TRAIN TO SAVE LIVES
Get the clinical training to oversee care for patients with unstable chronic conditions, sudden illness, and traumatic injury.
BUILD COLLABORATION SKILLS
Explore how to collaborate effectively with patients, families, and interprofessional healthcare teams to improve care delivery.
LEARN FROM ACTIVE AGACNPS
Our courses are developed by practicing AGACNPs, who focus on designing a curriculum that covers the skills you need to excel.
WALDEN GRAND ROUNDS
Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to critically examine real-life scenarios you’ll encounter in your specialty.
Take Advantage of Transfer-of-Credit Opportunities
Do you already have your MSN—or are you already an NP? You may be eligible to transfer credit from your previous coursework to reduce the number of courses you will need to complete the AGACNP post-master’s certificate. And if you already are a licensed and certified Family Nurse Practitioner, you may be able to apply even more transfer credits in our fast-track pathway. Contact an Enrollment Specialist to learn more.
Program Details
Learning Tracks
We have a path to success for every level in your nursing career .
Choose this track if you are not a licensed and certified FNP and interested in AGACNP.
Curriculum
Minimum Degree Requirements
- 38 quarter credits
- Core courses (3 cr.) (Walden MSN alumni are eligible for transfer of credit for this course)
- Specialization courses (35 cr. includes the required 640 practicum hours*)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN.
For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-643-4779
Choose this track if you are a licensed and certified FNP currently working in an acute-care role.
Curriculum
Minimum Degree Requirements
- 38 quarter credits
- Core courses (3 cr.) (Walden MSN alumni are eligible for transfer of credit for this course)
- Specialization courses (15 cr. includes the required 500 practicum hours**)
- Prior nursing credit from Family Nurse Practitioner program (Up to 20 cr.**)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN.
This sequence represents the minimum time to completion and reflects the program of study from a licensed and certified Family Nurse Practitioner. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden will accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-761-4843.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for this certificate program, you must have a current, active RN license, a Master of Science in Nursing or equivalent from an accredited school, and meet the general admission requirements. All applicants must submit a completed online application and transcripts. Depending on program specialization, additional requirements may apply. More information for international applicants.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 38 quarter credit hours | $765 per quarter hour | $29,070 |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $175 | $1,050 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $30,760‡* |
‡*Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 20 transfer credits for non-alumni. Walden alumni may be eligible to transfer more credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-761-4843.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,500. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 18 quarter credit hours | $765 per quarter hour | $13,770 |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $175 | $700 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 3 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $480 |
| $14,950‡* |
‡*Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 20 transfer credits for non-alumni who are also licensed and certified FNP’s. Walden alumni may be eligible to transfer 3 additional credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,500. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
Explore Real-Life Clinical Scenarios With Walden Grand Rounds
As a nurse practitioner student at Walden, you can take part in Walden Grand Rounds several times throughout the quarter. Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to review clinical patient scenarios that are focused on assessing, differentiating, and treating pathological conditions. This is a unique opportunity to connect what you’ve learned in class with real-life situations and challenges you’ll encounter in the field as an NP.
Program Outcomes
Career Outlook
As the American population ages and strains the healthcare system, demand for nurse practitioners in acute-care settings is greater than ever before. Earning your acute care nurse practitioner certificate online is the first step in preparing to meet the need for high-quality, life-saving patient care.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for nurse practitioners are expected to grow by 52% through 2030.2 The average median pay for a nurse practitioner is $109,820 per year; however, the salary range typically falls between $81,410 and $152,160.3 Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
An AGACNP post-master’s certificate can academically prepare you to work in settings such as:
- Emergency departments and trauma centers
- Intensive care units
- Trauma centers
- Tertiary care, coronary care, and palliative care
- Specialty care centers
- Hospital surgical units, including general, cardiovascular, and neurosurgery
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Learn to Deliver Advanced Critical Care
In this online post-master’s acute care NP certificate program, you’ll examine how to plan, implement, and evaluate care for patients at risk for urgent and emergent conditions. This includes performing diagnostic and therapeutic interventions during rapid physiologic deterioration or life-threatening instability. You’ll also gain skills in promoting health and disease prevention by assessing risks and providing wellness education to acute, critical, and complex chronically ill patients.
This certificate program’s content is consistent with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) standards for AGACNP education.
Walden field experience coordinators are available to assist you in meeting your practicum requirements and you can view this FAQ document for answers to some of the most common questions.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this post-master’s adult-gerontology acute care NP certificate program, you will be academically prepared to:
- Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.
- Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist nursing practice in a global society.
- Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
- Demonstrate ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
- Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.
- Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.
- Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations.
Meet Your Academic Team
Below are some of the distinguished faculty members who bring diverse industry expertise and a passion for teaching to the Walden community.
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