Nov 21, 2024  
Graduate Catalog | 2024-2025 
    
Graduate Catalog | 2024-2025

Nursing: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Post-Master’s Certificate


The Post-Master’s Certificate consists of concentration courses in advanced practice nursing (minimum 20 graduate credit hours).  This certificate program prepares nurses holding master’s degrees in nursing to enter advanced practice nursing as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.  Nurses already certified as Psych NPs, Women’s Health or Pediatric NPs are evaluated for possible exclusion of respective concentration courses and practica from their program.  The recipients of this certificate are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) examination for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners.  Coursework must be completed within four years.  The AGACNP program is a full-time, campus-based program.

Admission Requirements


  1. A master’s degree in nursing from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body
  2. Unencumbered North Carolina License as a Registered Nurse
  3. Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in MSN degree
  4. Statement of Purpose explaining the applicant’s career goal and preparation in relation to acute care nurse practitioner role, and qualities making them a strong applicant (See School of Nursing website for required elements of the Statement of Purpose). (Note: Statement of Purpose should not exceed two double-spaced typed pages.)
  5. References should be from professional colleagues and should speak to clinical knowledge and expertise and one’s ability to function as a member of the healthcare team.At least one reference from a supervisory person is preferred.
  6. Graduate Health Assessment course equivalent within the last 5 years**
  7. Graduate Pharmacology course equivalent within the last 5 years**
  8. Graduate Pathophysiology within the last 5 years**

**Nurses certified as Adult or Family, Psych, or Pediatric nurse practitioners may have these courses waived from the admission requirements after assessment of transcripts.  Nurses with other backgrounds will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Application is competitive.  Students are admitted annually in the Fall semester.  See the School of Nursing website at nursing.uncc.edu for application deadline.  Plan of Study is individualized based on course availability. 

Note:


***Clinical Courses require 60 hours practice for each 1 credit hour. Clinical courses may require travel to clinical sites outside Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

Certificate Total = 20 Credit Hours


Additional Requirements


  • A minimum of 600 hours of supervised clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioner
  • Enrollment will be suspended if the student receives a grade of C or below in any NUNP course. Graduate students must have a 3.0 GPA in the courses on their degree plan of study in order to graduate.
  • Faculty advising is required.