George Washington University School of Nursing offers three Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner pathways:
- MSN (full-time or part-time)
- BSN-DNP (part-time)
- Post-Master’s Certificate (part-time)
All three are online programs with required on-campus simulation events in Ashburn, Virginia, or Washington, DC. Every pathway requires an active, unencumbered nursing license, and GW cannot enroll AGPCNP students from several states.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (All Students) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN AGPCNP | $82,080 | Not published (full-time and part-time plans) | 48 |
| BSN-DNP AGPCNP | $123,120 | Not published (part-time only) | 72 |
| Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP | $34,200 | Not published (part-time, summer entry) | 20 |
Tuition estimates multiply GW Nursing’s published graduate rate of $1,710 per credit, which has no residency differential, by the credit total in the GW Bulletin.
What sets GW apart is uniformity. All three pathways run through the same three AGPCNP practicum courses (20 credits, 600 clinical hours) at the same $1,710 per credit, so the choice between MSN, DNP, and certificate comes down to how much non-clinical coursework a student needs, not to a different clinical experience.
Placement is where GW asks the most of its students. The school states that securing a clinical site is the student’s responsibility. The placement team processes legal paperwork and can share information on local sites, but it does not promise to place students. Applicants without a preceptor network in their own area carry most of the placement risk.
One shared 600-hour AGPCNP clinical sequence at a flat $1,710 per credit, with students responsible for finding their own preceptors.
Quick Facts
| Program Types | MSN, BSN-DNP, Post-Master’s Certificate |
| Format | Online coursework with required on-campus simulation events |
| Campus Attendance | CLASI before clinicals; OSCEs during NURS 6225 and NURS 6229; end-of-program skills assessment. GW’s cost page budgets campus travel up to twice a year in clinical programs |
| Campus Location | Virginia Science & Technology Campus, Ashburn, VA |
| Clinical Hours | 600 direct clinical hours (all pathways); DNP adds 500 indirect practice hours |
| Clinical Placement | Student secures site and preceptor; placement team handles paperwork and offers support |
| Licensure Required | Active, unencumbered RN license (U.S. state or territory) |
| Start Terms | MSN: Fall or Spring; DNP: Fall; Certificate: Summer |
| Tuition | $1,710 per credit, all students |
| Accreditation | CCNE (master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate) |
MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The MSN AGPCNP requires 48 credits and 600 clinical hours, for estimated tuition of $82,080. GW publishes full-time (fall entry) and part-time (fall or spring entry) plans of study but does not state a completion time on the program page. It is the entry point for BSN-prepared RNs who want NP certification without doctoral coursework.
MSN Curriculum
The curriculum splits into three blocks. A 15-credit graduate nursing core covers population health, leadership, policy, evidence-based practice, and biostatistics. A 13-credit advanced practice core covers pathophysiology, health assessment, pharmacology, and genetics. The final 20 credits are the AGPCNP practicum sequence.
The practicum sequence is weighted toward the back half. Practice Introduction carries 4 credits, then two 8-credit courses split the population: adolescents and adults first, then older and frail adults. A dedicated older/frail course is a useful signal that gerontology gets real clinical time rather than a share of a general adult rotation.
- NURS 6202 Concepts in Population Health (3)
- NURS 6203 Nursing Leadership (3)
- NURS 6205 Health Policy, Quality, and Political Process (3)
- NURS 6207 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Care Researchers (3)
- NURS 6208 Biostatistics for Health Care Research (3)
- NURS 6220 Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3)
- NURS 6222 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4)
- NURS 6233 Genetics for Healthcare Providers (3)
- NURS 6234 Advanced Pharmacology for Nursing (3)
- NURS 6224 AGPCNP I: Practice Introduction (4)
- NURS 6225 AGPCNP II: Adolescent and Adult (8)
- NURS 6229 AGPCNP III: Adult, Older/Frail (8)
View the MSN AGPCNP requirements in the GW Bulletin.
MSN Clinical Requirements
- Total: 600 clinical hours with an approved preceptor
- Distribution: NURS 6224 (120 hours), NURS 6225 (240 hours), NURS 6229 (240 hours)
- Placement responsibility: the student secures the site and preceptor; GW’s placement team processes legal documentation and offers support to students who cannot locate a preceptor
- Placement guarantee: none published
- On campus: Clinical Learning and Skills Intensive (CLASI) before clinical courses; OSCEs with standardized patients during NURS 6225 and NURS 6229; an end-of-program skills assessment
- Clinical contact: sonclinical@gwu.edu
The two 8-credit practicums each carry 240 hours, so the clinical load concentrates in the final two clinical terms. Students who work full time should plan for reduced hours during that stretch, and should line up preceptors for both courses before the sequence starts, since a gap in either one delays the next.
MSN Admissions
- BSN from a regionally accredited institution
- Preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Active, unencumbered RN license from a U.S. state or territory
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools
- Two letters of recommendation
- Current resume and Statement of Purpose (250–500 words per the Bulletin)
- International applicants: TOEFL iBT 100 or IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.0)
- No additional prerequisites listed
- Spring 2027: priority September 1, 2026; final November 15, 2026
- Fall 2027: opens October 1, 2026; priority December 1, 2026; final June 15, 2027
The MSN is the only GW AGPCNP pathway with two entry terms and a full-time option. Spring entry is part-time only.
The 2026–2027 GW Bulletin lists different MSN deadlines: Fall priority December 1 and final May 15; Spring priority June 1 and final October 1. The program page publishes cycle-specific dates for Spring 2027 and Fall 2027, so this page uses those. Fall applicants who submit by May 15 meet both versions.
BSN-DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The BSN-DNP AGPCNP requires 72 credits and at least 1,100 post-baccalaureate practice hours, for estimated tuition of $123,120. It is part-time only with fall entry, and GW does not state a completion time. Admission requires a BSN; GW does not offer a post-master’s DNP route into the AGPCNP specialty.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The 72 credits divide evenly. Half (36 credits) is the advanced practice core plus the same 20-credit AGPCNP practicum sequence the MSN uses. The other half is doctoral work: 24 credits of DNP courses in informatics, epidemiology, organizational systems, research translation, quality improvement, policy, finance, and analytics, then a 12-credit, four-course DNP project sequence.
Compared with the MSN, the DNP drops the 15-credit master’s core (except biostatistics) and replaces it with doctoral courses. The net cost of the doctorate is 24 more credits, or about $41,040 at the current rate, for the same NP clinical preparation. The admissions statement must include a DNP project idea, so applicants should arrive with a practice problem in mind.
- NURS 6208 Biostatistics for Health Care Research (3)
- NURS 6220, 6222, 6233, 6234 advanced practice core (13 total)
- NURS 6224, 6225, 6229 AGPCNP practicum sequence (20 total)
- NURS 8351 Healthcare Informatics (3)
- NURS 8400 Epidemiology and Population Health (3)
- NURS 8401 Organizational Concepts in Nursing (3)
- NURS 8403 Translating Research into Practice (3)
- NURS 8405 Healthcare Quality Improvement (3)
- NURS 8417 Health Policy and Analysis (3)
- NURS 8418 Healthcare Economics, Finance, and Reimbursement (3)
- NURS 8419 Analytical Methods and Appraisal for Evidence-Based Practice (3)
- NURS 8489–8492 DNP Project: Scholarly Inquiry, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation and Dissemination (12 total)
View the DNP AGPCNP requirements in the GW Bulletin.
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- Total: minimum 1,100 post-baccalaureate practice hours
- Direct clinical: 600 hours with an approved preceptor across NURS 6224 (120), NURS 6225 (240), and NURS 6229 (240)
- Indirect DNP practice: 500 hours provided through coursework
- Placement responsibility: students are encouraged to find their own preceptor; GW can provide information on local clinical sites
- On campus: CLASI before clinical courses; OSCEs during NURS 6225 and NURS 6229
Because the 500 indirect hours are built into coursework, DNP students do not need a second preceptor search for doctoral hours. Their direct-care placement burden is identical to the MSN.
BSN-DNP Admissions
- BSN from a regionally accredited institution
- Preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Active, unencumbered RN license from a U.S. state or territory
- Official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, current resume
- Statement of Purpose describing career goals, a DNP project concept, practice, and leadership experience
- International applicants: TOEFL iBT 100 (paper 600) or IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.0)
- Fall 2027: opens October 1, 2026; priority December 1, 2026; final June 15, 2027
Post-Master’s Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP requires 20 credits, for estimated tuition of $34,200. It is part-time with summer entry; GW does not state a completion time. Applicants need an MSN and three separate graduate courses in advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment completed before enrollment. GW does not require existing APRN certification.
A published conflict worth knowing about. The certificate program page states two totals: 600 clinical hours in its overview and a 625-hour minimum further down. Its course breakdown (120 + 240 + 240) sums to 600, and the 2026–2027 GW Bulletin states 600. This page uses 600 because the Bulletin and the course-level hours both support it.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the AGPCNP practicum sequence and nothing else. It contains no advanced practice core, which is why the three prerequisite courses are mandatory and must each be separate, lifespan-focused, and designed for advanced practice clinicians. A combined “3P” course will not satisfy the requirement.
- NURS 6224 AGPCNP I: Practice Introduction (4)
- NURS 6225 AGPCNP II: Adolescent and Adult (8)
- NURS 6229 AGPCNP III: Adult, Older/Frail (8)
View the certificate requirements in the GW Bulletin.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- Total: 600 clinical hours per the Bulletin and program overview (a later section of the program page states 625)
- Distribution: NURS 6224 (120), NURS 6225 (240), NURS 6229 (240)
- Placement responsibility: student finds the preceptor; GW can share information on local sites
- Site visit: faculty visit the clinical site, usually during the second or final clinical course
- Required events: virtual new student orientation; CLASI on campus before clinical courses; OSCEs during NURS 6225 and NURS 6229
Every certificate credit is a practicum credit, so the program begins with clinical work almost immediately. Applicants should have a preceptor identified before the summer start rather than searching after admission.
Certificate Admissions
- MSN from a regionally accredited institution
- Preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Active, unencumbered nursing license
- Completed graduate courses in advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced health assessment (three separate courses)
- Official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, current resume
- Statement of Purpose (250–500 words per the Bulletin)
- International applicants: TOEFL iBT 100 (paper 600) or IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.0)
- Summer 2027: opens September 1, 2026; priority December 1, 2026; final February 1, 2027
The 2026–2027 Bulletin still lists a March 31 summer deadline. The program page’s Summer 2027 cycle is newer and sets the final deadline at February 1, 2027, so applicants relying on the older date would miss the cycle by two months.
Tuition
GW Nursing charges $1,710 per credit for all MSN, DNP, and certificate programs. As a private university, GW applies the same rate to every student regardless of residency. The tuition page does not name the academic year the rate covers; it states that tuition and fees are assessed annually.
GW’s tuition page lists program totals of $82,080 (MSN) and $123,120 (DNP), which match the AGPCNP credit totals. Its certificate total of $29,070 is based on a generic 17-credit certificate, not the 20-credit AGPCNP certificate. At 20 credits, the AGPCNP certificate costs an estimated $34,200, or $5,130 more than the figure shown on the tuition page.
| Pathway | Credits | Estimated Total Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGPCNP | 48 | $82,080 |
| BSN-DNP AGPCNP | 72 | $123,120 |
| Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP | 20 | $34,200 |
Totals are calculated from the $1,710 per-credit rate and Bulletin credit totals. The certificate figure is not published by GW.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- Graduate Clinical Program Simulation Fee: $350 per applicable course
- CLASI Fee: $350 per applicable course
- Advance deposit: $500 (applied to tuition)
- Computer: $900+ (one-time)
- Complio (physical and immunizations): $123
- Required equipment: $35–$650
- Textbooks: about $765 in the first semester; GW estimates $3,062 across four semesters
- Health insurance: $2,999 per year (voluntary GW plan)
- Travel to Ashburn, VA for CLASI and OSCEs (up to twice a year in clinical programs; cost varies)
- Travel to clinical sites, plus housing and food (vary by student)
GW does not itemize which AGPCNP courses carry the simulation and CLASI fees. See GW Nursing’s official costs page.
Why Choose This AGPCNP Program?
Best suited for: RNs who can secure their own primary care preceptors, can travel to the DC area a few times, and want a distance AGPCNP with a choice of MSN, DNP, or certificate entry.
Self-Sourced Preceptors Are the Main Risk
GW’s FAQ places responsibility for the clinical site on the student. The placement team handles contracts and offers help, but no placement guarantee is published. In regions where many schools compete for primary care preceptors, finding 600 hours across three courses can delay progression. Applicants with an employer or NP contact willing to precept carry far less risk.
A Flat $1,710 Rate Cuts Both Ways
There is no in-state discount, so out-of-state students pay what DC-area students pay. That same rate makes GW expensive next to public universities charging resident tuition. The MSN at about $82,000 and the DNP at about $123,000 are significant commitments for programs that leave placement to the student.
Limited but Mandatory Campus Travel
Campus events are tied to specific courses: CLASI before clinicals, OSCEs in the second and third practicums, and an end-of-program skills assessment. GW’s cost page budgets travel to Ashburn, Virginia up to twice a year during clinical study, but GW does not publish how many days each event lasts.
GW’s FAQ times the events slightly differently from the program pages, placing CLASI during NURS 6222 and OSCEs in the second clinical course. Distance students should expect several trips across the clinical phase and confirm exact dates once enrolled.
Three Entry Points, One Clinical Track
BSN holders choose between the MSN and the DNP; the clinical preparation is identical, and the DNP adds 24 credits of doctoral coursework. MSN-prepared nurses in another specialty can add AGPCNP through the 20-credit certificate, provided they already hold the three separate advanced practice courses.
The Verdict
GW makes the most sense for nurses who already have a reliable preceptor, live in an eligible state, and value a CCNE-accredited program with spring, fall, or summer entry depending on pathway. The certificate is a direct route for MSN-prepared nurses with the three prerequisites in hand. Applicants who need school-arranged placements, or who are comparing against in-state public tuition, should look at other options first.
Accreditation
GW’s master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by CCNE, and the APRN programs are approved by the DC Board of Nursing. GW states that all three AGPCNP pathways qualify graduates to sit for the ANCC and AANP certification exams.
GW Nursing does not accept online applicants from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, or Wisconsin. It also restricts the AGPCNP DNP for Arizona applicants and the AGPCNP certificate for Tennessee and Utah applicants, and New York applicants must complete clinicals in another state. Check GW’s current state authorization page before applying.
Review Other AGPCNP Programs in Virginia
- James Madison University - Harrisonburg