Duke University School of Nursing offers 2 Acute Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner MSN
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC)
The program uses a distance-based format with online learning, required clinical experiences near the student, and mandatory on-campus intensives.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $108,000 | ~3–4 years |
| Post-Graduate Certificate AGACNP | $45,000 to $75,000 | ~1–2 years |
Key highlights include a large clinical partner network, advanced simulation training, and a stated focus on health equity and care for rural and underserved populations.
Master of Science in Nursing – MSN AGACNP
The estimated cost for the MSN AGACNP program is approximately $108,000 and would take about 3 to 4 years to complete on a full time basis based on the stated 7–8 semester plan.
Estimate based on 48 credits × $2,250 per credit.
MSN Curriculum
The 48-credit curriculum includes MSN core courses, advanced practice “Four Ps,” and acute care didactic and clinical courses.
Nursing 580 – Nurse as Scholar I: Science Development, Study Design, and Statistics
This course introduces nursing science and scholarly inquiry for advanced nursing roles. Students study research design, basic statistics, and how evidence and measurement support practice and quality improvement.
Nursing 581 – Nurse as Scholar II: Evidence-Based Practice
This course builds evidence-based practice skills for advanced nursing work. Students develop clinical questions, run structured literature searches, and critique research to support practice improvement.
Nursing 582 – Population Health in a Global Society
This course applies epidemiology, policy, and social determinants of health to population outcomes. Students use evidence and ethics to plan population-level actions that reduce health gaps.
Nursing 583 – Professional Transitions: Advanced Nursing Practice
This course reviews advanced practice role options and team-based care. Students examine cost, access, quality, regulation, and interprofessional collaboration in modern health systems.
Nursing 589 – Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
This course connects homeostasis to disease mechanisms across body systems and ages. Students use a concept-based approach to explain disease patterns seen in clinical practice.
Nursing 595 – Physical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning in Advanced Practice Nursing
This course refreshes advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills. Students practice patient interviews, data collection, and clinical presentations to separate normal variation from illness.
Nursing 596 – Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing
This course prepares students to choose and monitor drug therapy across the lifespan. Students review major drug classes, safety, interactions, monitoring, and legal and ethical prescribing basics.
Nursing 617 – Nurse Practitioner Intensive I: Collaboration, Care Management, and Professional Identity Formation
This course supports transition into the NP role through guided practice activities. Students strengthen collaboration, care management, and professional identity for independent and team-based care.
Nursing 618 – Nurse Practitioner Intensive II: Care Management, Information Management, Collaboration, and Contextual Relevance
This course expands NP decision-making in complex care settings. Students use clinical information and teamwork to propose role-appropriate care plans and system-aware solutions.
Nursing 619 – Nurse Practitioner Intensive III: Collaboration, Leadership, and Scholarship
This course prepares NP students to lead and coordinate care within teams. Students apply leadership and scholarship skills to improve care management and professional practice outcomes.
More curriculum details available here.
MSN Clinicals
The program lists a minimum of 752 clinical hours within the acute care clinical sequence.
- N667 Clinical: 168 hours
- N669A Clinical: 280 hours
- N693 Synthesis: 280 hours
- Clinical placements can include ICUs, emergency departments, hospitalist services, and step-down units
- Students complete on-campus intensives tied to hands-on learning and simulation experiences
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from an accredited nursing program
- Current RN license in the state where you plan to practice
- At least 12 months of full-time acute care nursing experience by the priority deadline and a current acute care role
- Statistics prerequisite (C or better; 3-credit course)
- Three professional recommendations (at least one from a provider for NP applicants)
- Resume/CV and required written essays
- Interview by invitation only
Post-Graduate Certificate – PGC AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate AGACNP option and would cost between $45,000–$79,000 (based on 20–35 credits at $2,250 per credit), and would take about 1 to 2 years to complete on a full time basis.
Required credits are determined after an individual gap analysis.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate plan matches the AGACNP major requirements, but the exact course list depends on the student’s prior graduate preparation.
- A faculty review evaluates prior education and identifies gaps
- The final plan can include the same AGACNP didactic and clinical courses used in the MSN pathway
- Specialty options may be available with advisor approval
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical hour requirements depend on the individualized plan, and students may need to complete certification-aligned supervised hours.
- PGC students complete required didactic and clinical components for the AGACNP role and population focus
- If a student is not already an NP, the program notes a minimum of 500 supervised direct patient care clinical hours may apply
- Clinical placements align with acute and critical care practice environments
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited nursing school or another acceptable discipline
- Licensure or eligibility for licensure as an RN in North Carolina, or RN licensure in the primary state of residence for distance students not practicing in NC
- Statistics course completion (descriptive and inferential)
- Three academic or professional references
- Nursing experience expectations vary by specialty, with one year recommended and acute care experience expected for AGACNP applicants
- Personal interview (or alternate arrangements for distance applicants)
Tuition
Graduate tuition is $2,250 per credit hour for MSN, DNP, and post-graduate certificate students, plus standard school fees that can include a $500 matriculation fee, $200 per semester technology fee, and a one-time $120 transcript fee.
Additional course fees may apply, such as a $125 clinical lab fee for N595, and clinical compliance costs may add annual expenses.
More curriculum details are available here: Tuition & Fees.
Application Deadlines
MSN applications use priority windows: Sept. to Dec. 1 for the next Fall term and Jan. to May 1 for the next Spring term, with later submissions reviewed as space allows.
Accreditation
Duke University School of Nursing states the MSN program meets educational requirements for NP licensure or certification across U.S. states and territories, with attention to state authorization rules for distance learners. The school also notes that state nursing and higher education boards can set additional requirements for online clinical programs.
Other North Carolina ACNP Programs
- East Carolina University - Greenville
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Charlotte