UMass Chan Medical School’s Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing in Worcester offers three Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP pathways:
- BSN-DNP
- Direct Entry MS-DNP (for non-nurses)
- Post Graduate Certificate (for licensed NPs)
All three are anchored in Massachusetts. The BSN-DNP requires an unrestricted Massachusetts RN license, the certificate requires a Massachusetts NP license, and clinical sites are arranged around Worcester. All pathways start in fall only, and only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition (Resident) | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP | $71,892–$73,814 | 3 years full-time; 4 years with part-time Year 1 | 67–69 |
| Direct Entry MS-DNP | $57,776 (first 12 months of MS) + $63,243–$65,165 (DNP phase) | 16-month MS, then DNP phase (length not published) | MS: not published; DNP phase: est. 58–60 |
| Post Graduate Certificate | $22,306 | 2 semesters (Fall–Spring) | 18 |
Estimates multiply UMass Chan’s 2026–2027 nursing rate of $961 per credit (Massachusetts resident) by the credit total, plus program-specific fees: the DNP Year 1 fee ($1,228) and clinical year fee ($6,277), or the certificate clinical fee ($4,958) and processing fee ($50). The Direct Entry figure is the published flat annual tuition ($54,276) plus the $3,500 program fee.
Few AGPCNP programs take the preceptor search completely off the student’s plate. UMass Chan does: the school secures and coordinates every DNP and certificate clinical placement, typically in Central Massachusetts within about an hour of Worcester. Public pricing adds to the appeal. At $961 per credit, a Massachusetts resident’s DNP tuition comes to roughly $64,000–$66,000 before fees.
That support comes with a fixed map. Students cannot choose their clinical site, DNP courses are bundled into set in-person and online weekdays, and both nursing-entry pathways require Massachusetts licensure. This is a regional commuter program for nurses who live within reach of Worcester, not a distance option.
UMass Chan finds every clinical placement for you, but only if you can commute to Worcester and practice under a Massachusetts license.
Quick Facts
| Program Types | BSN-DNP, Direct Entry MS-DNP, Post Graduate Certificate |
| Format | Hybrid. DNP courses are bundled on specific weekdays, in person and online. Certificate theory is online with in-person practicums. The Direct Entry MS is full-time and in person. |
| Clinical Placement | Secured and coordinated by the school; students cannot select their site |
| Clinical Locations | Central Massachusetts, typically within 60 minutes’ drive of Worcester |
| Clinical Hours | Not published |
| Population Focus | Adolescents (age 13) through older adults |
| Licensure Required | Unrestricted MA RN (BSN-DNP); unrestricted MA NP (certificate); none at entry for Direct Entry |
| Start Terms | Fall only |
| Tuition (2026–2027) | $961/credit resident; $1,191 New England regional; $1,314 out-of-state |
| Accreditation | CCNE (DNP and post-graduate NP certificate) |
BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
The BSN-DNP AGPCNP track costs an estimated $71,892–$73,814 for Massachusetts residents and requires 67–69 credits. Full-time students finish in 3 years. A part-time option spreads Year 1 over two years, for a 4-year total. Applicants need a BSN and an unrestricted Massachusetts RN license.
A published conflict worth knowing about. UMass Chan’s DNP curriculum page labels Year 2 as 23 credits and the program as 67+ credits. The Year 2 courses it lists add up to 25 credits, which puts the listed plan at 69. The same mismatch appears in the school’s acute care table. This page uses 67–69 credits and prices both ends of the range.
BSN-DNP Curriculum
The plan runs in three distinct blocks. Year 1 is didactic: the advanced practice core (pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, health assessment) alongside DNP foundations in epidemiology, policy, quality and safety, and practice inquiry. Year 2 is the clinical year, pairing AGPCNP theory with three practicums. Year 3 has no specialty clinical coursework and centers on the DNP scholarly project, leadership, and informatics.
Two features stand out. N 729 adds a 3-credit course on diagnostic reasoning in older adults before any specialty practicum begins, giving the gerontology end of the population real weight. And the entire AGPCNP specialty sequence fits into one 12-month block, so clinical intensity peaks in Year 2 rather than spreading across the program.
The part-time option covers Year 1 only. The clinical and project years must be completed full-time, so part-time students still face a full-time clinical year.
Year 1 – Didactic (33 credits)
- N 613H Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3)
- N 615 Advanced Health Assessment (3)
- N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult (3)
- N 704 Principles of Epidemiology (3) and N 706 Health Policy (3)
- N 716 EBP & Scholarly Inquiry (3) and N 723H-1 Quality & Safety (3)
- N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry (2) and N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods (2)
- N 603A Societal Forces (3), N 603B.1/B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum (0.5 each), N 718H Scholarly Writing (1)
Year 2 – AGPCNP Clinical Year (23 stated; 25 as listed)
- N 730A AGPCNP Theory I (5) and N 730B Clinical Practicum I (3) – Fall
- N 731A AGPCNP Theory II (5) and N 731B Clinical Practicum II (3) – Spring
- N 731C Clinical Practicum III (2) and N 731DH Advanced Nursing Science Theory III (2) – Summer
- N 708 Organizational Systems & Health Care Financing (3)
- N 7091 and N 709II DNP Project Proposal (1 each)
Year 3 – Scholarly Project (11 credits)
- N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation (2) and N 773 Evaluation (2)
- N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice (3)
- N 707 Biomedical Informatics (3)
- N 778 Transition to Advanced Practice (1)
View the full DNP curriculum, including the part-time plan, or the current course catalog (PDF).
BSN-DNP Clinical Requirements
- Three AGPCNP practicums, all in Year 2: N 730B (3 credits, Fall), N 731B (3, Spring), N 731C (2, Summer)
- Total clinical and DNP project hours: not published
- Year 1 includes a 1-credit interprofessional community service-learning practicum
- Placement: the school secures and coordinates sites; students may submit a contact or interest for review
- Location: Central Massachusetts or within roughly 60 minutes’ drive of Worcester
- Students cannot select their placement location
- DNP clinical year fee: $6,277
School-arranged placement removes the most common cause of delayed NP graduation: an unfilled practicum. The cost is control. With no say over the site, students should plan for up to an hour’s drive each way, and holding a full-time job through three consecutive practicum terms is difficult.
UMass Chan does not publish practicum hour totals, so clinical volume cannot be compared directly with programs that do.
BSN-DNP Admissions
- BSN from an accredited institution
- Unrestricted Massachusetts RN license
- GPA of 3.0 or higher preferred on all degrees
- Statistics, B- or higher preferred, no time limit; prerequisites complete by May 31, 2027
- No minimum work experience; new graduates are encouraged to apply
- Personal statements: two prompts totaling 300 words, plus a 300-word prompt on how the DNP will enhance APRN practice
- Two recommendations (one professional, one academic), preferably from the last five years
- Three video essays, two minutes each; CV or resume
- NursingCAS ($80) plus a supplemental application ($129) with residency and background check forms
- Fall 2027: application opens Aug. 8, 2026; early deadline Feb. 1, 2027; final deadline April 15, 2027
The Massachusetts license is the requirement most likely to rule out applicants. A nurse licensed only in another state must hold an unrestricted Massachusetts RN license to enroll. The lack of an experience minimum, by contrast, opens the DNP to new BSN graduates.
Direct Entry MS to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
The Direct Entry MS is for career changers with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Students earn an MS in nursing in about 16 months, pass the NCLEX-RN, then move into the DNP through a streamlined admission process. Nine Direct Entry credits apply toward the DNP. The first 12 months of the MS cost $57,776 for residents in tuition and program fee; the DNP phase adds an estimated $63,243–$65,165.
Published tuition figures that disagree. The Direct Entry program page lists $66,263 as an estimated resident academic year under proposed 2026–2027 rates. The final 2026–2027 tuition table sets Direct Entry tuition at a flat $54,276 per year plus a $3,500 program fee, and the cost-of-attendance page puts 12 months of tuition and fees at $59,580, which reconciles with that table once annual mandatory fees are added. This page uses the tuition table. No source prices the final four months of the 16-month MS.
Direct Entry Curriculum
The MS phase is generalist pre-licensure preparation: full-time, accelerated, and in person, with lectures, clinical rotations, and simulation labs. UMass Chan reports a 100% NCLEX pass rate and 100% RN hire rate for the program. The MS credit total is not clearly published.
The DNP curriculum page lists an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Direct Entry track but publishes no course plan for it. Because the DNP phase uses the same specialty courses, it should follow the BSN-DNP’s AGPCNP clinical year and scholarly project. Subtracting the 9 transferred credits from the 67–69 credit BSN-DNP plan leaves roughly 58–60 credits. That is a calculation, not a published total.
View the Direct Entry DNP tracks on the curriculum page.
Direct Entry Clinical Requirements
- MS phase: in-person clinical rotations and simulation labs coordinated by the school
- DNP phase: the AGPCNP practicum sequence under the same school-secured, Worcester-area placement model
- Clinical hours: not published for either phase
Students in this pathway never source a site at any stage, from first RN rotation to final NP practicum. That is rare for an entry route that ends in NP certification eligibility.
Direct Entry Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field
- GPA of 3.0 or higher on all previous degrees
- Statistics, B- or higher, no time limit
- Anatomy & Physiology I and II with lab and Microbiology with lab within 5 years, B- or higher (5–7 years old accepted if the student completes N590H Human Physiology online the summer before matriculation)
- Nutrition and Human Growth & Development Across the Lifespan within 7 years, B- or higher
- No more than two prerequisites outstanding at application; all complete by May 31, 2027; online prerequisites accepted
- Personal statement of up to 500 words covering three prompts
- Two recommendations, CV or resume, three video essays
- Fall 2027: early deadline Nov. 2, 2026; final deadline March 22, 2027
The Direct Entry page describes the November deadline as the way to secure a seat, so applicants who wait for March compete for what remains. The page also does not commit admitted students to a specific DNP specialty; the AGPCNP track appears only on the curriculum page’s list of Direct Entry options.
Post Graduate Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
The AGPCNP Post Graduate Certificate costs an estimated $22,306 for residents and requires 18 credits across one Fall–Spring sequence. It is limited to nurses who already hold a master’s in nursing and an unrestricted Massachusetts NP license, typically NPs adding adult-gerontology primary care to another population focus.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate is the specialty sequence alone: two theory courses, each paired with a practicum. Its theory courses carry 6 credits each versus 5 in the DNP, and it has two practicums instead of three. Advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment are prerequisites and do not count toward the 18 credits.
- Fall: AGPCNP Theory I (6) and Clinical Practicum I (3)
- Spring: AGPCNP Theory II (6) and Clinical Practicum II (3)
View course descriptions in the course catalog. (PDF)
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- Two practicums, one each in Fall and Spring
- Clinical hours: not published
- Placements provided by the school across Massachusetts; in-person practicums with online theory
- Certificate clinical fee: $4,958
Two practicums in two semesters means a concentrated clinical load. Working NPs should expect to cut back hours for the full academic year.
Certificate Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing
- Unrestricted Massachusetts NP license; out-of-state applicants must live in, or plan to move to, MA, RI, CT, NH, VT, or ME
- GPA of 3.0 or higher preferred; B- or higher preferred in statistics, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment
- Advanced Pathophysiology and Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics within 5 years (B or higher, with transcripts and syllabi if taken elsewhere)
- Advanced Health Assessment, plus head-to-toe competency shown by clinical performance exam or by taking N615 the spring before matriculation
- 500-word personal statement on why you are pursuing AGPCNP; two recommendations; three video essays
- Fall 2027: application opens Aug. 8, 2026; early decision Feb. 1, 2027; closes April 17, 2027
The NP license requirement excludes master’s-prepared RNs who are not NPs, such as nurse educators or leaders. Among UMass Chan’s published pathways, their only AGPCNP route is the full BSN-DNP.
Tuition
UMass Chan’s 2026–2027 nursing tuition table charges DNP and certificate students per credit: $961 for Massachusetts residents, $1,191 for New England regional students, and $1,314 out-of-state. Online courses are billed at $961 per credit regardless of residency, plus a $29-per-credit technology fee. Direct Entry MS students pay flat annual tuition of $54,276, $62,632, or $70,300.
The regional rate covers residents of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Massachusetts in-state status generally requires seven consecutive years of residence before enrollment. A nurse who moved to Massachusetts recently may pay the out-of-state rate, which adds roughly $23,600–$24,400 to the BSN-DNP.
Estimated Total Tuition
| Pathway | Resident | New England Regional | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP (67–69 credits) | $71,892–$73,814 | $87,302–$89,684 | $95,543–$98,171 |
| Direct Entry MS (first 12 months) | $57,776 | $66,132 | $73,800 |
| DNP phase after Direct Entry (est. 58–60 credits) | $63,243–$65,165 | $76,583–$78,965 | $83,717–$86,345 |
| Post Graduate Certificate (18 credits) | $22,306 | $26,446 | $28,660 |
Calculated from published 2026–2027 rates and program-specific fees; these are not university-published totals.
Fees Beyond Tuition
- Annual mandatory fees: equipment $400, health/counseling $1,044, student services $234; accident program $120 each fall
- Health insurance: $6,546 or $7,023, waivable
- DNP Year 1 fee $1,228; DNP clinical year fee $6,277
- Certificate clinical fee $4,958; certificate processing fee $50
- Direct Entry program fee $3,500
- Commencement $308 (all programs except the certificate)
- Application: $80 NursingCAS plus $129 supplemental; reduced-fee waivers considered case by case
The annual mandatory fees add about $1,798 per year, or roughly $5,400 over a three-year full-time BSN-DNP. See the program tuition and fees page for cost-of-attendance estimates and financial aid.
Why Choose This AGPCNP Program?
Best suited for: Massachusetts-licensed nurses within commuting distance of Worcester who want a public-priced DNP without searching for preceptors.
Placement Is Handled, but the Location Is Not Yours
The school secures every DNP and certificate placement, which removes the biggest source of NP program delays. In exchange, students accept assigned sites up to an hour from Worcester. For nurses living in Central Massachusetts, that is an easy trade. For anyone in Boston traffic or western Massachusetts, the weekly drive is a real cost.
Public Pricing With a Seven-Year Residency Rule
At $961 per credit, resident DNP tuition is roughly $64,000–$66,000 before fees. New England regional students pay about 24% more, and out-of-state students about 37% more. Because in-state status generally requires seven years of Massachusetts residence, recent transplants should check their classification before budgeting.
A Full-Time Clinical Year Even for Part-Time Students
Part-time study applies to Year 1 only. Every BSN-DNP student completes three back-to-back practicum terms full-time, with courses bundled on set weekdays. Nurses who cannot reduce work hours for a 12-month stretch will struggle with this structure.
Three Entry Points for Three Different Applicants
The BSN-DNP serves Massachusetts RNs, including new graduates. The Direct Entry route serves career changers, with no placement search at any stage. The certificate serves only NPs already licensed in Massachusetts. Master’s-prepared RNs who are not NPs have no shortened option here.
The Verdict
UMass Chan is a strong fit for Central Massachusetts RNs who want school-arranged clinical placements and in-state public tuition, and who can commit to a full-time clinical year. Applicants outside commuting range of Worcester, nurses who need fully online coursework, and anyone who wants to compare published clinical hour totals should look at other programs.
Accreditation
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing’s master’s, DNP, and post-graduate NP certificate programs. The Direct Entry pre-licensure program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. UMass Chan states that AGPCNP graduates are prepared for the AGPCNP certification exam from ANCC or AANP.
State authorization is less of a factor here than licensure. Both nursing-entry pathways require Massachusetts licensure, and clinical placements are made in Massachusetts.
Other AGPCNP Programs in Massachusetts
- Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions - Boston
- Northeastern University - Boston
- Regis College - Weston
- UMass Dartmouth - Dartmouth