Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate

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Admissions
Courses
Ways to Save on Tuition
Career Outcomes
12
Total Courses
$420
Cost per Credit
1.5 years
Average Completion*
15–18 Hours/Week
Course Effort

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGAC-NP) Certificate Overview

Are you an RN with a master’s degree? It’s time to take the next step in your career. Earn a valuable nurse practitioner certificate online and gain the expertise to treat and care for acutely ill adult and elderly patients.

  • Provide direct care management, including diagnosis and treatment planning.
  • Manage acutely ill medical, surgical, and critical care adult or gerontology populations while working with an interprofessional team.
  • Prepare to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ (AACN) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification.
  • Complete an acute care skills lab using an Oculus VR headset for a virtual lab experience.
  • Learn from faculty with decades of nursing experience who bring real-world knowledge to the classroom.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

See Program Degree Plan and Policies

Note: At this time, residents of the following states and territories may not enroll in this program: District of Columbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Guam. In addition, international students are not eligible to enroll in this program.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

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CCNE Accredited

The postgraduate APRN certificate programs at Purdue Global is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.CCNEAccreditation.org).

Clinical Practice Experience

Gain valuable experience by applying what you’ve learned in a real-world setting. You’ll participate in a series of clinicals at a health care facility or clinical site as part of the program.

Contact an Admissions Advisor for more information about the number of hours needed to complete the clinical requirement.

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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What Courses Will I Take?

This postgraduate certificate program is focused on helping you build skills to manage the direct care of acutely ill adults in medical, surgical, and critical care.

Sample Courses

  • Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
  • Advanced Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics
  • Specialized Pharmacology for the AGACNP Acute Care NP
  • AGACNP Acute Care Diagnosis and Management
  • AGACNP Critical Care Management
See All Nurse Practitioner Courses

Program Requirements

12
Core Courses
12
Total Courses
57
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Admissions Requirements

A master's degree with an upper-level major in nursing and an approved criminal background check is required. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your master's degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Additional requirements apply. Refer to the program-specific policy page in the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Prepare for Certification

Upon completion of the postgraduate certificate program, you may be eligible to sit for the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner certification exams offered by the following organizations:

  • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
  • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

After earning your acute care nursing certification, you may be academically eligible for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in any state in which the program is available for enrollment.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Faculty With Real-World Experience

Our faculty has decades of nursing experience and brings real-world knowledge to the classroom. Many hold doctorates or advanced nursing certifications; all faculty members possess at least a master’s degree.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Grants and Loans

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and, 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Career Opportunities

Responsibilities in acute care nurse practitioner careers may include diagnosing and treating patients, ordering tests, interpreting results, preparing treatment plans, and prescribing medication (in many states).

Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners serve in environments such as hospitals, medical surgical units, and critical care or specialty units.

Average Salary

Range

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional certification or licensing may be required to work in certain fields.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

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School of Nursing Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about our nursing programs and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

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Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

54%

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

484

Faculty publications in 2022–2023

More Than 40,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

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NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

Nursing Licensure: Graduates who pass the relevant certification exam may be academically eligible for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in any state in which the program is available for enrollment. Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states; please refer to Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific licensure information. The University cannot guarantee students will be eligible to sit for or pass exams.

Please note that most states require nurses to be nationally certified and to have completed an accredited graduate nursing program in order to obtain licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse. Each national certification provider and state Board of Nursing will have eligibility requirements in addition to these educational requirements, such as passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they are eligible for state Board of Nursing approval and certification as an advanced practice registered nurse in their state. Students can obtain additional information from their state's Board of Nursing, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).