Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Practitioner Advanced Practice Area
Nurse Practitioner Advanced Practice Area
Carolina Nursing’s online Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Post-Graduate Certificate Program provides master’s or doctorally-prepared NPs with the additional education and training needed to manage adolescent to geriatric patients who have complex, unstable conditions, including the need for critical care.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Applications are now open!
This program will be available only if there is sufficient interest to meet enrollment criteria.
To learn more about our application process and eligibility requirements, please visit the Post-Graduate Certificate Program page.
This specialty is designed to address the needs of nurse practitioners in North Carolina who wish to expand their expertise in acute care. Through a comprehensive needs assessment using data from the North Carolina Board of Nursing, the school determined that many primary care-certified nurse practitioners working in settings that would benefit from specialized acute care training. This program equips NPs to manage patients experiencing acute, complex, and critical illnesses across the lifespan, from late adolescence to end-of-life care.
To qualify for the AGACNP program, applicants must:
The one-year AGACNP curriculum integrates both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Students participate in three on-campus intensives, where they gain hands-on experience with invasive procedures and engage in high-fidelity simulations. These intensives connect classroom content to real-world clinical practice, allowing students to apply their learning to live clinical settings. Additionally, the program includes a rigorous 660-hour clinical rotation, providing diverse acute care experiences tailored to individual learning needs.
Graduates of the AGACNP program are eligible to sit for national board certification exams offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Board. Successful completion of the program and certification exams allows graduates to practice within the adult-gerontology acute care scope, obtaining the necessary licensure through the state Board of Nursing.
A Carolina Nursing education delivers unmatched value. For two decades, U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked Carolina as one of the best values among public universities. Our nursing programs continue to earn top national rankings, reflecting our commitment to excellence and affordability.
While funding a post-graduate certificate can be challenging, many students have successfully secured financial support through their practice groups. This often includes leveraging continuing education funds, negotiating tuition assistance, or arranging agreements to remain with the practice for a specified period post-graduation. These strategies make the program more accessible for NPs who are committed to advancing their skills in acute care.
The AGACNP program is demanding, requiring significant dedication from students who typically continue working in their NP roles while completing the program. Support from employers, including flexible scheduling and encouragement, is crucial to help students manage the coordination of clinical hours, coursework, and attendance at the three on-campus intensives. For students pursuing a specific specialty focus, the final clinical practicum can be customized to enhance learning in that area.