Chamberlain University offers 2 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN-AGACNP
- Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
Both programs are delivered 100% online with required on-ground immersion events for hands-on skills assessment.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – AGACNP | $42,230 | 3 years |
| Graduate Certificate – AGACNP | $32,680 | 1 year 10 months |
Chamberlain’s Practicum Commitment® provides dedicated support for securing clinical placements and preceptors, and all faculty are doctorally prepared, board-certified nurse practitioners.
Master of Science in Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN-AGACNP program is approximately $42,230 and takes approximately 3 years to complete full-time across 8 semesters.
Estimate based on 48 credits × $760/credit + $450 APRN fee per NP course.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-AGACNP curriculum consists of MSN core courses, nurse practitioner specialty core courses, and AGACNP specialty track courses:
NR-586NP – Population Health and Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This course applies epidemiologic and population health concepts to advanced nursing practice. Students use research and data to plan prevention, disaster response, and health promotion strategies that improve outcomes and equity for diverse communities locally and globally.
NR-582NP – Leadership and Role Development for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This course examines leadership theories, roles, and skills for advanced practice nurses across care settings. Students learn how to influence policy, advocate for patients and communities, and lead meaningful change in healthcare systems.
NR-507 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
This course covers complex pathophysiologic processes and human responses across the lifespan. Students analyze normal and abnormal mechanisms of disease to support advanced assessment, diagnosis, and clinical decision-making.
NR-565 – Advanced Pharmacology Fundamentals (3 credits)
This course introduces advanced principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, and major drug classes. Students learn to select, prescribe, and monitor medications safely for common acute and chronic conditions encountered in advanced practice.
NR-509 – Advanced Physical Assessment I (3 credits)
This course develops advanced health assessment skills for patients across the lifespan, including mental health components. Students complete virtual and on-ground lab experiences, a remote physical exam check-off, and an on-site immersion to practice and demonstrate comprehensive history-taking and physical examination skills.
NR-567 – Advanced Pharmacology for the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (3 credits)
This course expands pharmacology knowledge specific to critically ill adults and older adults. Students examine complex drug therapy decisions, including how culture, age, funding, and ethics affect prescribing in acute and critical care.
NR-569 – Differential Diagnosis in Acute Care Practicum
This practicum emphasizes formulating differential diagnoses for acutely ill adults and older adults. Students apply diagnostic reasoning and evidence-based thinking in a precepted acute care setting to process clinical data and refine diagnostic skills.
NR-570 – Common Diagnosis and Management in Acute Care Practicum
This practicum focuses on common acute and chronic conditions seen in adult-gerontology acute care practice. Students manage patient needs, education, follow-up, and referrals in a precepted setting while strengthening core AGACNP clinical skills.
NR-571 – Complex Diagnosis and Management in Acute Care Practicum
This course centers on the care of adults and older adults with complex, critical health problems. Students advance their skills in prevention, diagnosis, and management of high-acuity conditions through supervised practice, protocol use, and coordinated follow-up.
NR-572 – Advanced Acute Care Management
This course addresses advanced diagnostic and management principles for critically ill adults and older adults, including behavioral health aspects. Students refine strategies for health promotion, disease prevention, and complex condition management through guided practice in an acute care environment.
NR-573 – Advanced Acute Care Management Lab
In this lab, students practice advanced assessment and procedural skills relevant to acute and critical care. Faculty-guided simulations provide hands-on experience with interventions used in the management of unstable adult patients.
NR-574 – Acute Care Practicum I
This first advanced acute care practicum emphasizes growing independence in managing complex adult and geriatric patients. Under the guidance of an approved preceptor, students integrate assessment, clinical reasoning, and interventions in a high-acuity setting.
NR-575 – Acute Care Practicum II
This final practicum builds on prior experiences to support near-independent management of critically ill adults and older adults. Students polish advanced clinical skills, engage in case reviews and practice critique, and complete a capstone product that showcases readiness for entry-level AGACNP practice after certification.
More curriculum details available here.
MSN Clinicals
Students complete 700 hours of supervised clinical practicum across multiple courses focusing on differential diagnosis, common and complex condition management, and advanced acute care.
Two on-ground immersion events assess clinical competency: one during NR-509 (Advanced Physical Assessment) and another during NR-573 (Advanced Acute Care Management Lab).
An intensive review session during NR-575 prepares students for certification exams. Students are responsible for travel, lodging, and meals for immersion events.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- Active, unencumbered RN license
- BSN from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum cumulative GPA (contact admissions for specific requirements)
- No GRE required
- Background check, fingerprint, and drug screening required ($150)
- Provisional NP students may need to complete NR-545 based on assessment results
Graduate Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the AGACNP Graduate Certificate is approximately $32,680 and can be completed in as few as 1 year and 10 months full-time across 5.5 semesters.
Estimate based on 36 credits × $760/credit + $450 APRN fee per NP course.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate program includes the same specialty courses as the MSN track for students who already hold a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing:
Effective January 2024:
- NR-586NP Population Health and Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
- NR-582NP Leadership and Role Development for Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
- NR-507 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NR-565 Advanced Pharmacology Fundamentals (3)
- NR-509 Advanced Physical Assessment (3) – includes on-ground immersion
- NR-567 Advanced Pharmacology for the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (3)
- NR-569 Differential Diagnosis in Acute Care Practicum (3)
- NR-570 Common Diagnosis and Management in Acute Care Practicum (3)
- NR-571 Complex Diagnosis and Management in Acute Care Practicum (3)
- NR-572 Advanced Acute Care Management (2.5)
- NR-573 Advanced Acute Care Management Lab (0.5) – includes on-ground immersion
- NR-574 Acute Care Practicum I (3)
- NR-575 Acute Care Practicum II (3) – includes intensive review session
Certificate Clinicals
Students complete 700 hours of faculty-supervised clinical practicum along with laboratory work.
The program includes two on-ground immersion experiences (during NR-509 and NR-573) and an intensive review session during NR-575.
Current nurse practitioners enrolling in the certificate are encouraged to secure practicum sites and preceptors before admission. Chamberlain’s Practicum Commitment® assists students who cannot secure placements independently.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution
- Active, unencumbered RN license in practicum state
- Background check and fingerprint clearance by end of first course
- License review for past sanctions or restrictions
- Students responsible for securing practicum site and qualified preceptor meeting Chamberlain criteria
Tuition
Graduate tuition for NP courses is $760 per credit hour.
Additional fees include a $450 APRN resource fee per NP course (except NR-573), $200 student services charge per session, and $75 electronic course resource fee per course.
Background check/fingerprint/drug screening costs $150. Military rates are available at $608 per credit hour for NP courses. Alumni receive a discounted rate of $608 per credit hour for NP courses.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The master’s degree in nursing program and post-graduate APRN certificate program are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Other Nursing Programs
Chamberlain University College of Nursing offers additional programs including:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- RN to BSN Option
- RN-BSN to MSN Option
- MSN – Healthcare Policy
- MSN – Nurse Educator
- MSN – Nurse Executive
- MSN – Nursing Informatics
- MSN – Population Health
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Various Graduate Certificates (Healthcare Policy, Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, Nursing Leadership, Population Health, AGPCNP, FNP, PMHNP)