Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice

Program Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate School Admission Requirements, applicants for the Post-Master's Doctor of Nusing Practice Program must possess:

• An overall GPA of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in the MSN program as documented by official transcripts.
• Earned master’s in nursing in an advanced nursing practice specialty from a nationally accredited program.
• Current RN licensure in their state of residence.
• APRNS must provide evidence of current national certification and meet the requirements for practice in their state of residence.
• An essay that addresses, 1) advanced practice expertise, 2) career goals, 3) how the DNP will foster achievement of these goals, and 4) plans for DNP project.
• Resume/curriculum vitae.
• Three recommendations that should address the practice capabilities of the candidate.
• Additional evidence for consideration of the application can be uploaded (e.g. publications, posters, evidence-based practice projects).
• Post-Master’s applicants who hold one of the following national certifications will be automatically awarded 500 clinical hours upon admission, and do not need to provide evidence of supervised clinical hours:

1. AACN or AANP National certification as a Nurse Practitioner in specialty
2. NBCRNA as a Nurse Anesthetist 
3. AONE Certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)
4. ANCC Nurse Executive-Advanced
5. ANCC Clinical Nurse Specialist in specialty
6. CNC as a Clinical Nurse Leader

• Applicants who do not hold a national certification must provide evidence of 500 supervised clinical hours completed within their MSN program.
• Applicants who do not meet the above criteria can meet with the Program Coordinator to discuss other factors that may have a bearing on admission.

Program Description 

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the terminal practice degree in Nursing. This degree builds upon the student's current knowledge of clinical practice. The DNP will prepare students to practice at the highest clinical level and provide leadership in our dynamic healthcare systems. Graduates of the program will be able to analyze systems of care and provide high level leadership to improve patient safety and quality of care and to implement evidence-based culturally competent care practices.

The Dual DNP is a hybrid program in partnership with UNC-Charlotte, and is designed to prepare nurses for leadership in clinical practice. The DNP program can be completed in five semesters. New cohorts begin each Fall semester. The Dual DNP requires 42 post-master's graduate semester credit hours of coursework and completion of a total of 1,000 clinical practice hours (includes 500 from MSN program).

In addition to the academic requirements, students are expected to adhere to the technical and professional standards of the program. For the most up to date information regarding these standards, program suspension, and termination refer to the program’s website linked from the College of Health and Human Sciences.