUR 701L: Writing for Publication (3 credits, final summer)
- Specialty sequence: NCA 618L, NCA 721-723, and practica NCA 785L, 786L, 792L in year three
- Entry term: fall entry takes 9 semesters; summer entry takes 10
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP AGACNP Admissions
- License: RN license in the state where coursework is completed
- Resume: CV required
BSN to DNP PNP-AC
The estimated tuition for the DNP Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at UAB is approximately $64,416 (79 credits at $744/credit plus the per-course fee). The program can generally be completed in about 3 to 3.3 years.
The doctoral core, project courses, and term structure match the DNP AGACNP. The specialty sequence is NCC 618L, NCC 721-723, and practica NCC 785L, 786L, and 792L. Admission adds the one-year pediatric RN experience requirement and a CV.
Post-Graduate APRN Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate in AGACNP or PNP-AC at UAB is approximately $21,733 (27 credits at $744/credit plus the per-course fee). The program can generally be completed in about 1.3 years.
- Credits: 27 minimum, matching the MSN specialty sequence
- Length: four semesters
- Degree: MSN from a regionally accredited institution
- GPA: 3.0 graduate
- Testing: GRE or GMAT unless waived
- Entry: summer only; Summer 2027 deadline October 8, 2026
You Should Know: A gap analysis after admission reviews prior advanced pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacology. Missing courses add 3 credits each, which can raise the total above 27.
Tuition
UAB charges $744 per credit for distance-accessible graduate nursing coursework in 2026-27, for Alabama residents and non-residents alike. A $235 School of Nursing technology fee applies to each course.
| Program | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | 45 | $36,535 |
| MSN PNP-AC | 45 | $36,535 |
| BSN to DNP AGACNP | 79 | $64,416 |
| BSN to DNP PNP-AC | 79 | $64,416 |
| Post-Graduate Certificate | 27 | $21,733 |
- Per-course fee: adds $3,055 to the MSN (13 courses), $5,640 to the DNP (24 course enrollments), and $1,645 to the certificate (7 courses); included above
- Health insurance: about $270 per month unless waived with proof of comparable coverage
- Classroom rate: in-person courses bill at $646 (resident) or $1,596 (non-resident) per credit
See the official UAB tuition and fees page.
Financial Aid
The School of Nursing awards scholarships through a single SON scholarship application.
Why Choose This ACNP Program?
Two acute care foci at three levels. AGACNP and PNP-AC are each available as an MSN, a BSN-DNP, or a post-graduate certificate, so a nurse can pick the credential level after choosing a population.
One rate for every state it serves. Distance students pay $744 per credit whether or not they live in Alabama.
No acute care experience gate for AGACNP. Adult-gerontology applicants can enter without ICU or ED time. PNP-AC applicants need a year of pediatric bedside work.
A large placement network. UAB supports placement through more than 5,000 clinical affiliates, though students outside Alabama should confirm local site availability.
Surgical add-on. AGACNP students can add the 9-credit RNFA subspecialty for perioperative practice.
UAB suits nurses in eligible states who want to choose between MSN, doctoral, or certificate entry within one program family. BSN nurses without a pediatric year should start with the AGACNP.
Accreditation and Certification
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits UAB’s master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program. All five acute care pathways fall under that accreditation. UAB accreditation details.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Because the post-graduate APRN certificate program is itself CCNE-accredited, certificate completers meet the accredited-program requirement for national certification.
AGACNP graduates are eligible for the ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP-BC) and AACN Acute Care NP-Adult-Gerontology (ACNPC-AG) exams. PNP-AC graduates are eligible for the PNCB Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care (CPNP-AC) exam.
Additional ACNP Programs for Alabama Residents
- Jacksonville State University - Jacksonville
- University of Alabama in Huntsville - Huntsville
- University of South Alabama - Mobile