DNP Programs in Vermont
The terminal degree type within the field of nursing is the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The DNP degree is considered ‘terminal' since it's the highest ranking degree type within nursing field. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree provides the academic and clinical experience required to earn national certification as a nurse practitioner (AGNP, FNP). DNP-prepared nurses who specialize in the executive leader track have a number of opportunities for organizational roles in healthcare companies.
The University of Vermont College of Nursing BSN to DNP program includes 69.5-76 credits of coursework and 750-820 clinical hours, as well as 240 practicum hours associated with the DNP project.
Core competencies students are expected to master during their time at the University of Vermont will include:
- Advanced nursing practice
- Scientific underpinning for practice
- Advanced pharmacology
- Advanced physiology and pathophysiology
- Organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement and systems thinking
- Clinical scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice
- Information systems/technology and patient care technology for the improvement and transformation of health care
- Inter-professional collaboration for improving patient and population health outcomes
- Clinical prevention and population health for improving the nation's health
- Healthcare policy
- Population-specific studies
2026 Best DNP Programs in Vermont
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT - Public 4-Year - uvm.edu
Doctorate - Doctor of Nursing Practice
Concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) - Campus Based - Visit Website
The University of Vermont's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Family Nurse Practitioner concentration delivers comprehensive primary care training through an intensive 76-credit program. Students complete 1000 clinical practice hours spanning pediatric, adult, and geriatric care domains. The curriculum strategically integrates advanced clinical knowledge with a scholarly DNP project, cultivating exceptional leadership and evidence-based practice skills. Applicants must hold an active RN license and nursing bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. This program distinguishes itself through remarkable national APRN certification pass rates exceeding 95%, positioning graduates as highly competitive advanced practice nursing professionals.
- 76 total credit hours
- 1000 clinical practice hours
- Two concentration tracks available
- Expert faculty clinicians
- Small class sizes
- Collaborative academic medical center
- 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate
- Hybrid course delivery
- 3.0 minimum GPA required
- RN licensure prerequisite
Doctorate - Postgraduate Doctor of Nursing Practice
Concentration: Executive Nurse Leader - Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
UVM's Postgraduate Doctor of Nursing Practice featuring an Executive Nurse Leader concentration offers a transformative 32-33 credit program designed for experienced nurses seeking high-level healthcare leadership roles. The innovative curriculum emphasizes sophisticated policy development, strategic implementation, and systemic healthcare improvement methodologies. Through hybrid learning formats and comprehensive clinical immersion experiences, students develop advanced competencies to drive meaningful organizational change. Admission requires a master's degree, professional RN licensure, and a 3.0 minimum GPA, ensuring participants possess robust foundational nursing expertise before advancing into executive healthcare leadership trajectories.
- Executive Nurse Leader track
- 32-33 total credit hours
- Hybrid program format
- 1000 total clinical hours
- 3.0 minimum GPA required
- Master's degree prerequisite
- Professional RN licensure
- Customizable elective options
- CCNE accredited program
Choosing a DNP Program
Prospective students should always research any potential DNP program thoroughly. Some key elements to consider include the following.
What to Consider When Choosing a DNP Program
- Program Cost— University of Vermont is the only institution in the state of Vermont which offers a DNP program.
- Vermont residents will pay $664 per unit hour
- Out-of-state residents will pay $1,130 per unit hour
- Online Options— The University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers students a hybrid model with some online courses and some on-campus courses.
- Accreditation— DNP programs in the state of Vermont are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- Clinical Residencies— Fellowships and residencies enhance a student's educational experience. The following is an example of an opportunity a student may find:
- University of Vermont—Palliative Care APRN Fellowship for Advanced Practice Nurses and Clinical Nurse Fellowships
Admission & State Licensing or Certification Requirements
Admission
Admission requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing or bachelor’s degree in another field for the Direct Entry into Professional Nursing (DEPN), or associate degree in nursing with a baccalaureate degree in another field
- Eligibility for licensure as an RN in Vermont
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- College grade point average of 3.0 or higher
- Three letters of recommendation
- Completion of prerequisite courses
- Practice experience preferred
- Preferred minimum GRE scores: 144 Quantitative/500 on previous version, 153 Verbal/500 on previous version and 4.0 Writing. Applicants may retake the GRE and the highest score in each section will be counted
Certification
Vermont DNP programs permit successful students to sit for state board certification upon completion of programs. DNP tracks offered at universities in Vermont allow students to become certified in the vast majority of advanced practice nursing specialties.
Licensing
In the state of Vermont, students who have completed their DNP program go on to be licensed by the Vermont Board of Nursing. Requirements for licensure will include, but may not be limited to:
- Completing an application
- Pass a background check
- Passing a drug screen
- Provide transcripts from all educational institutions
- Submit verification of specialty certification
- Complete fingerprinting
Vermont BSN to DNP Program Options
DNP opportunities exist for those who hold a BSN rather than an MSN, including the University of Vermont, Burlington's program.
Related Education Paths
Helpful DNP Agencies and Organizations in Vermont
- Vermont Nurse Practitioners Association
- Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals
- Vermont Board of Nursing
List of Campus and Online DNP Programs in Vermont
Burlington, VT
University of Vermont
- Doctorate - Doctor of Nursing Practice
Concentration: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) - Campus Based - Website
- 76 total credit hours
- 1000 clinical practice hours
- Two concentration tracks available
- Expert faculty clinicians
- Small class sizes
- Collaborative academic medical center
- 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate
- Hybrid course delivery
- Doctorate - Postgraduate Doctor of Nursing Practice
Concentration: Executive Nurse Leader - Online & Campus Based - Website
- Executive Nurse Leader track
- 32-33 total credit hours
- Hybrid program format
- 1000 total clinical hours
- 3.0 minimum GPA required
- Master's degree prerequisite
- Professional RN licensure
- Customizable elective options