Walden University offers six adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner pathways:
- MSN AGACNP (BSN to MSN)
- MSN AGACNP (RN to MSN)
- BSN to DNP AGACNP
- MSN to DNP AGACNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP, APRN-entry
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $47.7K | 2 years (8 quarters) | 58 |
| RN to MSN AGACNP | $59.3K | 2.5 years (10 quarters) | 84 |
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $78.8K | 3.25 years (13 quarters) | 90 |
| MSN-DNP AGACNP | $73.5K | 3 years (12 quarters) | 80 |
| Certificate | $29.2K | 1.5 years (6 quarters) | 35 |
| Certificate, APRN-entry | $15.4K | 1 year (4 quarters) | 18 paid of 35 |
Durations are derived from Walden’s published per-quarter program fee totals.
All programs are delivered online with synchronous and asynchronous learning, featuring virtual skills labs, Walden Grand Rounds for real-life scenario examination, and the Practicum Pledge® for enhanced field placement support.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MSN, RN to MSN, BSN to DNP, MSN to DNP, post-master’s certificate |
| Population Focus | AGACNP, patients age 13 and older |
| Format | Online |
| Campus Visits | None published |
| Clinical Hours | 640 practicum hours; 500 for APRN-entry certificate |
| Clinical Placement | Student-identified sites with Walden field experience support |
| RN Experience | No acute care or ICU requirement published |
| Distinctive Coursework | Critical Care Immersion; two acute care immersion practicums |
| Start Terms | Quarterly; next MSN and DNP start October 12, 2026 |
| Tuition | $785 per quarter credit for AGACNP specialization courses |
| Certification | ANCC AGACNP-BC and AACN ACNPC-AG |
| Accreditation | CCNE; HLC institutionally |
| State Restrictions | Practicum blocked in six states plus U.S. territories |
Requirements Shared Across All Tracks
The AGACNP Specialization Sequence
All six pathways complete the same 35 credits. Course prefixes change by credential (NRNP and PRAC in the MSN and certificate, DRNP and PRCM in the DNP); the sequence, credits, and clinical hours do not.
- NURS 6501: Advanced Pathophysiology (5 credits)
- NURS 6521: Advanced Pharmacology (5 credits)
- NURS 6512: Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (5 credits)
- NRNP 6537: Adult Acute Care, Comprehensive Patient Management I (4 credits), with PRAC 6537 practicum (2 credits)
- NRNP 6557: Adult Acute Care, Comprehensive Patient Management II (3 credits), with PRAC 6557 practicum (2 credits)
- NRNP 6567: Critical Care Immersion, Advanced Skills and Patient Management (4 credits), with PRAC 6567 Acute Care Immersion I (2 credits)
- NRNP 6590: Role Transition for Advanced Practice (1 credit), with PRAC 6587 Acute Care Immersion II (2 credits)
- FECN 6537, 6557, 6567, 6587: Field Experience Preparation (0 credits each)
These courses replaced the previous NRNP 6540, 6550, 6560, and 6566 sequence. Critical Care Immersion covers hemodynamic monitoring, ventilator management, sedation strategies, and organ support therapies.
More curriculum details are available in the Walden catalog.
Clinical Requirements
- Total hours: 640 preceptor-supervised practicum hours across four practicum courses
- Hours per course: 160 per 2-credit practicum course
- APRN-entry certificate: 500 hours across three practicum courses
- Placement model: students identify their own site and preceptor, supported by Walden’s Field Experience team and the Practicum Pledge process
- Preparation: a 0-credit Field Experience Preparation course precedes each practicum
- Added costs: site travel, onboarding fees, per-quarter practicum fees, liability insurance
Walden commits to help, not to place. It describes the Practicum Pledge as a collaborative process to find a match, and publishes no guarantee of a local placement.
Campus Requirements
- On-campus events: none published for any AGACNP pathway
- Skills preparation: virtual skills lab with videos, simulations, and faculty support
- Case conferences: Walden Grand Rounds, held virtually several times per quarter
RN Experience and Licensure
- RN license: current and active, required at application for every pathway
- Acute care experience: no minimum published, at application or before clinical courses
- ICU or ED experience: not required and not listed as preferred
- Other screening: no application fee, no essay, no GRE, no interview
- Required form: Technical Standards Policy Form and a statement of understanding of practicum requirements
State Practicum Restrictions
Practicum restrictions are the largest eligibility filter here. The College of Nursing does not approve practicum for any AGACNP pathway in Connecticut, Louisiana, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, or U.S. territories, and Walden does not admit New York residents to any program.
The certificate carries five further blocks: Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin. The DNP is additionally blocked in Oklahoma. Foreign practicum is approved only on U.S. military bases.
You should know: The Kansas, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin certificate blocks apply to catalog terms beginning Summer 2026 and later, so a residency address that worked for an earlier cohort may not work now. Walden notes the restriction list is subject to change.
Relocating mid-program to a restricted state can end your ability to complete practicum and stay enrolled, so Walden instructs students to contact the Office of Field Experience before any move.
MSN AGACNP (BSN to MSN)
The estimated tuition for the MSN AGACNP BSN to MSN track is $47,650 (58 quarter credits, tuition plus fees). The program can generally be completed in about two years across eight quarters.
MSN Curriculum
Fifty-eight credits split into 23 core credits and the shared 35-credit specialization sequence.
- NURS 6002 or 6003: Perspectives on Graduate Study for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 6050: Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health (5 credits)
- NURS 6051: Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology (5 credits)
- NURS 6052: Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice (5 credits)
- NURS 6053: Interprofessional Organizational and Systems Leadership (5 credits)
MSN Admissions
- Degree: BSN or higher from an accredited institution
- Transfer credit: up to 25 credits accepted
- Documents: online application and official transcripts
MSN AGACNP (RN to MSN)
The estimated tuition for the MSN AGACNP RN to MSN track is $59,330 (84 quarter credits). The program can generally be completed in about 2.5 years across ten quarters.
RN to MSN Curriculum
Twenty-six credits of undergraduate foundation coursework precede the same 23 core and 35 specialization credits as the BSN entry track. Walden states this block is not equivalent to a BSN.
- NURS 3022: Professional Nurses as Change Agents (6 credits)
- NURS 4152: Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (5 credits)
- NURS 4213: Population Health Nursing (5 credits)
- NURS 4107: Patient Safety and Quality Improvement (5 credits)
- NURS 4301: BSN Capstone (5 credits)
- Foundation credits bill at $435 per quarter credit rather than $785
RN to MSN Admissions
- Degree: hospital diploma, associate degree in nursing, or a bachelor’s degree other than a BSN
- Conferral: applications are not accepted without a conferred nursing degree
- General education: applicants short of the undergraduate minimum are admitted provisionally and take those courses at Walden
- Transfer credit: up to 40 credits accepted
BSN to DNP AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the BSN to DNP AGACNP track is $78,770 (90 quarter credits). The program can generally be completed in about 3.25 years across 13 quarters.
BSN to DNP Curriculum
Ninety credits: a 5-credit foundation course, 10 credits of BSN-entry essentials, 25 core credits, the shared 35-credit specialization sequence, and 15 credits of DNP project work.
- NURS 8002 or 8006: Foundations and Essentials for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (5 credits)
- DNRS 6052: Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice (5 credits, BSN entry only)
- DNRS 6211: Finance and Economics in Healthcare Delivery (5 credits, BSN entry only)
- NURS 8114, 8100, 8310, 8211, 8210: theory, health policy, epidemiology, data analysis, and technology (5 credits each)
- NURS 8312: Leading Quality Improvement Practice for Practicum Projects (5 credits)
- NURS 8512 and 8513: DNP Project and Practicum I and II (5 credits each)
Doctoral Practice Hours
The DNP requires a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practicum hours, with at least 400 at the DNP level. BSN entrants earn 640 in the specialization sequence and 400 in the project courses.
BSN to DNP Admissions
- Degree: BSN or equivalent from an accredited school
- Assessment: Doctoral Writing Assessment, 0 credits
- Transfer credit: up to 20 credits accepted
- Time limit: eight years to complete the doctorate, extension by petition only
MSN to DNP AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the MSN to DNP AGACNP track is $73,535 (80 quarter credits). It can generally be completed in about three years across 12 quarters.
How It Differs From BSN Entry
Eighty credits rather than 90. Dropping the 10-credit essentials block, DNRS 6052 and DNRS 6211, is the only curricular difference; foundation, core, specialization, and project requirements are identical.
MSN to DNP Admissions
- Degree: MSN or equivalent from an accredited school
- License: active RN or APRN license
- Required form: Verification of Precepted Clinical Hours from the previous nursing program, signed by its program director or dean
You should know: Applicants with fewer than 600 verified precepted hours must take NURS 8601 DNP Field Experience to backfill the gap, at one credit per 80 hours. Up to eight credits can apply, adding as much as $7,680 at the $960 doctoral rate. The published $73,535 estimate does not include it.
Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP
The estimated tuition for the post-master’s AGACNP certificate is $29,225 (35 quarter credits). The program can generally be completed in about 1.5 years across six quarters.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the 35-credit specialization sequence described in the shared section, with nothing added. Walden groups it as 15 core credits for the three advanced practice science courses plus 20 specialization credits.
APRN-Entry Variant
Licensed, certified Family Nurse Practitioners can transfer up to 17 credits, covering NURS 6501, NURS 6512, NURS 6521, and PRAC 6537. That leaves 18 paid credits, three practicum courses, 500 practicum hours, and an estimated $15,350 across four quarters.
Be aware: Walden’s certificate program page describes a 38-credit fast track with a 3-credit core course and up to 20 transfer credits. The catalog, updated more recently, states 35 total credits and up to 17 transfer credits. Walden’s own tuition table bills 18 credits, which matches the catalog.
Certificate Admissions
- Degree: MSN or nurse practitioner MSN from an accredited school
- APRN-entry eligibility: active FNP license and national certification
- Transfer credit: up to 20 credits for non-alumni; alumni may transfer more
- State eligibility: blocked in five states beyond the six blocking all pathways
Tuition
AGACNP specialization courses bill at $785 per quarter credit across every pathway. The DNP applies two additional rates: $960 per credit for core and doctoral project coursework, and $505 per credit for the BSN-entry essentials block. RN to MSN foundation courses bill at $435.
| Program | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | 58 | $47,650 |
| RN to MSN AGACNP | 84 | $59,330 |
| BSN to DNP AGACNP | 90 | $78,770 |
| MSN to DNP AGACNP | 80 | $73,535 |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 35 | $29,225 |
| Certificate, APRN-entry | 18 paid | $15,350 |
Totals include tuition, the $185 per-quarter program fee, and a $160 fee per practicum course, and are stated before scholarship. Books and materials add $1,800 to $2,500, including a mandatory $299 clinical skills resource required during NURS or DNRS 6512. See the official cost of attendance document for current rates.
You should know: The $6,280 Believe and Achieve Scholarship that Walden subtracts from its advertised totals is progress-based, not automatic. It reduces the MSN to $41,370 and the MSN to DNP to $67,255 only for students who stay on the minimum-time schedule.
Financial Aid
Walden offers up to a $2,000 grant for eligible post-master’s nursing certificate starts, which matters because certificate students are generally ineligible for graduate aid. Details are on the grants and scholarships page.
Why Choose This ACNP Program?
- One specialization sequence, six price points. The 35-credit AGACNP block and its 640 practicum hours are identical whether you enter with an ADN or an MSN. Only the surrounding coursework changes.
- Certified FNPs pay $15,350. Seventeen transferable credits and one fewer practicum course make the APRN-entry certificate the cheapest route to AGACNP eligibility Walden offers.
- No acute care, critical care, or ICU experience is required for admission to any pathway. Expect cohorts with a wide range of bedside backgrounds.
- Skills labs and Walden Grand Rounds case conferences run virtually. Walden publishes no in-person requirement for any AGACNP track.
- Residents of six states and the U.S. territories cannot complete practicum through any AGACNP pathway, and certificate seekers face five more blocked states.
Walden suits a working nurse who can already name a preceptor and an acute care site in an approved state. Anyone counting on the school to find that placement should look elsewhere.
Accreditation and Certification
The MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Walden are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The certificate program holds CCNE accreditation for the full ten-year term, which matters because ANCC requires certificate holders to have completed an accredited post-graduate APRN program. Walden University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Walden states plainly that it makes no guarantee any graduate will obtain national certification or state licensure, and that requirements vary by board of nursing.
All six pathways share one population focus, adult-gerontology acute care, covering patients age 13 and older. Graduates are academically prepared to sit for the ANCC AGACNP-BC examination and the AACN ACNPC-AG examination.