East Carolina University AGPCNP Programs

East Carolina University College of Nursing offers two Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • BSN-DNP – AGPCNP
  • Post-Doctoral Certificate

Both programs are hybrid — primarily online with required on-campus immersion sessions at ECU’s College of Nursing in Greenville. Clinical sites are arranged by the program and must be located within North Carolina. ECU actively seeks students committed to rural and underserved populations in Eastern NC.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. Tuition (NC Resident)Est. Duration
BSN-DNP AGPCNP~$32,8003 years full-time
Post-Doctoral Certificate AGPCNP~$13,025Not clearly stated

Students must hold an active, unencumbered RN license in North Carolina or a compact state throughout the program. All clinical placements are completed in North Carolina only.

Program Tracks Overview

BSN-DNP – AGPCNP

The BSN-DNP AGPCNP at East Carolina University is estimated at approximately ~$32,800 for NC residents.

Estimate based on 63 credits at an effective rate of ~$521/credit (base tuition $277.06 + DNP additional $194.44 + DE/technology fee $25.17 + minor fees).

The program takes 3 years full-time to complete across 8 terms.

DNP Curriculum

The BSN-DNP AGPCNP totals 63 credit hours organized across three years and eight terms. The curriculum is organized in two phases:

  • Foundation and core phase (Years 1–2, 48 cr.): Builds through clinical pharmacology, health assessment, human physiology and pathophysiology, translational science, population health, healthcare finance, statistical methods, leadership and role development, reproductive healthcare, primary care of adults, and care of older adults — with the DNP project beginning in Year 2.
  • Clinical immersion and DNP project phase (Year 3, 15 cr.): Four practicum courses progressing through specialty care of adults and geriatrics, older adult acute and chronic illness management, and a final primary care clinical residency, paired with two additional DNP project courses.

Year 1 — Fall (9 cr.):

  • NURS 6611 – Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
  • NURS 8261 – Conceptual Foundations and Application of Translational Science (3 cr.)
  • NURS 8267 – Design and Statistical Methods for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)

Year 1 — Spring (9 cr.):

  • NURS 6610 – Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
  • NURS 6050 – Human Physiology and Pathophysiology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
  • NURS 8273 – Healthcare Finance (3 cr.)

Year 1 — Summer (6 cr.):

  • NURS 8113 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Introduction to the Primary Care for Adults (3 cr.)
  • NURS 8270 – Population Health in Advanced Interprofessional Practice (3 cr.)

Year 2 — Fall (8 cr.):

  • NURS 8114 – Advanced Practice Nursing with Families: Primary Care of Adults (3 cr.)
  • NURS 8115 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Reproductive Healthcare (2 cr.)
  • NURS 8118 – Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum I: Primary Care of Adults (3 cr.)

Year 2 — Spring (10 cr.):

  • NURS 8121 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Care of Older Adults (3 cr.)
  • NURS 8122 – Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum II: Care of Older Adults with Acute and Chronic Illnesses (4 cr.)
  • NURS 8269 – DNP Project I (3 cr.)

Year 2 — Summer (6 cr.):

  • NURS 8263 – Interprofessional Leadership and Role Development for Excellence in Practice, Policy and Ethics (3 cr.)
  • NURS 8272 – DNP Project II (3 cr.)

Year 3 — Fall (7 cr.):

  • NURS 8123 – Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum III: Specialty Care of Adults/Geriatrics (4 cr.)
  • NURS 8274 – DNP Project III (3 cr.)

Year 3 — Spring (8 cr.):

  • NURS 8124 – Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum IV: Primary Care Clinical Residency (5 cr.)
  • NURS 8277 – DNP Project IV (3 cr.)

More curriculum details in the course catalog

DNP Clinicals

BSN-DNP students complete 840 total clinical practice hours distributed across four sequential practicum courses in Years 2 and 3. Clinical site placement coordinators arrange placements within approximately 4 hours of the student’s home address whenever possible. All clinical placements must be completed in North Carolina.

  • NURS 8118 – Practicum I: Primary Care of Adults (Year 2 Fall)
  • NURS 8122 – Practicum II: Care of Older Adults with Acute and Chronic Illnesses (Year 2 Spring)
  • NURS 8123 – Practicum III: Specialty Care of Adults/Geriatrics (Year 3 Fall)
  • NURS 8124 – Practicum IV: Primary Care Clinical Residency (Year 3 Spring)
  • Total: 840 clinical practice hours
  • Clinical sites arranged within approximately 4 hours of student’s home address
  • Simulation laboratory and standardized patient experiences supplement clinical training
  • Students may sit for national certification (AANP or ANCC) after completing a minimum of 500 directly precepted clinical hours with advisor and program director approval

Required on-campus immersion dates for 2026–2027:

  • June 15–17, 2026 — for students enrolled in NURS 8118 in Fall 2026
  • September 14–17, 2026 — for students enrolled in NURS 8118, 8120, and 8123 in Fall 2026
  • January 25–27, 2027 — for students enrolled in NURS 8119, 8122, and 8124 in Spring 2027
  • Attendance at all immersion sessions is required at the College of Nursing in Greenville, NC

BSN-DNP Admissions

Admission is competitive. An online interview via Interview Stream is required. Application deadline is January 10 each year — fall start only. A GRE waiver is available for applicants with a GPA of 3.4 or higher.

  • BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
  • Minimum 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale
  • Minimum 1 year of RN experience
  • Current, unencumbered RN license in North Carolina or an NCSBN compact state
  • GRE within the past 5 years — waived if GPA is 3.4 or higher
  • Graduate-level inferential statistics course within the past 5 years (strongly recommended, not required)
  • Undergraduate research course
  • Written statement of personal career, educational, and scholarship goals (practice interests, leadership goals, and fit with program)
  • Three written professional references — at least one from a doctorally prepared nurse
  • Current curriculum vitae
  • E-portfolio (maximum 25 pages) demonstrating professional practice accomplishments, community service, and scholarship
  • Online interview via Interview Stream
  • Basic computer competency including Microsoft Office, databases, patient information systems, and statistical software
  • TOEFL scores required for non-native English speakers
  • Criminal background check required upon admission
  • Completed application to the ECU Graduate School
  • Students with MSN degrees enter as BSN-to-DNP students — no separate post-master’s DNP track for AGPCNP
  • Application deadline: January 10 annually | Fall start only

Post-Doctoral Certificate – AGPCNP

The Post-Doctoral Certificate AGPCNP at East Carolina University is estimated at approximately ~$13,025 for NC residents. Estimate based on 25 credits at the effective rate of ~$521/credit.

This pathway is exclusively for nurses who already hold a DNP or PhD in nursing and want to add the AGPCNP role to their scope of practice.

Certificate Curriculum

The Post-Doctoral Certificate totals 25 credit hours — the AGPCNP specialty clinical course sequence from the BSN-DNP program. The program director reviews each student’s transcript and professional experience to determine the appropriate plan of study. All students complete a terminal program assessment in the final semester.

Required Courses (25 cr.):

NURS 8113 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Introduction to the Primary Care of Adults
Foundational knowledge for assessing and managing primary care needs of diverse adults.

NURS 8114 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Primary Care of Adults
Builds skills in evaluating and managing adult primary care across varied populations.

NURS 8115 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Reproductive Healthcare
Focuses on reproductive health assessment and management in family-centered care.

NURS 8118 – Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum I: Primary Care of Adults
Supervised clinical practice delivering outpatient primary care to adults.

NURS 8121 – Advanced Practice Nursing: Care of Older Adults
Prepares students to address the health needs of older adults with acute or chronic conditions.

NURS 8122 – Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum II: Care of Older Adults with Acute and Chronic Illnesses
Supervised practice caring for older adults with complex health needs.

NURS 8123 – Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum III: Specialty Care of Adults and Geriatrics
Advanced clinical experience with adults and geriatrics in specialty settings.

NURS 8124 – Advanced Practice Nursing Practicum IV: Primary Care Clinical Residency
Capstone residency applying primary care and chronic disease management skills in clinical settings.

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

Certificate Clinicals

Certificate students complete the same four-practicum clinical sequence as the BSN-DNP, with all placements arranged within approximately 4 hours of the student’s home address. All clinical placements must be completed in North Carolina.

  • NURS 8118 – Practicum I: Primary Care of Adults
  • NURS 8122 – Practicum II: Care of Older Adults with Acute and Chronic Illnesses
  • NURS 8123 – Practicum III: Specialty Care of Adults/Geriatrics
  • NURS 8124 – Practicum IV: Primary Care Clinical Residency
  • Clinical sites arranged within approximately 4 hours of student’s home address
  • Minimum grade of B required in all clinical courses before progression

Certificate Admissions

Admission requires a DNP or PhD in nursing plus current APRN certification. The same January 10 application deadline applies.

  • MSN from an accredited program AND a DNP or PhD in nursing
  • Current APRN certification
  • Completion of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced health assessment within the last 5 years
  • Current, unencumbered RN license in North Carolina
  • Good academic standing per graduate school guidelines
  • Completed application to the ECU Graduate School
  • Program admits students once per year — fall start only
  • Application deadline: January 10 annually | Fall start only

Tuition

ECU charges graduate nursing students a base per-credit tuition rate plus a program-specific DNP differential. Here is how the effective per-credit rate breaks down for Fall 2026:

  • Base resident tuition: $277.06/credit (flat rate of $2,493.54 at 9+ credits)
  • DNP program additional tuition: $194.44/credit (billed per credit)
  • Distance Education/technology fee: $25.17/credit (flat $226.53 at 9+ credits)
  • Minor fees (campus security, graduation, ASG): ~$4.06/credit at full-time load
  • Effective total per credit (NC resident): approximately ~$521/credit

Additional fees that may apply:

  • Nursing fee (graduate): $150/semester
  • Clinical assessment fee: $47.50 per applicable course
  • Graduate nursing certificate programs: $150/credit additional (for certificate students)

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The Doctor of Nursing Practice and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at East Carolina University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). ECU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is designated as an academic health center by the Association of American Health Centers. Graduates of the AGPCNP program are eligible to sit for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

ECU degree programs satisfy professional licensure requirements in North Carolina — requirements in other states may differ. Confirm licensure eligibility with the applicable state board before enrolling.

Review Other AGPCNP Programs in North Carolina