Arizona State University (ASU) Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) tracks:
- DNP – AGPCNP (BSN or MSN entry)
- Graduate Certificate – AGPCNP (post-MSN, board-certified APRN in a different specialty)
Both programs are delivered in a hybrid format — primarily online with required in-person travel to the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus for up to one week at orientation and two to three times per semester thereafter.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Credits / Duration |
|---|---|---|
| DNP – AGPCNP (BSN or MSN entry) | $79,968 | ~3 years FT or ~5 years PT |
| Graduate Certificate – AGPCNP | $22,848 | 3 semesters FT |
Clinical placement is arranged for students in Maricopa County; out-of-county students are responsible for identifying and securing their own approved sites.
DNP – Advanced Nursing Practice: AGNP (BSN or MSN Entry)
The estimated tuition for the ASU AGPCNP DNP program is approximately $79,968 for Arizona residents and $136,080 for non-residents, based on 84 semester credit hours.
Full-time students complete the program in approximately 3 years (9 semesters); part-time students complete it in approximately 5 years (15 semesters).
MSN-prepared students may apply up to 30 previously earned graduate credits toward the program with supervisory committee approval, potentially reducing tuition substantially.
DNP Curriculum
The program totals 84 semester credit hours structured across four areas: a 13-credit DNP required core, a 22-credit AGPCNP concentration, 40 credits of other requirements (including 12 credits of clinical residency), 6 elective credits, and a 3-credit culminating DNP applied project. A doctoral applied project focused on a clinical issue in advanced practice nursing is required in lieu of a dissertation.
Required Core (13 credits)
- DNP 704 – Principles of Evidence-Based Care in Advanced Practice (4 cr)
- DNP 705 – Health Care Outcomes Management (3 cr)
- DNP 708 – Systems Thinking in a Complex Healthcare Environment (3 cr)
- DNP 709 – Individual and Innovation Leadership in Healthcare Practice (3 cr)
AGPCNP Concentration (22 credits)
- DNP 623 – Adult-Gerontology Health Promotion (3 cr)
- DNP 624 – Adult-Gerontology Health Promotion Practicum — 135 clinical hours (3 cr)
- DNP 625 – Management of Common Health Problems in Adult-Gerontology: Theory (3 cr)
- DNP 626 – Management of Common Health Problems in Adult-Gerontology: Practicum — 225 clinical hours (5 cr)
- DNP 627 – Management of Complex Health Problems in Adult-Gerontology: Theory (3 cr)
- DNP 628 – Management of Complex Health Problems in Adult-Gerontology: Practicum — 225 clinical hours (5 cr)
Other Requirements (40 credits)
- DNP 601 – Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr)
- DNP 602 – Evaluating Research for Practice (3 cr)
- DNP 604 – Advanced Human Pathophysiology Across Lifespan (4 cr)
- DNP 605 – Advanced Health Assessment Across Lifespan (3 cr)
- DNP 608 – Applied Pharmacotherapeutics Across Lifespan (3 cr)
- DNP 609 – Advanced Practice Nursing Role (1 cr)
- DNP 679 – Biostatistics: Principles of Statistical Inference (3 cr)
- DNP 703 – Innovation in Communication: Scholarly and Professional Writing (2 cr)
- DNP 711 – Healthcare Policy and Innovation (3 cr)
- DNP 712 – Clinical Residency and Management (12 cr total — distributed across semesters)
- DNP 715 – Dynamics and Principles of Information in Health Care (3 cr)
Electives (6 credits)
- Student choice: 500-level or above courses from the approved course list (contact the academic unit for options)
- Includes one required elective from: DNP 603 Health Equity & Social Justice or DNP 661 Ethics in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr)
Culminating Experience (3 credits)
- DNP 707 – Disseminating Evidence to Advance Best Practice in Health Care and Health Policy (3 cr)
See course catalog for more curriculum details.
DNP Clinicals
The DNP program totals 1,125 practicum hours — exceeding the AACN-recommended 1,000-hour minimum. This includes 585 specialty clinical hours across three AGPCNP practicum courses and 540 residency hours distributed across DNP 712 Clinical Residency and Management (12 total credits, spread across multiple semesters). Clinical placements are community-based in primary care, ambulatory care, long-term care facilities, and home settings.
- DNP 624 – Adult-Gerontology Health Promotion Practicum: 135 clinical hours (3 cr)
- DNP 626 – Common Health Problems Practicum: 225 clinical hours (5 cr)
- DNP 628 – Complex Health Problems Practicum: 225 clinical hours (5 cr)
- DNP 712 – Clinical Residency and Management: 540 residency hours across multiple semesters distributed as 45 + 135 + 135 + 180 + 180 hours (12 cr total)
- Maricopa County residents receive focused placement assistance; out-of-county students must self-identify sites and preceptors (subject to Edson College approval)
- If additional supervision is needed, the student may be required to complete clinical hours in the Phoenix area regardless of residence
- Clinical rotations include health profession shortage areas in both urban underserved and rural Arizona settings
- 1 credit = 45 clinical hours (per ASU’s published conversion ratio)
DNP Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of the BSN, or 3.0 in the applicable master’s degree program
- Current, unencumbered RN license in the state of clinical practicum; plus an unencumbered Arizona RN license or compact state RN license (required by the Arizona State Board of Nursing throughout enrollment)
- Three professional letters of recommendation
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Goal statement
- Admission essay
- Faculty interview required (no admission exam required)
- Health and safety requirements: background clearance, substance screen, and required health documents — completed after offer of admission; failure to meet deadlines results in withdrawal of admission
- Applicants with a prior master’s degree must submit syllabi for gap analysis review of advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced role courses; courses must have been completed within the past 5 years or the applicant must be actively board certified and practicing
- One year of clinical experience in the adult-gerontology population preferred
- Proof of English proficiency required if native language is not English, regardless of U.S. residency
- Up to 30 credits from a prior master’s degree may transfer with supervisory committee and Graduate College approval
- Priority deadline: December 15 (fall entry); applications reviewed on a space-available basis after this date
- Not available in California without exceptions review; all other SARA member states authorized
Graduate Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the ASU AGPCNP Graduate Certificate is approximately $20,944 for Arizona residents. The certificate is typically completed in approximately about 1.5 years.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate consists of 22 semester credit hours of AGPCNP specialty coursework — identical to the concentration component of the DNP. This certificate is designed for APRNs who are board certified in a different specialty and wish to add AGPCNP certification, or for doctorate-prepared nurses seeking the AGPCNP credential.
A gap analysis after admission may require up to four additional prerequisite courses (Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Practice Nursing Role) if not completed within the past five years or if the applicant is not actively board certified and practicing.
Prerequisite Courses — if required by gap analysis (~11 credits)
- DNP 604 – Advanced Human Pathophysiology Across Lifespan (4 cr)
- DNP 605 – Advanced Health Assessment Across Lifespan (3 cr)
- DNP 608 – Applied Pharmacotherapeutics Across Lifespan (3 cr)
- DNP 609 – Advanced Practice Nursing Role (1 cr)
AGPCNP Specialty Courses — Required Core (22 credits)
- DNP 623 – Adult-Gerontology Health Promotion (3 cr)
- DNP 624 – Adult-Gerontology Health Promotion Practicum — 135 clinical hours (3 cr)
- DNP 625 – Management of Common Health Problems in Adult-Gerontology: Theory (3 cr)
- DNP 626 – Management of Common Health Problems in Adult-Gerontology: Practicum — 225 clinical hours (5 cr)
- DNP 627 – Management of Complex Health Problems in Adult-Gerontology: Theory (3 cr)
- DNP 628 – Management of Complex Health Problems in Adult-Gerontology: Practicum — 225 clinical hours (5 cr)
More curriculum details available in the course catalog.
Certificate Clinicals
Certificate students complete 585 specialty clinical hours across three practicum courses — the same clinical sequence as the DNP concentration. All clinical hours are completed in community primary care settings.
- DNP 624 – Adult-Gerontology Health Promotion Practicum: 135 clinical hours (3 cr)
- DNP 626 – Common Health Problems Practicum: 225 clinical hours (5 cr)
- DNP 628 – Complex Health Problems Practicum: 225 clinical hours (5 cr)
- Maricopa County residents receive placement assistance; out-of-county students must self-identify and secure approved sites
- All sites must be approved by Edson College before clinical experiences begin; no placement guarantee for out-of-county students
- If additional supervision is needed, student may be required to travel to Phoenix to complete clinical hours
- 1 credit = 45 clinical hours (ASU conversion ratio)
Certificate Admissions Requirements
- Both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution required (unlike the DNP, which accepts BSN-only entry)
- Current board certification in a different APRN specialty (required; not just preferred)
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of the BSN or 3.0 in the master’s degree
- Current, unencumbered RN license in the state of clinical practicum; plus an Arizona RN license or compact state RN license (required throughout enrollment)
- Three professional letters of recommendation
- Resume, goal statement, and admission essay
- Faculty interview required; no admission exam required
- Health and safety requirements completed after admission offer (background clearance, substance screen, health documents)
- Gap analysis required: syllabi for advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced role courses submitted for faculty review; courses must be within past 5 years or applicant actively board certified and practicing
- One year of experience in the adult-gerontology population preferred
- Proof of English proficiency required if native language is not English
- International F-1/J-1 visa holders must be admitted to a graduate degree program before being considered for the certificate
- Priority deadline: Summer entry; applications reviewed on a space-available basis after the deadline
Tuition
ASU’s 2026–2027 published graduate cost of attendance reflects a base tuition of approximately $13,327 per year for Arizona residents.
Online/distance students pay the same tuition rate as on-campus students; ASU does not publish a separate online-only per-credit rate for the Edson College nursing programs.
Additional mandatory annual fees include a $350 tuition surcharge, $200 advanced technology fee, and $807 in student-initiated fees. Estimated annual living expenses add approximately $21,087 (housing and food), $3,696 (transportation), and $4,785 (personal expenses).
Students should use the ASU tuition estimator to calculate a precise per-credit and total program cost based on residency status and enrollment intensity.
Tuition estimates are based on published 2026–2027 Arizona resident base tuition of $952/credit and non-resident rate of $1,622/credit (derived from ASU’s annual cost of attendance figures; per-credit rates not individually listed on the public tuition page — verify exact per-credit rates with the ASU tuition estimator).
More tuition details are available here.
Accreditation
ASU Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation DNP and graduate certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates of both the DNP and Graduate Certificate meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP certification exam.
ASU participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), authorizing distance education delivery in most U.S. states; California is not a SARA member, though ASU may offer certain activities there — exceptions are noted on the ASU state authorizations website.