North Park University AGPCNP Programs

North Park University offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • MSN AGPCNP
  • Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP

Both programs are fully online with one required three-day on-site skills immersion in North Park’s simulation lab, making them accessible for working nurses who can’t commit to regular in-person attendance.

Program Tracks Overview

Program NameEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN AGPCNP$44K32 months
Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP$34K20–32 months

The front-loaded curriculum model — completing all didactic coursework before entering clinical rotations — is a structural advantage for nurses who need to plan around their schedules.

The post-graduate certificate is restricted to Illinois residents; MSN residency requirements are not clearly stated on the official program page.

MSN AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the MSN AGPCNP at North Park University is approximately $44K (48 credits × $925/credit), and the program takes 32 months to complete.

MSN Curriculum

The 48-credit MSN is structured across 19 courses covering MSN core content, NP role and core courses, adult-gerontology population-specific courses, practicum sequences, and a capstone project.

The front-loaded design means students complete all APRN didactic coursework and the on-campus immersion before advancing to 765 hours of supervised clinical practicum at designated sites.

The curriculum includes seven- and 14-week course options. A Christian nursing philosophy is woven throughout, with particular attention to care in urban and underserved communities.

MSN Core Courses

NURS 5010 – Scientific Inquiry and Knowledge Development
Explores the evaluation and development of evidence-based strategies to enhance health outcomes, care quality, and practice environments. Students apply nursing theory, research methods, and quality improvement frameworks to identify gaps, generate evidence, and translate findings into clinical practice while addressing ethical and cultural considerations.

NURS 5015 – Health Care Systems: Organizations and Resources
Examines the organization, financing, and regulation of U.S. health care systems. Students evaluate economic, political, and organizational factors influencing health care delivery and apply data analysis, quality improvement tools, and policy development strategies to improve outcomes and system performance.

NURS 5020 – Population-Based Health Care
Introduces epidemiologic and public health principles to analyze population health needs across the lifespan. Emphasizes social, cultural, environmental, and genetic determinants of health, along with prevention strategies, risk assessment, and program design for diverse and vulnerable populations in local and global contexts.

NURS 5030 – Professional Communication and Collaboration
Focuses on leadership and communication strategies for building effective teams in complex health care settings. Students apply adult learning theories and decision-making principles to improve team function, manage conflict, and enhance patient and population outcomes.

NP Core and Role Courses

NURS 5503 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Role Concepts and Transitions
Prepares students for transition to the advanced practice role, emphasizing professional identity, role socialization, and organizational structure. Covers credentialing, reimbursement, policy development, and the impact of legislation on primary care and advanced nursing practice.

NURS 5505 – Advanced Pathophysiology
Provides an in-depth analysis of physiological and pathophysiological processes at the cellular and systemic levels. Students examine mechanisms of disease and clinical manifestations across the lifespan to support advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning.

NURS 5510 – Advanced Pharmacology
Expands foundational pharmacologic knowledge and therapeutic decision-making. Focuses on safe, evidence-based prescribing across the lifespan, including drug mechanisms, interactions, and principles of pharmacotherapeutics for common conditions.

NURS 5515 – Advanced Health Assessment
Develops advanced competencies in health history taking, physical assessment, and diagnostic interpretation across the lifespan. Includes lecture and lab components emphasizing clinical reasoning, documentation, and integrated assessment. (Prerequisite: undergraduate health assessment or equivalent.)

NURS 5520 – Health and Wellness Promotion
Explores theories of growth, development, and disease prevention. Students gain practical skills in conducting risk assessments, designing health promotion initiatives, and evaluating outcomes using evidence-based and national best-practice guidelines.

NP Population-Specific Courses

NURS 5530 – Adult Health I: Primary Care
Applies principles of health promotion, prevention, and management of acute and chronic illness in adult primary care. Students integrate assessment and diagnostic reasoning with treatment planning for individuals across the lifespan.

NURS 5540 – Adult Health II: Primary Care
Builds on concepts introduced in NURS 5530 with an emphasis on complex and chronic conditions. Focuses on refining clinical decision-making, treatment planning, and evidence-based management in diverse primary care settings.

NURS 5610 – Advanced Practice Gerontologic Nursing I: Primary Care
Examines physiologic and psychosocial aspects of aging, emphasizing comprehensive assessment and prevention strategies for older adults. Topics include wellness, health maintenance, and management of common geriatric concerns.

NURS 5620 – Advanced Practice Gerontologic Nursing II: Primary Care
Focuses on the management of complex health problems in older adults, including multimorbidity, frailty, and geriatric syndromes. Emphasizes evidence-based care, collaboration, and early intervention across care settings.

NURS 5526 – AGPCNP Campus Immersion and Practicum Qualification
Integrates advanced assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and primary care management through intensive workshops and clinical simulations. Includes Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and skill demonstrations required for practicum progression.

NURS 5532 – Adult Health Primary Care Practicum
Provides supervised primary care experiences focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic illnesses in adults. Students complete 255 clinical hours applying evidence-based principles in real-world settings.

NURS 5624 – Advanced Practice Gerontologic Nursing Primary Care Practicum
Offers 170 hours of supervised clinical experience managing health promotion, acute issues, and chronic conditions in older adults. Students integrate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment strategies to support aging populations.

NURS 5782 – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Residency I
First in a two-part clinical residency where students assume responsibility for adult and geriatric patient management. Combines 170 hours of supervised practice with opportunities for refining advanced diagnostic and treatment skills.

NURS 5783 – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Residency II
Final clinical residency emphasizing independent patient management and comprehensive care integration. Students complete 170 hours of advanced supervised practice, demonstrating mastery of clinical judgment and evidence-based care.

NURS 5990 – Capstone Project
Serves as the culminating experience where students design, implement, and present an evidence-based project addressing a clinical or organizational issue. Deliverables include both a written report and oral presentation.

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

MSN Clinicals

The MSN requires 765 supervised practicum hours at designated clinical sites. Students complete all didactic coursework and the on-campus skills immersion before entering clinical rotations. North Park provides clinical placement support for all students.

  • 765 total supervised practicum hours
  • Clinical placement support provided — students are not solely responsible for finding their own sites
  • One required three-day on-site skills immersion in North Park’s simulation lab prior to clinical progression
  • Practicum courses: NURS 5532 (Adult Health Primary Care Practicum), NURS 5624 (Gerontologic Nursing Primary Care Practicum), NURS 5782 and NURS 5783 (Residency I and II)
  • Population focus: adolescents through frail older adults in primary care settings
  • Settings include private practices, community health clinics, hospitals, home health agencies, hospice, and long-term care facilities
  • Urban community health emphasis throughout clinical experience

MSN Admissions

Applicants apply through NursingCAS and must hold a BSN from an accredited program with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Specific MSN residency requirements are not clearly stated on the official program page.

  • BSN from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLNAC-accredited program
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Unencumbered RN license (state requirements not explicitly stated for MSN — contact program for details)
  • Prerequisite courses with grade of C or higher: Nursing Research, Statistics, Health Assessment
  • NursingCAS application
  • Official transcripts from all previous institutions
  • 300-word essay describing personal and professional nursing goals
  • Professional resume
  • Two professional recommendations (at least one from a current or recent nursing supervisor; must have knowledge of applicant within the last five years; no family members or friends)
  • Up to 9 semester hours of equivalent coursework may transfer from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited MSN program (grade of B or higher, no older than five years, requires faculty approval)
  • Upon acceptance: academic advising appointment, interagency practicum agreement, proof of liability insurance, immunizations, health screenings, drug screen, and background check required for clinical clearance
  • Applicants may be invited to an interview
  • Multiple start dates available: Summer (May) and Fall (September)

Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP at North Park University is approximately $34K (37 credits × $925/credit), and the program takes 20–32 months to complete depending on pace.

Note: This program is not eligible for federal financial aid. Illinois residency is required.

Certificate Curriculum

The 37-credit post-graduate certificate mirrors the NP core, role, and population-specific courses from the MSN but omits the four MSN core courses. The same front-loaded design applies — didactic coursework and the on-campus immersion are completed before advancing to clinical rotations. The certificate closes with a capstone project. Students who do not hold an MSN should consider the MSN track instead.

NP Core and Role Courses:

  • NURS 5503 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Role Concepts and Transitions (2 credits)
  • NURS 5505 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
  • NURS 5510 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
  • NURS 5515 – Advanced Health Assessment (4 credits)
  • NURS 5520 – Health and Wellness Promotion (3 credits)

NP Population-Specific Courses:

  • NURS 5526 – AGPCNP Campus Immersion and Practicum Qualification (1 credit)
  • NURS 5530 – Adult Health I – Primary Care (3 credits)
  • NURS 5540 – Adult Health II – Primary Care (3 credits)
  • NURS 5532 – Adult Health Primary Care Practicum (3 credits)
  • NURS 5610 – Advanced Practice Gerontologic Nursing I – Primary Care (2 credits)
  • NURS 5620 – Advanced Practice Gerontologic Nursing II Primary Care (2 credits)
  • NURS 5624 – Advanced Practice Gerontologic Nursing Primary Care Practicum (2 credits)
  • NURS 5782 – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Residency I (2 credits)
  • NURS 5783 – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Residency II (2 credits)
  • NURS 5990 – Capstone Project (2 credits)

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

Certificate Clinicals

The post-graduate certificate carries the same 765 supervised practicum hour requirement as the MSN. Clinical placement support is provided and the same three-day on-campus immersion is required before clinical progression.

  • 765 total supervised practicum hours
  • Clinical placement support provided
  • One required three-day on-site skills immersion in North Park’s simulation lab prior to clinical rotation
  • Practicum courses: NURS 5532, NURS 5624, NURS 5782, and NURS 5783
  • Population focus: adolescents through older adults in primary care, long-term care, and community settings
  • Palliative and end-of-life care included in clinical preparation

Certificate Admissions

Applicants must hold an MSN from an accredited program and be Illinois residents. The certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid.

  • MSN from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLNAC-accredited program
  • Must be an Illinois resident
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Unencumbered RN license in the State of Illinois
  • Prerequisite courses with grade of C or higher: Nursing Research, Statistics, Health Assessment
  • NursingCAS application
  • Official transcripts from all previous institutions
  • 300-word essay describing personal and professional nursing goals
  • Professional resume
  • Two professional recommendations (at least one from a current or recent nursing supervisor; must have knowledge of applicant within the last five years; no family members or friends)
  • Up to 9 semester hours of transfer credit accepted from NLN- or CCNE-accredited MSN programs (grade of B or higher, no older than five years)
  • Applicants may be invited to an interview
  • Application deadline: August 10, 2026 for Fall 2026 start (September 7, 2026)
  • Certificate programs are not eligible for federal financial aid
  • Upon acceptance: academic advising appointment, interagency practicum agreement, proof of liability insurance, immunizations, health screenings, drug screen, and background check required

Tuition

North Park charges $925 per credit hour for both the MSN AGPCNP and the post-graduate certificate — no in-state/out-of-state distinction applies.

A $16 per credit hour comprehensive fee is assessed across programs.

The MSN totals approximately $44K in tuition across 48 credits; the certificate totals approximately $34K across 37 credits.

These figures cover tuition only — books and materials are additional. Post-graduate certificate programs are not eligible for federal financial aid, though VA benefits including the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program are available for qualifying students.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The master’s degree program in nursing at North Park University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The post-graduate AGPCNP certificate is also accredited by CCNE. North Park University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Graduates are prepared to sit for the AGPCNP national certification examination.

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