- 2 schools: 1 Mostly Online, 1 Hybrid
Virginia has two AGPCNP schools offering five tracks between them: MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and a post-master’s certificate. One school delivers coursework mostly online with a short list of campus events; the other is hybrid, with in-person specialty classes every week. Estimated resident tuition runs from about $32,000 to $123,000. Published completion times range from two to three years, though one school does not state program length.
Highlights include:
- JMU reports a 96% certification pass rate overall and 100% since 2020
- GW offers the only post-master’s AGPCNP certificate in Virginia
- JMU assigns a dedicated program coordinator to help secure clinical placements
- GW charges one per-credit rate regardless of residency
Compare Virginia AGPCNP Programs
| School | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington University | Mostly Online | Up to two trips a year | $1,710 | MSN, BSN-DNP, certificate | Distance learners with preceptors |
| James Madison University | Hybrid | Every Wednesday | $694 | MSN, BSN-DNP | Commuters wanting placement help |
CPC is derived and inclusive of mandatory per-credit fees at Virginia resident rates, rounded to the nearest dollar; GW charges the same rate to every student, and full rate breakdowns are on each school profile.
What’s the Best AGPCNP Program for You?
Lowest Cost
James Madison charges Virginia residents $694 per credit, less than half of GW’s rate.
Best for Distance Learners
GW runs coursework online with course-tied simulation events, while JMU requires a weekly class day in Harrisonburg.
Best Placement Support
JMU’s program coordinator helps arrange clinical sites, whereas GW makes each student responsible for finding a site and preceptor.
Best for MSN-Prepared Nurses
GW’s 20-credit certificate is the only Virginia route for MSN holders to add AGPCNP preparation, since JMU’s post-master’s DNP is a leadership program.
Virginia DNP AGPCNP Programs
Both schools offer a BSN-to-DNP with the AGPCNP specialty, and neither offers a post-master’s DNP route into the role. Each doctorate contains the same NP practicum sequence as its school’s MSN, so the extra credits buy doctoral coursework and a DNP project rather than more primary care training. Both programs hold CCNE accreditation, and both schools state graduates can sit for ANCC and AANP certification.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW (BSN-DNP) | $123K | Not clearly stated | 1,100+ hrs |
| JMU (BSN-DNP) | $53K | 3 years | 1,000 hrs |
GW’s total includes 500 indirect DNP practice hours built into coursework, while JMU’s 1,000 hours combine NP and DNP practicum without a published split.
- Lower doctoral cost: JMU — $53K resident, estimated from 2026–27 rates
- Part-time doctorate: GW — part-time plan with fall entry, suited to nurses who keep working
- Guaranteed alumni admission: JMU — nursing alumni who meet minimums and apply by November 1 are admitted
Compare BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP programs in other states
Virginia MSN AGPCNP Programs
The MSN is the faster route to AGPCNP certification at both schools. GW’s 48-credit degree and JMU’s 46-credit degree each end in a three-course practicum sequence with a dedicated older-adult component. Price gaps are wide, and the schools also differ on entry options: GW admits in two terms, while JMU admits once a year but accepts some nurses without a BSN.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW (MSN) | $82K | Not clearly stated | 600 hrs |
| JMU (MSN) | $32K | 2–3 years | 780 hrs |
- Most MSN clinical hours: JMU — 780 practicum hours across three courses
- Two entry terms: GW — fall or spring entry, with full-time and part-time plans
- ADN entry: JMU — ADN holders with a non-nursing bachelor’s qualify after a transcript review
Compare BSN-to-MSN AGPCNP programs in other states
Virginia Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP Programs
GW is the only Virginia school with a post-master’s AGPCNP certificate. The 20-credit program is the AGPCNP practicum sequence alone, so applicants need an MSN plus three separate graduate courses in advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment before they enroll. Existing APRN certification is not required. Entry is summer only, on a part-time plan.
| School | Estimated Tuition (resident) | Duration | Clinical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| GW (certificate) | $34K | Not clearly stated | 600 hrs |
- Clinical from the start: GW — every certificate credit is a practicum credit
- Preceptor timing: GW — students should line up a preceptor before the summer start
Compare AGPCNP certificate programs in other states
National Online AGPCNP Options
Virginia’s two programs leave some gaps. Neither is fully online, neither has an RN-to-MSN path for nurses holding only an ADN, and neither offers an MSN-to-DNP into AGPCNP practice.
Walden University requires no campus visit at any level and offers RN-to-MSN and MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP tracks. Its Practicum Pledge provides a conditional placement backstop. Walden does not publish a state list, so Virginia applicants should confirm eligibility with an enrollment specialist.
Purdue Global publishes no campus visits for AGPCNP students and charges $420 per quarter credit. Virginia is not on its published list of excluded states. Students lead their own preceptor search.
FAQ
How many AGPCNP programs are in Virginia?
Two schools, George Washington University and James Madison University, offer five AGPCNP tracks: two MSNs, two BSN-to-DNPs, and one post-master’s certificate.
Is any Virginia AGPCNP program fully online?
No. GW is mostly online but requires a skills intensive before clinicals, OSCEs during two practicum courses, and an end-of-program skills assessment. JMU is hybrid, with specialty classes in Harrisonburg every Wednesday.
Which Virginia AGPCNP program has the lowest tuition?
JMU’s MSN, at an estimated $32,000 for Virginia residents.
Which Virginia schools offer an AGPCNP DNP?
Both GW and JMU, for BSN-prepared nurses only. Nurses who already hold an MSN cannot enter an AGPCNP doctorate at either school.
Can I complete clinicals near home?
At GW, students find their own site and preceptor, usually in their own area, and faculty visit the site. JMU’s coordinator assists with placements, but the weekly Harrisonburg class means sites are typically within the region the school serves.
Do non-residents pay more at Virginia schools?
At JMU, yes: non-residents pay $1,442 per credit for the MSN and $1,069 for the DNP. GW charges $1,710 per credit to every student, so out-of-state applicants pay the same rate as Virginians.