Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Programs

Opting for a career as an acute care nurse practitioner is a popular choice for nurses who enjoy the fast-paced nature of critical care, but who want to enter advanced practice. There are a variety of programs across the nation to help nurses achieve this goal, and nurses can choose a sub-specialty, such as adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner or pediatric acute care nurse practitioner. Students can also choose between MSN and DNP pathways to further customize their educational experience.
Choosing an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Program
With a little research, picking the right acute care nurse practitioner program can be a snap. Be sure to check for the following when comparing programs:
Accreditation
Proper accreditations are one of the main things a student can look for when researching programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) are two of the main accrediting bodies to look for. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses also maintains a list of schools with curriculums verified for acute care nurse practitioner certification.
Program Cost
With most acute care nurse practitioner programs listing tuition cost per credit hour, students will find a range of tuition prices, from roughly $550 to $900 per credit, depending on factors like school, location, and degree-level chosen. Keep in mind that these tuition costs are typically not inclusive of things like mandatory fees, course materials, and other additional expenses.
Program Length
For the typical MSN-level acute care nurse practitioner program, roughly 48 credit hours are required, along with a minimum number of clinical hours. Part-time and full-time study options are usually available. For DNP-level acute care nurse practitioner programs, roughly 77 total credits are needed, along with mandatory clinical hours. Students can expect the DNP program to take about 4 years to complete.
Internship/Externship Opportunities
Many schools have relationships with local hospitals and medical centers in which students can complete their hands-on training. Students can inquire with prospective schools to see what kind of internship/externship opportunities are available to them.
Online/Campus Options
At the request of increasingly time-strapped students, many programs now offer both online and campus-based acute care nurse practitioner programs. Some schools even offer a "hybrid" program, allowing students to take many courses online but also offering classroom-based lectures and labs.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Degree Levels Offered
Those interested in an acute care nurse practitioner career have two educational pathways to choose from: the MSN or the DNP. Both usually offer the option of choosing between adult gerontology or a pediatric acute care nurse practitioner pathway. Each degree level has its own pros and cons, so students must consider their own long-term goals to determine which is right for them.
MSN Programs
There are a variety of MSN-level specialty programs; the most common is the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Students enrolled in this program will take a mix of advanced nursing courses as well as specialized acute care courses such as Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Pathophysiology of the Human Disease, and Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision-Making for Acute Care. Jefferson College of Nursing at Thomas Jefferson University in Pennsylvania offers an accredited MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program.
DNP Programs
Those wanting to enter the highest roles as acute care nurse practitioners can opt for a doctoral degree. These DNP programs emphasize leadership and prepare nurses to provide direct patient management from admission to discharge. Students will take much of the same coursework as MSN students, but will also take classes such as Organizational and Systems Leadership, Clinical Data Management, and numerous DNP Practicum courses. The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing offers an accredited DNP-level Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program.
Online Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs
As distance education grows, more schools are offering online acute care nurse practitioner programs. These programs can offer an unprecedented level of flexibility for those with hectic schedules. Be aware, though, that some programs do require a limited amount of on-campus participation as well.
Advantages of an Online Program
The convenience of online programs is the main draw for most students. Those with busy lives and numerous commitments can take courses from the comfort of their own homes. This is ideal for those who don't live close enough to a university to make commuting feasible. Additionally, online students don't have to worry about the gas or parking expenses that campus-based students must deal with.
Program Accreditation
Like their classroom-based counterparts, online acute care nurse practitioner programs should be fully accredited. ACEN or CCNE accreditation is strongly preferred, and a school that's been vetted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is also a safe bet.
Costs and Length
Online acute care nurse practitioner programs require the same amount of credits that a campus-based program does, but part-time study options are much more common with distance learning. This means that the total length of the program generally depends on how quickly the student wants to move through the curriculum. Costs for both MSN and DNP level online programs are also similar to in-person programs, at approximately $500-$800 per credit hour. Boise State University's online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program costs $750 per credit hour.
What Are the Admissions and Certification Requirements?
Admissions requirements for most acute care nurse practitioner programs include:
- Must possess a BSN from an accredited school
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Possess a valid, unencumbered RN license from the U.S. (some states may be ineligible for certain online programs; always inquire with a prospective school first)
- Personal goal statement
- Provide a current copy of a resume or CV
- Professional letters of recommendation
Certification as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP-AG) is through examination via the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-AC) credential is offered through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. Eligibility requirements for these exams include:
- Current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license
- Successful completion of an accredited, graduate-level acute care nurse practitioner program
List of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs
There are a variety of acute care nurse practitioner programs available, see the list below.
Jump to Your State Listings
Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294
(205) 975-7529
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL 35899
(256) 824-1000
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL 36688
(251) 445-9400
Arizona
Arizona State University
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(480) 965-7788
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ 85017
(855) 428-5673
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
(520) 626-6154
Arkansas
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(800) 952-1165
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 686-7000
California
Brandman University
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 341-9800
Cal State LA
Los Angeles, CA 90032
(323) 343-3000
California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, CA 90840
(562) 985-4111
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94143
(415) 476-1435
Colorado
Colorado State University Pueblo
Pueblo, CO 81001
(719) 549-2462
University of Colorado
Aurora, CO 80045
(303) 724-2152
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora, CO 80045
(303) 724-2152
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-1890
Connecticut
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-0876
Yale University
Orange, CT 06477
(203) 785-2389
Florida
Barry University
- Geriatric-Adult Acute Care Online
- Geriatric-Adult Acute Care Campus
Miami Shores, FL 33161
(305) 899-3379
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL 32826
(407) 823-2744
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL 33124
(305) 284-3666
University of South Florida
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Campus
Tampa, FL 33612
(813) 974-2191
Georgia
Augusta University
Augusta, GA 30912
(706) 721-9767
Emory University
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Hybrid
- Pediatric Acute Care Hybrid
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404) 727-7980
Georgia Southern University (Armstrong)
Savannah, GA 31419
(912) 344-2576
Mercer University
Macon, GA 31207
(180) 063-7237 x8
Middle Georgia State University
Macon, GA 31206
(478) 471-2700
Hawaii
Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 544-0200
Idaho
Boise State University
Boise, ID 83725
(208) 426-1000
Illinois
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL 60446
(815) 838-0500
Loyola University of Chicago
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 274-3000
Rush University
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 942-7100
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Peoria, IL 61603
(309) 655-2201
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford
Rockford, IL 61107
(815) 395-0600
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 996-7800
Indiana
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 274-2806
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(574) 284-4000
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, IN 47712
(812) 464-8600
Iowa
Allen College
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 226-2000
Graceland University
Lamoni, IA 50140
(641) 784-5000
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 335-7018
Kansas
University of Kansas
Kansas City, KS 66160
(913) 588-1619
Kentucky
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY 41099
(800) 985-7215
University Of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 852-5825
University of Kentucky College of Nursing
Lexington, KY 40536
(859) 323-5108
Louisiana
Louisiana State University New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 568-4200
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6011
Maine
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME 04084
(207) 893-7957
University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME 04104
(180) 080-0487 x6
Maryland
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD 21205
(410) 955-4766
University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 706-6109
Massachusetts
Elms College
Chicopee, MA 01013
(413) 594-2761
MGH Institute Of Health Professions
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Campus
Boston, MA 02129
(617) 726-2947
Northeastern University
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-2000
University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, MA 02125
(617) 287-5000
University of Massachusetts Medical School
North Worcester, MA 01655
(508) 856-3488
Michigan
Madonna University
Livonia, MI 48150
(734) 432-5300
University of Michigan
- Post-Baccalaureate DNP: Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Campus
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Campus
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 763-5985
University of Michigan- Flint
Flint, MI 48502
(810) 762-3300
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-4082
Minnesota
Winona State University Rochester
Rochester, MN 55904
(507) 285-7100
Mississippi
University Of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 984-1000
Missouri
Barnes Jewish College
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 454-7055
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 454-7055
Maryville University
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 529-9300
University of Missouri - St. Louis
St. Louis, MO 63121
(314) 516-5000
Nebraska
Creighton University
Omaha, NE 68178
(402) 280-2700
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198
(402) 559-4000
Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557
(775) 784-1110
New Jersey
Rutgers School of Nursing
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 972-4307
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 761-9000
New Mexico
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 272-0858
New York
Columbia University
New York, NY 10032
(212) 305-5756
NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing
New York, NY 10010
(212) 998-5300
Pace University
New York, NY 10038
(866) 722-3338
St. John Fisher College
Rochester, NY 14618
(585) 385-8000
North Carolina
Duke University
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-3786
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC 28223
(704) 687-8622
Ohio
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 368-2000
Kent State University
Kent, OH 44242
(330) 672-7930
Malone University
Canton, OH 44709
(800) 521-1146
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Columbus, OH 43222
(614) 234-5800
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 593-1000
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 292-4041
The University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325
(330) 972-7111
University of Cincinnati
- DNP - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Campus
- DNP - Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Campus
Cincinnati, OH 45220
(151) 355-8550 x0
Ursuline College
Pepper Pike, OH 44124
(440) 449-4200
Wright State University
Dayton, OH 45431
(937) 775-3333
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH 44555
(330) 941-3000
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
(405) 208-5000
The University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2000
Oregon
Oregon Health & Sciences University
Portland, OR 97239
(503) 494-8311
Pennsylvania
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA 18034
(610) 282-1100 x2838
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 895-2000
Moravian College
Bethlehem, PA 18018
(610) 861-1660
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 503-8890
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Campus
- Pediatric Acute Care Campus
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Campus
- Pediatric Acute Care Campus
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 898-8281
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
(412) 624-4586
Rhode Island
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 456-8000
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI 02881
(401) 874-1000
South Carolina
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
(803) 777-7412
Tennessee
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN 37614
(423) 439-4578
Tennessee Tech University
- BSN to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Full Time Campus
- MSN to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Full Time Campus
- BSN to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Part Time Campus
- MSN to DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - Part Time Campus
Cookeville, TN 38505
(931) 372-3101
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center- Memphis
Memphis, TN 38163
(901) 448-5500
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 425-4416
Texas
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79430
(806) 743-2730
Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX 76204
(940) 898-2000
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Galveston, TX 77555
(409) 772-1011
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX 76019
(817) 272-2011
The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX 79968
(915) 747-5000
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - UT Health San Antonio
San Antonio, TX 78229
(210) 567-7000
University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Hybrid
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 500-2000
Utah
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
(801) 581-3414
Virginia
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22903-3388
(434) 924-0141
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA 23298
(804) 828-0724
Washington
Seattle University
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 296-6000
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543-2100
Washington, DC
Georgetown University
Washington, DC 20057
(202) 687-0100
Wisconsin
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI 53233
(800) 222-6544
Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.