Post-Graduate Certificate
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
If you have a master’s in nursing and want to branch out into a new practice area, our post-graduate certificate could be a great match for you. In this specialty, you’ll gain skills to care for patients ranging in age from teenagers to older adults, typically in a fast-paced environment. This certificate focuses on treating complex chronically ill patients who need ongoing care.
Overview
Format
Hybrid online
Mostly online with some in-person requirements on the CU Anschutz Campus in Aurora, CO.
Avg. time to complete
1 years
3 semesters
Exam prep
AG-ACNP
When you finish the program, you can sit for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) exam to become board-certified.
Clinical placements set up for you
If you’re in Denver or Aurora, we arrange clinical placements for you. We work with some of the top clinics and hospitals in the metro area to provide high-quality, hands-on experiences.
Expert faculty dedicated to your success
Many of our faculty are recognized locally and nationally for their excellence in nursing, education, and research. Our educators are passionate about helping students advance their knowledge and careers.
100%
Board certification exam pass rate for this specialty
1st
Nurse practitioner program was developed at CU Nursing
Career
You'll be ready to sit for board certification when you finish the Post-Graduate Certificate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. You can take the American Nurses Credentialing Center's or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses' exam. After you pass the test, you're eligible for licensure in all 50 states, including Colorado.
What you can do
- Prescribe medication
- Serve as an independent provider
- Assess, diagnose, and treat health conditions
- Educate patients about health management and disease prevention
Who you can care for
Patients who are complex chronically ill, ranging in age from mid- to late-adolescents to older adults
Where you can work
- Hospitals
- Clinics
Admissions
Deadline(s)
| Start term | Application openstooltip | Priority deadlinetooltip |
| Spring 2026 | January 15, 2025 | July 1, 2025 |
Get started
1
Check the requirements
Understand the admissions requirements like how many letters of recommendation you need and what courses should be on your transcript.
2
Start your application
Work on your application and submit it through NursingCAS.
Curriculum
Immersive learning
This program puts you in a clinical setting for 360 hours. We organize placements for you, if you’re in the Denver Metro, ensuring you get the practical training you need.
Comprehensive coursework
This program includes eight hours in the classroom. Some examples of classes you’ll take include diagnostics and therapeutics and advanced practicums.
Costs
| Residency status | Estimated total tuition** |
| Colorado residents | $12,560 |
| Eligible western state residents** | $12,560 |
| Nonresidents | $20,368 |
| Additional expenses | Time frame | Estimated costs |
| Matriculation fee | One-time | $140 |
| Other fees | By term | Fall $392, Spring $232, Summer $180 |
| Books and supplies | Total for program | $2,000 |
| CU health insurance (may be waived with proof of comparable personal health insurance) | By term | Fall $1,575, Spring $1,575, Summer $1,050 |
The program directors have been really supportive. If you tell them what you are looking for and what your goals are, they are going to do everything in their power to help those come true. They’ve tailored my clinical experiences to set me up for success.
Sam Moldo, RN
CU Nursing Alum
MS Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program
Become the nurse practitioner looked to first 
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