University of Tennessee Health Science Center offers 4 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Post-BSN DNP
- Post-MSN DNP – (New Certification)
- Post-MSN DNP – (Same Certification – Current AG-ACNP holders)
- Dual DNP – AGACNP/FNP
- Post-Graduate APRN Certificate
Coursework is conducted primarily online with specific on-campus days determined by concentration, including 4 required on-campus visits during first semester.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Post-BSN DNP AGACNP | $40,686 (TN residents) | 3 years full-time |
| Post-MSN DNP AGACNP (New Certification) | $28,480-$40,686 (TN residents) | 2-2.5 years full-time |
| Post-MSN DNP AGACNP (Same Certification) | $28,480 (TN residents) | 2 years full-time |
| Dual DNP AGACNP/FNP | $40,686 (TN residents) | 3 years full-time |
| Post-Graduate Certificate AGACNP | $14,240 (TN residents) | 1 year full-time |
UTHSC is located in close proximity to the highest level of acute care facilities in Tennessee and the Mid-South region, providing exceptional clinical placement opportunities.
The AGACNP program requires 1,020 clinical hours (Post-BSN DNP) or 600 hours (Certificate) to allow broad experiences encompassing different specialty rotations, with faculty integrally involved in preceptor selection and placement process.
Post-BSN DNP – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-BSN DNP AGACNP program is approximately $40,686 for Tennessee residents, and the program takes 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 59 credits over 3 years at estimated tuition rates.
Post-BSN DNP Curriculum
The 59-credit curriculum includes DNP core courses and AGACNP concentration-specific courses preparing graduates to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care to physiologically unstable adults and older adults:
Core Courses (30 credits):
- NSG 876 – Leadership and Health Policy (3 credits)
- NSG 877 – Healthcare Economics (3 credits)
- NSG 824 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis (3 credits)
- NSG 827 – Epidemiology for Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- NSG 855 – DNP Advanced Practice Role Development (2 credits)
- NSG 910 – Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing (4 credits)
- NSG 831 – Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NSG 830 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NSG 947 – DNP Project Seminar 1 (1 credit)
- NSG 948 – DNP Project Design and Methods (2 credits)
- NSG 949 – DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation (2 credits)
- NSG 950 – DNP Project Seminar II (1 credit)
Concentration-Specific Courses (29 credits):
- ACNP 804 – Advanced Gerontology Acute Care Advanced Nursing Practice (4 credits)
- ACNP 805 – Diagnostic Reasoning for the AGACNP (3 credits)
- ACNP 807 – AGAC Advanced Critical Care (3 credits)
- ACNP 809 – AGAC Advanced Practice Practicum (4 credits)
- ACNP 810 – Professional Strategies of AGAC Advanced Practice (3 credits)
- ACNP 811 – Advanced Clinical Assessment AGACNP (4 credits)
- ACNP 812 – AGAC Advanced Clinical Management (2 credits)
- NSG 926 – DNP Synthesis Practicum: AGACNP (6 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Post-BSN DNP Clinicals
The program requires 1,020 total clinical hours distributed throughout specialty courses preparing students for full-spectrum acute care practice:
- 1,020 total clinical hours required across 3-year program
- Clinical experiences in acute care settings with physiologically unstable, technologically dependent patients
- Faculty involved in selection of highly qualified preceptors and placement process
- Students collaborate with clinical course faculty to identify appropriate sites
- Focus on disease prevention, acute/critical care management, chronic/long-term care, and palliative care
- Clinical experiences scheduled in proximity to student’s residence when possible
- Required on-campus experiences: 4 times during first semester for advanced health assessment
- Intensive skills labs and simulation 3 times per year (August, December, May)
Post-BSN DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing from accredited nursing program
- Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 based on all collegiate work OR cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 earned during most recently completed degree program
- 2 Recommendation Forms from graduate-prepared nurses or faculty members addressing potential for advanced practice role
- Essay provided through written responses to specific questions during interview session
- Interview required (may be conducted via video or web conferencing)
- Application submitted through NursingCAS (opens annually in August)
- Current unencumbered RN license with authority to practice in Tennessee
- Required immunizations, successful criminal background check, and drug screen prior to admission
- Medical clearance to meet technical and performance standards
- Current cardiopulmonary (BCLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification required and maintained throughout program
- Health and professional liability insurance during enrollment
- Students dismissed from another nursing program ineligible to apply
Post-MSN DNP – AGACNP (New Certification)
The estimated cost for the Post-MSN DNP AGACNP program for students seeking new AG-ACNP certification is approximately $28,480-$40,686 for Tennessee residents (based on 39 credits). The program takes approximately 2-2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Post-MSN DNP Curriculum (New Certification)
The 39-credit curriculum includes DNP core courses and AGACNP concentration-specific courses for students seeking initial AG-ACNP certification:
Core Courses (19 credits):
- NSG 876 – Leadership and Health Policy (3 credits)
- NSG 877 – Healthcare Economics (3 credits)
- NSG 827 – Epidemiology for Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- NSG 910 – Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing (4 credits)
- NSG 947 – DNP Project Seminar 1 (1 credit)
- NSG 948 – DNP Project Design and Methods (2 credits)
- NSG 949 – DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation (2 credits)
- NSG 950 – DNP Project Seminar II (1 credit)
Concentration-Specific Courses (20 credits):
- ACNP 804 – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Advanced Acute Care (4 credits)
- ACNP 805 – Acute Diagnostic Reasoning for the AGACNP (3 credits)
- ACNP 807 – AGACNP Advanced Critical Care (3 credits)
- ACNP 811 – AGACNP Advanced Clinical Assessment (2 credits)
- ACNP 812 – AGAC Advanced Clinical Management (2 credits)
- NSG 926 – DNP Synthesis Practicum: AGACNP (6 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Post-MSN DNP Clinicals (New Certification)
Clinical requirements are integrated throughout concentration-specific courses with focus on acute and critical care management:
- Clinical hours embedded in ACNP specialty courses
- Minimum 500 hours required in direct, supervised acute care settings
- Clinical experiences in high-acuity environments with critically ill patients
- Students collaborate with faculty to identify clinical sites near residence
- Faculty conduct clinical site visits or videoconferencing sessions with students and preceptors
- Same on-campus requirements as Post-BSN program (4 visits first semester, 3 simulation sessions yearly)
Post-MSN DNP Prerequisites & Admissions (New Certification)
- Master of Science in Nursing from accredited nursing program
- Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 based on all collegiate work OR cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 earned during most recently completed degree program
- 2 Recommendation Forms from graduate-prepared nurses or faculty members
- Essay and interview required
- Application through NursingCAS (opens annually in August)
- Current unencumbered RN license with authority to practice in Tennessee
- Pre-matriculation requirements: immunizations, background check, drug screen, medical clearance
- BCLS and ACLS certification required and maintained
- Health and professional liability insurance during enrollment
Post-MSN DNP – AGACNP (Same Certification)
The estimated cost for the Post-MSN DNP AGACNP program for students who hold current AG-ACNP certification is approximately $28,480 for Tennessee residents (based on 33 credits), and the program takes approximately 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Post-MSN DNP Curriculum (Same Certification)
The 33-credit curriculum is designed for APRNs with current Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification seeking the DNP degree:
Core Courses (19 credits):
- NSG 876 – Leadership and Health Policy (3 credits)
- NSG 877 – Healthcare Economics (3 credits)
- NSG 827 – Epidemiology for Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- NSG 910 – Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing (4 credits)
- NSG 947 – DNP Project Seminar 1 (1 credit)
- NSG 948 – DNP Project Design and Methods (2 credits)
- NSG 949 – DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation (2 credits)
- NSG 950 – DNP Project Seminar II (1 credit)
Concentration-Specific Courses (14 credits):
- ACNP 813 – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Advanced Strategies for Focused Studies (4 credits)
- ACNP 815 – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Focused Study and Dissemination (4 credits)
- NSG 926 – DNP Synthesis Practicum (6 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Post-MSN DNP Clinicals (Same Certification)
Clinical requirements are tailored for already-certified AG-ACNPs pursuing doctoral education:
- DNP Synthesis Practicum clinical hours
- Focus on advanced practice scholarship and leadership
- Clinical experiences build on existing AG-ACNP certification and practice
- Faculty-guided clinical experiences for DNP project development and implementation
Post-MSN DNP Prerequisites & Admissions (Same Certification)
- Master of Science in Nursing from accredited nursing program
- Current Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification required
- Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 based on all collegiate work OR 3.2 for most recent degree
- 2 Recommendation Forms from graduate-prepared nurses or faculty
- Essay and interview required
- Application through NursingCAS (opens annually in August)
- Current unencumbered RN license and APRN license with authority to practice in Tennessee
- Pre-matriculation requirements: immunizations, background check, drug screen
- BCLS and ACLS certification maintained throughout program
- Health and professional liability insurance
Dual DNP – AGACNP/Family Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Dual DNP AGACNP/FNP program is approximately $40,686 for Tennessee residents, and the program takes 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 73 credits over 3 years.
Dual DNP Curriculum
The 73-credit curriculum prepares graduates to write both Adult-Gerontology Acute Care and Family Nurse Practitioner national certification examinations:
Core Courses (30 credits):
- NSG 876 – Leadership and Health Policy (3 credits)
- NSG 877 – Healthcare Economics (3 credits)
- NSG 824 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis (3 credits)
- NSG 827 – Epidemiology for Clinical Practice (3 credits)
- NSG 855 – DNP Advanced Practice Role Development (2 credits)
- NSG 910 – Philosophy of Science & Theory in Nursing (4 credits)
- NSG 831 – Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NSG 830 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NSG 947 – DNP Project Seminar I (1 credit)
- NSG 948 – DNP Project Design and Methods (2 credits)
- NSG 949 – DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation (2 credits)
- NSG 950 – DNP Project Seminar II (1 credit)
Concentration-Specific Courses (43 credits):
AGACNP Courses:
- ACNP 804 – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Advanced Acute Care (4 credits)
- ACNP 805 – Diagnostic Reasoning for the AGACNP (3 credits)
- ACNP 807 – AGAC Advanced Critical Care (3 credits)
- ACNP 811 – AGACNP Advanced Clinical Assessment (4 credits)
- ACNP 812 – AGAC Advanced Clinical Management (2 credits)
- NSG 926 – DNP Synthesis Practicum (6 credits)
FNP Courses:
- FNP 800 – Advanced Family Nursing I (3 credits)
- FNP 801 – Advanced Family Clinical Practice I (3 credits)
- FNP 802 – Advanced Family Nursing II (3 credits)
- FNP 803 – Advanced Family Clinical Practice II (3 credits)
- FNP 804 – Advanced Practice Practicum (4 credits)
- FNP 806 – Integrated Behavioral Health Care (3 credits)
- FNP 808 – Health Promotion for Family Nurse Practitioners (2 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Dual DNP Clinicals
The dual program requires extensive clinical hours across both acute care and primary care settings:
- 1,380 total clinical hours (720 AG-ACNP + 660 FNP, includes 60 hours NSG824)
- Clinical experiences in acute care inpatient settings for AGACNP component
- Primary care clinical experiences across lifespan for FNP component
- Students complete clinical practicums in proximity to residence when possible
- Faculty involved in preceptor selection and placement coordination
- Required on-campus experiences include advanced health assessment sessions and simulation labs
Dual DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing from accredited nursing program
- Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 based on all collegiate work OR 3.2 for most recent degree
- Students should thoughtfully consider time commitments and career goals before applying
- 2 Recommendation Forms from graduate-prepared nurses or faculty
- Essay and interview required
- Application through NursingCAS (opens annually in August)
- Part-time study unavailable for dual concentrations
- Current unencumbered RN license with authority to practice in Tennessee
- Pre-matriculation requirements: immunizations, background check, drug screen, medical clearance
- BCLS and ACLS certification required and maintained
- Health and professional liability insurance during enrollment
Post-Graduate APRN Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate APRN AGACNP Certificate is approximately $14,240 for Tennessee residents, and the program takes 1 year to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 20 credits completed over 1 year.
Post-Graduate Certificate Curriculum
The 20-credit certificate is designed for licensed advanced practice nurses seeking AG-ACNP certification in addition to current specialty:
Certificate Requirements (20 credits):
- ACNP 804 – Advanced Acute Care (4 credits)
- ACNP 805 – Acute Diagnostic Reasoning (3 credits)
- ACNP 807 – Advanced Critical Care (3 credits)
- ACNP 809 – Advanced Practice Practicum (4 credits)
- ACNP 811 – Advanced Clinical Assessment: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (2 credits)
- ACNP 812 – Advanced Clinical Management Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (4 credits)
Important Notes:
- Gap analysis performed to determine if previous Advanced Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Health Assessment courses meet certification exam requirements
- Advanced Pharmacology must include content consistent with AG-ACNP certification test plan and completed within 5 years
- May require NSG 824 (Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnosis) if prior course did not cover lifespan
- May require PATN 605 (Advanced Pathology) if not completed within last 5 years
- Advanced practice roles course (NSG 855) included based on gap analysis
More curriculum details are available here.
Post-Graduate Certificate Clinicals
The certificate requires 600 clinical hours preparing already-certified APRNs for the AG-ACNP specialty:
- 600 total clinical hours in direct, supervised acute care settings
- Clinical experiences with physiologically unstable, technologically dependent adult patients
- Full-time, continuous 12-month program with didactic, laboratory, and clinical experiences
- Coursework conducted primarily online with intensive on-campus sessions twice per year
- On-campus sessions for competency training, testing, and advisement
- Clinical experiences scheduled in proximity to student’s residence
- Faculty conduct clinical site visits or videoconferencing sessions with students and preceptors
Post-Graduate Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master of Science in Nursing with nurse practitioner concentration from accredited program
- Completion of three separate courses: Advanced Pathology/Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment, and Advanced Pharmacology
- Unencumbered license as advanced practice nurse (nurse practitioner)
- Certification in advanced practice nursing specialty other than AG-ACNP required
- Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher based on all collegiate work
- Two recommendations supporting applicant’s ability to function in AG-ACNP role
- Essay about how earning AG-ACNP Certificate will affect future practice
- Interview required for applicants meeting admission criteria
- Application through NursingCAS
- Application deadline: March 1 for fall admission
- Pre-matriculation requirements: immunizations, background check, drug screen
- Current Basic Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
- Health and professional liability insurance
- Must own web-connected laptop capable of running modern software and web-conferencing applications
- TOEFL scores required for individuals educated outside United States
Tuition
Graduate nursing students pay estimated annual tuition rates based on full-time enrollment: DNP Year 1 approximately $14,240, DNP Year 2 approximately $14,240, and DNP Year 3 approximately $12,206 for Tennessee residents.
Out-of-state students pay additional tuition surcharges.
Additional fees include registration fees, health insurance ($4,224 annually), and other mandatory student fees totaling approximately $5,000-$7,000 per year depending on program year.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Application Deadlines
Applications for all DNP concentrations (except Nurse Anesthesia) open each year in August, and UTHSC accepts students before start of term until each class meets capacity.
Post-Graduate APRN Certificate applications are due March 1 for admission into the fall class (updated to January deadline for DNP certificate in 2026).
All application materials including application, application fee, recommendations, test results, and official transcripts must be submitted by deadline for consideration.
NursingCAS fees are $70, with additional $75 Application Processing Fee and $200 non-refundable Guaranteed Enrollment Deposit (GED) required after acceptance.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), through December 31, 2034, and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
The Post-Graduate APRN (DNP and MSN) Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate is currently pursuing CCNE accreditation.
UTHSC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
More ACNP Programs in Tennessee
- Tennessee Tech University - Cookeville
- Vanderbilt University - Nashville