University of Central Florida offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – BSN to DNP AGACNP
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
Both programs deliver hybrid-online education with on-campus intensives twice annually and clinical placements within UCF’s Central Florida service area.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| DNP – BSN to DNP AGACNP | ~$26,984 | 3 years (full-time) or 4 years (part-time) |
| Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate | ~$8,502 | ~2 years (part-time) |
UCF College of Nursing earned recognition as one of U.S. News “Best Graduate Nursing Programs.” No GRE is required for admission to either track.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – BSN to DNP AGACNP
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP-AGACNP program is approximately $26,984 for Florida residents ($93,205 for non-residents) and requires 3 years full-time or 4 years part-time to complete.
DNP Curriculum
The program requires 73 credit hours combining DNP core courses (36 credits), advanced practice core courses (13 credits), and AGACNP specialty courses (24 credits).
Specialty Courses include:
NGR 6210 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I (3 credits)
This course introduces foundational principles of acute and critical care management for adult and older adult patients. Emphasis is placed on assessment, stabilization, and early management of acute health conditions.
NGR 6230L – Diagnostics and Skills for the Critically Ill (2 credits)
This course develops essential diagnostic and procedural skills used in the care of critically ill patients. Students gain hands-on experience with advanced assessment techniques and acute care interventions.
NGR 6211 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II (3 credits)
This course focuses on advanced management of stable and unstable adult-gerontology patients with complex cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, hematologic, and related conditions in acute care settings.
NGR 6211L – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II Clinical (3 credits)
This clinical course provides supervised experience managing complex acute and chronic conditions in adult and older adult patients. Students apply advanced clinical reasoning across high-acuity care environments.
NGR 7175 – Advanced Pharmacology for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (3 credits)
This course examines pharmacologic therapies used in the management of acutely ill and medically complex adult-gerontology patients. Emphasis is placed on drug selection, dosing, monitoring, and safety in acute care settings.
NGR 6212 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III (3 credits)
This course addresses advanced care of acutely and critically ill adult-gerontology patients with complex endocrine, neurologic, gastrointestinal, and multisystem conditions across the adult lifespan.
NGR 6212L – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III Clinical (3 credits)
This clinical experience builds advanced competencies in managing common and complex acute conditions in young, middle-aged, and older adults. Focus is placed on critical thinking, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
NGR 6215L – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum (3–4 credits)
This practicum provides immersive clinical experience caring for stable and unstable adult-gerontology patients with acute and critical illnesses. Students refine independent practice skills across diverse high-acuity clinical settings.
Students complete a culminating DNP project addressing population health needs based on evidence. The hybrid format includes online coursework with mandatory on-campus intensives held twice yearly on back-to-back days during fall and spring semesters.
More curriculum details are available here.
Full Time Study Plan
Year One – Fall Semester (9 credits):
- NGR 7853 Dissemination and Implementation Science (3 credits)
- NGR 7661 Healthcare for Susceptible Populations (3 credits)
- NGR 5141 Pathophysiological Bases for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
Year One – Spring Semester (9 credits):
- NGR 6874 Nursing Environment Management (3 credits)
- NGR 7855C Evidence-Based Practice Development for DNP (3 credits – 60 hours)
- NGR 7892 Healthcare Systems and Policy (3 credits)
Year One – Summer Semester (7 credits, 120 clinical hours):
- NGR 7820 Innovative Technologies in Healthcare (3 credits)
- NGR 7003 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (2 credits)
- NGR 7003L Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Lab (2 credits – 120 hours)
Year Two – Fall Semester (9 credits):
- NGR 6172 Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- NGR 7673 Epidemiology Principles in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
- NGR 7827 Concepts, Measurement, and Data Management (3 credits)
Year Two – Spring Semester (8 credits, 120 clinical hours):
- NGR 6210 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I (3 credits)
- NGR 6230L Diagnostics and Skills for the Care of the Critically Ill (2 credits – 120 hours)
- NGR 7175 Advanced Pharmacology for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (3 credits)
Year Two – Summer Semester (6 credits, 180 clinical hours):
- NGR 6211 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II (3 credits)
- NGR 6211L Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II Clinical (3 credits – 180 hours)
Year Three – Fall Semester (9 credits, 240 clinical hours):
- NGR 6212 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III (3 credits)
- NGR 6212L Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III Clinical (3 credits – 180 hours)
- NGR 7911C DNP Project 1 (3 credits – 60 hours)
Year Three – Spring Semester (10 credits, 360 clinical hours):
- NGR 7793 Leadership and Economics in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
- NGR 6215L Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Practicum (4 credits – 240 hours)
- NGR 7912C DNP Project 2 (3 credits – 120 hours)
Year Three – Summer Semester (6 credits):
- NGR 7913 DNP Project 3 (3 credits)
- NGR 7065 Advanced Clinical Management for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
DNP Clinicals
Students complete 1,080 total clinical and practicum hours throughout the program. Clinical placements occur within UCF’s Central Florida service area including Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Lake, Brevard, Osceola, Flagler, Northern Indian River, and Marion counties. The program assigns clinical sites and preceptors directly to students.
Clinical Requirements:
- 1,080 total practicum hours across program
- 120 hours in Advanced Health Assessment Lab
- 120 hours in Diagnostics and Skills for Critically Ill
- 540 hours across three AGACNP clinical courses (180 hours each)
- 240 hours in AGACNP Practicum
- 240 hours distributed across DNP project courses
- Program assigns all clinical sites and preceptors
- One-day per semester simulation workshop required for AGACNP clinical courses
- Clinical rotations occur in hospital and acute care settings
Additional Requirements:
- Mandatory on-campus intensives twice yearly (fall and spring)
- Lab courses (NGR 7003L and 6230L) require on-campus attendance
- Optional but highly recommended on-campus board certification exam reviews
- Satisfactory clinical performance evaluation
- Public presentation of DNP project
DNP Admissions Requirements
Academic Requirements:
- BSN degree from regionally accredited institution with CCNE or ACEN nursing program accreditation
- Minimum 3.0 GPA maintained throughout program
- Completion of undergraduate statistics course
- Current Florida RN license by program start date (out-of-state applicants must be eligible and obtain Florida license before clinical courses)
Non-Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Option:
- RNs with bachelor’s degree in non-nursing discipline may apply
- Must complete 9 credit hours prerequisite courses: NUR 3805 Dimensions of Professional Practice (3 credits), NUR 4637 Public Health Nursing (3 credits), NUR 3165 Nursing Research (3 credits)
- All prerequisite courses require minimum B grade
Application Materials:
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities sent directly to College of Graduate Studies
- Curriculum Vitae reflecting education, clinical accomplishments, scholarly work, awards, certifications, and professional organization activities
- Three professional recommendations
- Written essay (500 words or less, double-spaced, 12-pt Times New Roman, 1-inch margins) addressing: how DNP will help achieve goals, preparation for doctoral study, area of interest for DNP quality improvement project
- Florida RN license documentation
- No GRE required
International Student Requirements:
- U.S. citizen, legal U.S. resident, or valid visa (not F-1 or J-1)
- F-1 visa holders not eligible due to online study limitations
- Must enroll full-time (9 credit hours) fall and spring with maximum 3 credit hours completely online
- English proficiency demonstration required for non-native speakers
Work Considerations:
- Full-time students strongly encouraged to work part-time only
- Part-time students may require reduced work hours during clinical coursework
- Program cannot be completed outside UCF’s Central Florida service area
Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s AGACNP Certificate is approximately $8,502 for Florida residents ($29,359 for non-residents) and requires 2 years to complete on a part-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate requires 23 credit hours designed for licensed APRNs seeking to add AGACNP specialty to their practice. The hybrid program delivers coursework over four semesters with clinical components totaling 660 hours. Students may transition to the Advanced Practice post-master’s DNP program after completion.
Certificate Courses (23 credit hours):
- NGR 6210 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner I (3 credits)
- NGR 6230L Diagnostics and Skills for the Critically Ill (2 credits – 120 clinical hours)
- NGR 6211 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II (3 credits)
- NGR 6211L Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner II Clinical (3 credits – 180 clinical hours)
- NGR 7175 Advanced Pharmacology for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (3 credits)
- NGR 6212 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III (3 credits)
- NGR 6212L Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner III Clinical (3 credits – 180 clinical hours)
- NGR 6215L Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum (3-4 credits – 180 clinical hours)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Certificate students complete 660 total clinical hours across four semesters in hospital and acute care settings. All clinical placements occur within UCF’s Central Florida service area, and the program assigns sites and preceptors directly to students.
Clinical Requirements:
- 660 total clinical hours
- 120 hours in Diagnostics and Skills for Critically Ill
- 540 hours across three clinical courses (180 hours each)
- Clinical rotations in hospital and acute care settings only
- All placements within Central Florida service area
- One-day per semester simulation workshop for clinical courses
Certificate Admissions Requirements
Academic Requirements:
- BSN and MSN (or DNP) degrees from regionally accredited institution
- Current APRN license in Florida
- National certification in advanced practice nursing
- Completion of undergraduate statistics course
- Not currently prepared as Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Application Materials:
- Official transcripts from all institutions
- Curriculum Vitae
- Completion of prerequisite courses specific to program
- No GRE required
Tuition
Florida resident graduate students pay $369.65 per credit hour, while non-Florida residents pay $1,276.48 per credit hour.
Standard UCF fees include $11.67 Activity & Service Fee, $9.10 Transportation Access Fee, $10.84 Health Fee, $14.32 Athletic Fee, and $14.40 Technology Fee assessed per credit hour.
Graduate students may incur additional fees such as Material and Supply Fee, Equipment Fee, and Online Course Proctoring Fee.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Application Deadlines
BSN to DNP Program:
- Application deadline: February 1 annually
- Fall admission only
- Full-time or part-time enrollment options
Post-Master’s Certificate:
- Application deadline: September 1 annually
- Spring admission only
- Part-time enrollment (4 semesters)
Accreditation
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits all University of Central Florida College of Nursing programs including the baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and advanced practice post-master’s certificates.