Wilkes University offers 3 Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGPCNP
- Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) to MSN – AGPCNP
- Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate – AGPCNP
All programs are 100% online (excluding clinicals) with asynchronous coursework designed for working nurses.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGPCNP | $30,040 | 2 years (full-time) |
| RN-to-MSN AGPCNP | $38,301 | 3 years (full-time) |
| Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate AGPCNP | $20,277 | 1.3 years (4 terms) |
Wilkes provides complimentary clinical placement support built into tuition at no additional cost, achieving placement rates above the national average with 2023 certification pass rates of 91.6% compared to 80% nationally.
Wilkes states that their tuition is nearly half the cost of competitors at $751 per credit hour, making it one of the most affordable pathways to become an AGPCNP.
Master of Science in Nursing – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN – AGPCNP program is approximately $30,040 and would take 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 40 credits × $751 per credit, maximum tuition not including fees.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-AGPCNP program totals 40 credits including 24 graduate nursing core credits and 16 AGPCNP concentration credits. All courses are 12 weeks in length delivered 100% online.
Graduate Nursing Core (24 credits):
- NSG 500 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
- NSG 501 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science (3 credits)
- NSG 502 – Advanced Nursing Research (3 credits)
- NSG 504 – Advanced Role Development in Nursing (3 credits)
- NSG 505 – Health Policy and Politics for Advancing Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- NSG 530 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NSG 533 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NSG 590 – Scholarly Review (3 credits)
AGPCNP Specialty Courses (16 credits):
- NSG 550 – Diagnostic Reasoning for Nurse Practitioners (2 credits)
- NSG 556 – Health Perspectives of Culturally Diverse, Rural, and Underserved Populations (2 credits)
- NSG 554 – Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care I (2 credits)
- NSG 555 – Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care II (2 credits)
- NSG 506 – Advanced Practice in Adult Gerontology Clinical I (4 credits)
- NSG 515 – Advanced Practice in Adult Gerontology Clinical II (4 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
MSN-AGPCNP students complete 500 clinical hours distributed across practicum courses NSG 506 and NSG 515. The dedicated clinical placement team provides complimentary support to research and find nearby sites aligned with primary care interests, secure qualified preceptors, organize necessary documents and clearance requirements, and monitor schedules for compliance. Clinical experiences emphasize:
- Comprehensive patient assessments across the adult lifespan
- Evidence-based care plan development
- Chronic condition management
- Wellness promotion
- Leadership, teamwork, and patient-centered care
- Collaboration across disciplines and patient advocacy
- Placement sites may be up to 125 miles from student location
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Official transcripts from institution with programmatic (ACEN, NLNAC, CCNE) and regional accreditation
- Current unencumbered RN license; APRN license if appropriate
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- One year of RN clinical experience (by start of NP clinical courses)
- Applications with disciplinary action history subject to Special Licensure Discrepancy Committee review
- Transfer Credits: All graduate programs allow 9 total transfer credits (must be 3.0 or higher)
Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) to Master of Science in Nursing – AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the RN to MSN – AGPCNP program is approximately $38,301 (51 credits × $751 per credit, maximum tuition not including fees) and would take 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
RN to MSN Curriculum
The RN to MSN-AGPCNP program totals 51 credits including 13 transition credits, 24 graduate nursing core credits, and 14 AGPCNP concentration credits. All courses are 12 weeks unless otherwise indicated, delivered 100% online. No pass-through BSN is awarded.
Transition to MSN (13 credits):
- NSG 410 – Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing for the Graduate Nursing Student (15 weeks, 6 credits)
- NSG 411 – Leadership and Management Practicum for the Graduate Nursing Student (4 credits)
- NSG 412 – Graduate-Level Academic Writing for Nursing Professionals (3 credits)
Graduate Nursing Core (24 credits):
- NSG 500 – Advanced Health Assessment
- NSG 501 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
- NSG 502 – Advanced Nursing Research
- NSG 504 – Advanced Role Development in Nursing
- NSG 505 – Health Policy and Politics for Advancing Nursing Practice
- NSG 530 – Advanced Pathophysiology
- NSG 533 – Advanced Pharmacology
- NSG 590 – Scholarly Review
AGPCNP Concentration (14 credits):
- NSG 550 – Diagnostic Reasoning for Nurse Practitioners
- NSG 556 – Health Perspectives of Culturally Diverse, Rural, and Underserved Populations
- NSG 554 – Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care I
- NSG 555 – Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care II
- NSG 506 – Advanced Practice in Adult Gerontology Clinical I
- NSG 515 – Advanced Practice in Adult Gerontology Clinical II
More curriculum details are available here.
RN to MSN Clinicals
RN to MSN-AGPCNP students complete 500 clinical hours in the same practicum courses as the MSN track. The Clinical Placement Team provides proactive support and assistance at no additional charge, built into the program. Students also receive a dedicated Student Success Advisor from enrollment through graduation.
RN to MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
Minimum Requirements:
- Associate degree in nursing (ADN) with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Official transcripts from institution with programmatic (ACEN, NLNAC, CCNE) and regional accreditation
- Current unencumbered RN license; APRN license if appropriate
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- One year of RN clinical experience (required by start of NP clinical courses, typically Year 2)
- Students from non-programmatically accredited institutions evaluated case-by-case; admission not guaranteed
- Applications with disciplinary action history subject to Special Licensure Discrepancy Committee review
- Transfer Credits: All graduate programs allow 9 total transfer credits (must be 3.0 or higher)
Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate – AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate – AGPCNP program is approximately $20,277 and would take 1.3 years to complete (10 courses over 4 terms).
Estimate based on 27 credits × $751 per credit, maximum tuition not including fees.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate requires 27 credits or fewer pending transcript review and gap analysis. All courses are 12 weeks delivered 100% online with asynchronous format.
Required Courses (27 credits):
- NSG 500 – Advanced Health Assessment
- NSG 530 – Advanced Pathophysiology
- NSG 533 – Advanced Pharmacology
- NSG 550 – Diagnostic Reasoning for Nurse Practitioners
- NSG 556 – Health Perspectives of Culturally Diverse, Rural, and Underserved Populations
- NSG 554 – Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care I
- NSG 555 – Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care II
- NSG 506 – Advanced Practice in Adult Gerontology Clinical I
- NSG 515 – Advanced Practice in Adult Gerontology Clinical II
- NSG 591 – Scholarly Preparation for Nurse Practitioner Boards (required for students enrolled Fall 2021 and after)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate students complete 500 clinical hours distributed across NSG 506 and NSG 515. Wilkes provides complimentary clinical placement services to help secure quality sites and preceptors aligned with adult-gerontology primary care practice. Students receive support to organize documents, clearances, and compliance monitoring throughout clinical rotations.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
Minimum Requirements:
- Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing (MSN, DNP, or BSN-DNP) with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Official transcripts from institution with programmatic (ACEN, NLNAC, CCNE) and regional accreditation
- Minimum grade of 3.0 in Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Assessment, and Advanced Pharmacology from previous graduate work
- Current unencumbered RN license and APRN license for nurse practitioners
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Applications with disciplinary action history subject to Special Licensure Discrepancy Committee review
- Students from non-programmatically accredited institutions evaluated case-by-case; admission not guaranteed
- Transfer Credits: Potential transfer course grades must be 3.0 or better
- Students advised to contact State Board of Nursing if previously taken Advanced Pharmacology course to determine if it meets criteria for prescriptive privileges
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $751 per credit hour for all MSN, RN to MSN, and Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate programs. A General University Fee of $86 per semester applies.
Program costs listed represent maximum amounts not including fees, with actual costs potentially lower based on transcript review and gap analysis.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate/APRN certificate programs at Wilkes University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates are eligible to sit for national board certification examinations upon program completion, with Wilkes AGPCNP graduates achieving a 91.6% certification pass rate in 2023 compared to the 80% national average.