AG-ACNP Post-Master's Certificate Online
Refine your ability to deliver research-based and patient-centered care to adult and geriatric patients with chronic, acute and critical illnesses.
Program Overview
Explore what our online Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner can do for you
This online Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner prepares you for two national board certification exams: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
Develop the advanced expertise necessary for administrative positions in the healthcare system when you earn an online adult-gerontology nurse practitioner certificate. With our unique team-teaching approach, you will receive personalized support from highly qualified nurse educators throughout this ACEN-accredited program.
Gain hands-on experience utilizing your improved skillsets with a required practicum and optional weekend on-site skills labs. This flexible adult gerontology certificate is designed especially for active nurses, so you can continue working full time while completing convenient, 100% online coursework. You must have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited institution for admission.
For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.
In this online Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program, you will learn how to:
- Develop skills and knowledge for advance nursing and leadership roles in the healthcare system
- Prepare for the national certification exams offered by ANCC and AACN
- Develop patient-centered care in adolescent to adult populations that respects diversity and unique characteristics of individuals and populations
- Deliver care for patients who suffer from acute illness related to physiology or a specific condition
- Gain a foundation for doctoral study in nursing
- Develop skills and knowledge for advance nursing and leadership roles in the healthcare system
- Prepare for the national certification exams offered by ANCC and AACN
- Develop patient-centered care in adolescent to adult populations that respects diversity and unique characteristics of individuals and populations
- Deliver care for patients who suffer from acute illness related to physiology or a specific condition
- Gain a foundation for doctoral study in nursing
Prepare for nurse practitioner roles across a variety of healthcare settings, including:
- Emergency rooms
- ICUs
- Urgent care facilities
- Specialty medicine practices (dermatology, nephrology, etc.)
- Emergency rooms
- ICUs
- Urgent care facilities
- Specialty medicine practices (dermatology, nephrology, etc.)
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of certificate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online certificate programs.
Accreditation
The Associate, Baccalaureate, Master's, master’s/post-master's certificate, and clinical doctorate programs at Arkansas State University located in State University, AR and West Memphis, AR are accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 975-5000.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate, Baccalaureate, Master's, Master's/post-master's certificate, and clinical doctorate programs is continuing accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.
Tuition
Stay on track with affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition
Our online Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Please note, certificate programs are not financial aid eligible.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Key deadlines to know when applying
Ideal for working nurses, Arkansas State online programs are delivered in an accelerated format with multiple start dates each year.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | 8/19/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/29/26 | 8/14/26 | 10/2/26 |
| Spring 1 | 1/11/27 | 12/7/26 | 12/7/26 | 12/21/26 | 1/8/27 | 2/26/27 |
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Admissions
What you’ll need to apply to A-State Online
We know you’re busy, so we’ve streamlined the A-State admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Students who are interested in the Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program must have a Master of Science in Nursing degree from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited institution. Review full admission requirements below.
Admission Requirements:
- Online application
- MSN degree
- Current unencumbered RN license
Post-Master's Certificate – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Admissions Guidelines
- Complete online application and submit application fee (see Application Submission Requirements below)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an ACEN-, CCNE- or CCNEA-accredited program of nursing from a regionally accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA in MSN coursework
- Official transcript(s) submitted by the registrar of any college/university you have attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
- Current unencumbered RN license
- Satisfactory background check completed through Verified Credentials
Graduates of an MSN program with an AGACNP option that did not include the required certification eligibility requirements from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology; Advanced Health Assessment, including diagnostics and disease management; Advanced Pharmacology; and/or minimum of 500 faculty supervised clinical hours) are also eligible to apply. A request for a curriculum "Gap Analysis" to determine an individual Plan of Study will be requested from the Program Coordinator prior to admission.
English Proficiency Requirements
The College of Nursing and Health Professions School of Nursing requires a high level of proficiency in English so that all students will be able to fully meet academic and clinical objectives as well as meet criteria for professional licensure.
Applicants whose primary language is not English or did not attend K-12 in the United States must demonstrate English language proficiency through the following tests:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 4.5 on the preferred internet-based test (iBT), 570 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test
- For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 86 - For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:
We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.5
- For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of at least 7and a spoken band score of 7
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a score of 63
- Accuplacer Exit ESL with a score of 109
The TOEFL and Exit ESL are available at the Testing Center. When taking the exam off campus, the report code for A-State is 6011. All test scores are valid for two (2) years.
Exemptions may apply: See A-State's international undergraduate and graduate admission pages for more information.
Application Submission Requirements
Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.
- When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
- Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit all official college transcripts. Save time by requesting transcripts be sent electronically.
If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096, and we'll be happy to help answer questions.
Document Submission Address
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
For non-US postal mail overnight delivery only:
A-State Onlinec/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Courses
Preview the online adult gerontology certificate courses
To finish the Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner online program, you must complete a total of 21.5 credit hours. If a Gap Analysis determines you must enroll in an individual plan of study, you will also need to complete three advanced nursing courses totaling nine credit hours. All advanced nursing courses (if required) and all seminar courses must be completed prior to the start of the first practicum course taken.
You can view your schedule of courses for this certificate through the Course Smartsheet:
View the AOS Course Smartsheet
How to Use the Course Smartsheet