Post-Graduate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) is designed to educate nurses who want to manage and improve outcomes for culturally diverse populations of acutely ill patients with complex and often chronic illnesses across the adult life span. With the passage of the national health care reform, the demand for qualified nurse practitioner graduates has dramatically increased. The AGACNP will provide coordination and continuity of care for acute and chronic illness and guide transition back to the community and primary care providers. Students seeking a post-graduate certificate will be reviewed as courses from your prior nurse practitioner program will be used to ensure ability to take the certification exam. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for admission:

• Current unencumbered license as a nurse practitioner (in a specialty other than the discipline you want to study).
• Current unencumbered RN license in the United States.
• 1 year of full-time experience which would be at least 2000 hours (in 12 months) experience as a registered nurse in a critical care unit such as SICU, MICU, CCU, etc. Other critical care units may be considered if the applicant has working knowledge of invasive hemodynamic monitors (e.g., pulmonary artery, central venous pressure, and arterial catheters), mechanical ventilation, and is proficient in vasopressor titration. A letter from the employer is to be submitted with the application.
• Emergency Room experience will not be considered as longitudinally acceptable criteria for this requirement. Must be currently working in a critical care unit or have worked in a critical care unit within the past 3 years.
• Current certification as an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider (ACLS).
• Current certification as a Basic Life Support Provider (BLS).
• Submission of Verification of Completion Form for critical care experience hours.

The first and third clinical acute care practica (NUR 861 and NUR 865) must be completed in the state of Michigan - no exceptions.

A total of 20-29 credits is required for the Post-Graduate Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate program.  Admission to the Post-Graduate Certificate program is available to certified licensed nurse practitioners, seeking licensure as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. 

All graduate nursing courses must be completed with a grade of B (3.0) or better to progress in the program.  Please refer to the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook.