Post-master's certificate

  • Graduates are eligible for the adult-gerontology acute care NP certification exam administered by AACN or ANCC
  • Guaranteed admission for UVA School of Nursing alumni
  • Application deadline: January 5

The AGACNP is an advanced practice nurse prepared to manage adolescent and adult gerontology patients with acute or critical illness or injury and/or chronic disease across the trajectory of their care needs. UVA's program emphasizes the advanced theoretical knowledge, practice and skills, and systems’ leadership needed to manage these patients and their families for optimal outcomes. AGACNP students also develop exceptional diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills, preparation for prescriptive authority, strategies to communicate and collaborate with clinicians and all members of the interdisciplinary team, and the ability to manage and improve clinical outcomes. A keen focus on evidenced-based practice, teaching and clinical research are also program hallmarks.

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Admission Requirements

To be considered for the post-master's certificate, applicants must:

  • Submit a completed application
  • Possess an active state license and certification to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse at program start
  • Have a master's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited school (CCNE or ACEN)
  • Have completed three separate comprehensive graduate-level courses in: advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology
  • Hold an unencumbered RN license in the US at the time of application.  All matriculating students who are not active-duty military nurses must have a Virginia RN license before the first day of classes.
  • Have at least 1 year of full-time RN practice
  • Submit three satisfactory recommendations (academic, professional, and clinical), one of which should be from an APRN
  • Submit a resume or CV
  • Be available for an interview, if requested
  • International applicants have additional admissions requirements

GRE: we no longer require GRE scores as a component of the application.

Financial Aid

Click here for tuition information.

Students in the post-master's certificate programs at UVA are ineligible for scholarship assistance or student loans. University aid is restricted to those who are enrolled in degree programs (MSN, DNP, PhD, etc).

Classes

Class schedule

Full-time students begin study in the fall, and complete the post-master's certificate in AGACNP in two years, including summer session in year 1. In the first year, the student has didactic classes on Thursdays and Fridays (in the fall) and Wednesday-Friday (in the spring). When the student begins AGACNP practicum coursework, the didactic component is generally on Thursday. Clinical practicum days will vary widely depending on the student’s clinical site and preceptor and may include hours outside the typical work week.

Transfer Credit

Applicants who are master’s prepared and currently certified as a nurse practitioner will not be required to re-take advanced pharmacology (GNUR 6020), advanced pathophysiology (GNUR 6010), and advanced health assessment (GNUR 6025)—the “3 Ps”—or APRN Roles (GNUR 6031). The academic history of other advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) will be examined on a case-by-case basis. Any of the 3 Ps not showing on the applicant’s transcript will need to be completed in order to receive a post-master’s certificate.

Clinicals

Students complete over 500 clinical hours in the AGACNP track in two semester-long preceptorships (GNUR 7312 AND GNUR 7314). The first clinical course is typically completed at the top-ranked UVA Medical Center, which adjoins the School of Nursing. The UVA Medical Center—a nationally-ranked 590-bed, Level I trauma center with 6 adult ICUs—provides an excellent clinical site with a wealth of professional and technological resources. The second practicum may be completed at another facility in Virginia with prior arrangement of the program coordinator. Clinical placement sites are assigned based upon optimal learning experiences, students' requests, interagency contracts, and availability.

All clinical/practicum activities are generally conducted within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Clinical/practice activities may be conducted outside Virginia if the University is authorized to place students in that state and pending faculty approval.

Palliative care

The UVA School of Nursing is a leader in integrating compassionate care and the central precepts of palliative care into the education of future nurses and advanced practice nurses. Students who attend UVA can be mentored by a growing faculty of over 15 national and international experts in palliative care—educators, clinicians, researchers. Great opportunity awaits the student to develop palliative care as a specialty in their practice—across the lifespan and all care settings. This experience is enriched by the student's access to other disciplinary programs across the University such as religion, ethics, contemplative sciences, mindfulness, and medicine.

Plans of Study

Technology Requirements

All graduate nursing students are required to have a laptop; information about these requirements will be sent to enrolling students before classes begin. Please see the School of Nursing Computing Policies for more guidance on laptop ownership requirements.

State Authorization and Professional Licensure Disclosures

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).  

Upon completion of this certificate, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).

Spring 2024 classes will be held on: January 23, February 20, March 12, April 9, and April 30

Summer 2024 classes will be held on: May 28, June 11, June 25, July 9, and July 30

The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record is the official repository for academic program requirements.