Post Master's Certificate
Post Master's AGACNP
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP Certificate Program
CLASSES START
Jan 6th
20 Mo. Program Length | 33 Credits |
Online Format | DNP Dual Credit |
Post Master's Certificate
Post Master's AGACNP
Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP Certificate Program
Go from MSN to AGACNP with Herzing University
| Accreditation | CCNE accredited,1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Transfer credit | Up to 12 approved credit hours |
| Clinicals | 585 clinical hours—we pledge your clinical placement! |
| Format | 100% online classes |
| Dual credit | Earn dual credit towards a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) |
| QuickPaths | 6 start dates per year – and no wait list! Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Overview: Online Post Master's AGACNP
The Post Master's Certificate in Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner is a 33-credit post-graduate program which prepares you for a career as an AGACNP.
The online certificate program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in clinical decision-making, advanced practice specialty procedures and skills for acute care, evidence-based practice, and much more.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Classes Start January 6th
Learn More Today
Post Master’s AGACNP certificate classes & curriculum details
Our curriculum is built for nurses who already have earned an MSN degree and seek the skills and knowledge to succeed as an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. Courses include pathophysiology and pharmacology, clinical decision-making, health promotion, roles of nurse practitioners, advanced practice specialty procedures and skills for acute care, and more.
All didactic (lecture) classes are delivered online with 585 required clinical hours.
| Program | Monthsi | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Post Master's Certificate Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PMCAGACNP) | 20 | 33 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program. Program availability varies by location.
Required Direct Care Courses
All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Specialty Courses
All courses, 24.00 semester credit hours, are required
Clinical Proficiency Exam and Policy Courses
The following courses are 0.00 semester credit hours associated with the policy outlined above. Students are required to take as co-requisite courses along with NU 611, NU 642, NU 664 or NU 671, depending on the program of study. NSG 0600 - Clinical Proficiency Course Semester Credit Hours: 0.00 NSG 0600R - Clinical Proficiency Remediation Course (if needed) Semester Credit Hours: 0.00
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Post Master's AGACNP program is $755 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Post Master’s AGACNP program enrollment requirements
Enrollment in the post master’s certificate nursing program is open to registered nurses who:
- Hold a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited university or college (such as a master’s or doctoral degree)
- Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse in the state in which they live (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement).
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District Of Columbia.
Your clinical placement is our pledge.
We understand securing clinical placement as part of the post master's AGACNP program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.
As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.
Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*
* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.
Classes Start January 6th
Waived Enrollment FeeFrequently Asked Questions
The scope of practice for AGACNPs can vary by state, but there are several core competencies relevant to all employed AGACNPs.
According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), key aspects of the acute care NP role include:
- Gathering patient histories
- Performing physical examinations and screenings
- Diagnosing and managing patients with acute, critical or complex illnesses/injuries
- Prescribing medications and advanced therapeutic intervention
- Ordering, performing and interpreting diagnostic studies
- Providing health promotion, education and counseling
- Collaborating with other medical professionals as a team
You can find a full description of the ACNP scope of practice in the “AACN Scope and Standards for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice 2017,” available through the AACN website.
Here’s a selection of the most common types of nurse practitioners:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Each specialty has its own unique requirements in terms of job experience and certification.
A post master’s certificate (PMC), also referred to as a “post-graduate” certificate, is designed for nurses who hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and seek additional certification in a separate field.
Herzing University offers several post master’s certificates for MSN-prepared nurses looking to transition in or out of clinical-based practice:
- AGACNP - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (program length: 20 months)
- AGPCNP - Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (program length: 20 months)
- FNP - Family Nurse Practitioner certificate (program length: 16-20 months)
- NE - Nursing Education certificate (program length: 8 months)
- NLA - Nursing Leadership & Administration (program length: 8 months)
- PMHNP: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate (program length: 20 months)
A post master’s certificate from Herzing University provides the education, training, and practical experience you need to take the next big step in your nursing career.
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners provide care to adults and older adults with complex conditions in acute care and hospital settings. AGACNPs work with patients who are acutely ill, exhibit chronic medical conditions, or highly vulnerable to complications.
Job responsibilities include providing complex monitoring, stabilizing patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, and developing complex treatment plans.
Acute care and primary care are very different disciplines. As an acute care NP, you’ll be working in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency Room (ER), urgent care or other outpatient environment, which demands a very different set of skills and knowledge than a primary care NP in clinics or other inpatient facilities.
Providing preventive care and taking a long-term approach to patient health is another discipline requiring unique training and certification.
The Herzing Post Master’s Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program is designed for MSN holders, including current AGACNPs, who are interested in pursuing a future job as a primary care AGNP.
You can prepare to make the transition from FNP to acute care NP by enrolling a post master’s, or postgraduate, certificate program designed for nurses who have already earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Complete the post master’s program, earn certification, and you’ll be ready to apply for your first position as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP).
There are two primary differences between a Family Nurse Practitioner and an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:
- Types of patients. FNPs work with patients across the patient lifespan, including children under the age of 13. As adult gerontology NPs, AGACNPs care for only adults ages 13 and above.
- Types of care. FNPs typically work in clinics, doctor’s offices, and other outpatient settings—and are not formally trained in acute and emergency care. Acute care NPs work in ICUs, hospitals and other inpatient settings to care for patients with trauma and more severe health issues.
If you have more interest in developing long-term relationships with patients, concerned more with preventative health, and love to work with children, FNP may be the best nurse practitioner career path for you.
We offer multiple options for current nurses of all types, including pathways for ASN/ADN, BSN, and MSN degree holders.
View our available online Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner programs.
Sometimes hospitals form partnerships with schools like ours to provide employees with unique benefits should they choose to pursue an advanced nursing degree.
Employees of Herzing partners can potentially earn college credit for prior work or military experience, transfer existing credit, or earn a scholarship to make going back to school more affordable.
If you are currently an RN considering becoming a nurse practitioner, view our educational partnerships or check with your employer for potential possibilities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $128,490 per year ($61.78 per hour). Pay depends on many factors, including your location, what healthcare institution you work for and your level of experience.*
Discover the average nurse practitioner salary by state and find out what nurse practitioners make on average near you.
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Choose your NP pathway
Considering all of your options for nurse practitioner specialties?
Herzing University offers multiple nurse practitioner programs for current nurses holding an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree in nursing.
Our goal is to help you walk your career path no matter where you are, or where you want to go.
Explore Herzing NP programsAccreditation & Disclosures
1. The master’s degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Herzing University Madison are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
