4 Best ACNP Programs in California (Online & Campus) – 2025


Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

If you’re an RN in the Golden State who’s attracted by the fast-paced environment of an emergency room or an intensive care unit, check out ACNP programs in California. Acute care nurse practitioners are in high demand: Jobs for California ACNPs are projected to increase by 55 percent within the next decade. ACNP-prepared nurses make good salaries, too, averaging $167,030 annually. Isn’t it time for you to take charge of your nursing career and steer it toward the opportunities that excite you? Start by looking through this list of the 4 best ACNP programs in California for 2025.


FOLLOWING ARE THE 4 BEST ACNP PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 4 best campus-based and online ACNP programs in California.)


1. University of California San Francisco - San Francisco


Programs Offered: MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate

MSN Concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care

Post-Master’s Certificate Concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care


About the School: Want to enter one of the best ACNP programs in California? If yes, then you may consider the University of California San Francisco as an option. This nursing school not only boasts excellent rates on the NP certification exam but is also proudly one of the top nursing schools to receive generous funding from the NIH. Also, the school ranks among the top graduate nursing programs for consistently producing high-quality nursing professionals.

At UCSF, the dedicated faculty trains students with a solid knowledge base that ensures graduates leave with the confidence and professional preparedness to take care of the critical health needs of diverse patient populations.

MSN Program Details: This MSN-ACNP program in California comes with two speciation options; Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care. On a full-time basis, most students complete this MSN program within two years, however, if you choose the part-time schedule, the timeline may stretch further, depending on the number of courses you take each semester. To be eligible for either of the tracks, you must have an RN license & a BSN, and at least two years of experience in acute care nursing.

In the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track, you will master concepts in the foundations of collaborative practice, advanced physiology & pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and the management of psychiatric symptoms in adults and geriatric patients. The coursework also builds your knowledge in health care & social justice, clinical pharmacology, and diagnostic & therapeutic interventions. The rigorous curriculum also takes you through nutrition therapy, antibiotic therapy, essentials of human genomics, and the management of acute and chronic illnesses. To graduate, you are required to complete around 67 to 70 units.

On the other hand, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care requires the completion of around 74 units. Courses equip you with skills in core competencies as well as in evidence-based practice, population health, nutrition, interprofessional collaboration, and in the management of complex medical conditions in pediatric patients.

Regardless of the track you choose, you will leave the college with excellent leadership skills to solve professional issues and improve the health of your chosen population focus.

Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details:Similar to MSN, the post-master’s certificate comes with specialization options in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care. Regardless of the track, the program is open to graduate nurses having at least three years of experience in acute care in a hospital. Among the sought-after ACNP programs in California, both tracks are available only as full-time options. In addition, to didactic training, you require to fulfill the residency requirement which spans three quarters. For both these tracks, the college provides clinical placements.

As such, graduation requirements for both these certificate tracks are not prescribed and will depend on the courses previously completed in your MSN.


2. University of California - Los Angeles


Programs Offered: MSN

MSN Concentrations: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner DUAL Primary Care/Acute Care, Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Practitioner-Clinical Nurse Specialist and Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Clinical Nurse Specialist


About the School: When counting the best ACNP programs in California, the University of California’s acute care programs cannot be missed out. The school proudly offers not only one of the first but also one of the largest ACNP programs in the state. Also, the school has earned the recognition of U.S. News & World Report, which ranks it among the top graduate nursing programs in the nation.

Through path-breaking research, an outstanding faculty, and extensive clinical experiences, you will be prepared to work in diverse healthcare settings. Besides, with its state-of-art simulation and more than 200 clinical affiliations, you will leave the college with the utmost job readiness. Here, through its MSN, you can complete your acute care NP training in adult gerontology, and pediatrics or opt for dual specialization in pediatric primary/acute care. Also, the college offers two unique dual tracks; Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Practitioner-Clinical Nurse Specialist and Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Clinical Nurse Specialist which combine skills in two in-demand fields of advanced practice nursing.

MSN Program Details: A leader in producing acute care NPs, this MSN-acute care nurse practitioner program in California is one of a kind. Whether you opt for the single tracks or broaden your area of practice through the dual track, you will gain proficiency within your chosen population focus.

If you are inclined towards pediatric acute, then you have three tracks to choose from; Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner DUAL Primary Care/Acute Care, and Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner-Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Depending on the track you choose, you require completing either 78, 88, or 98 units, with the single track requiring the least number and the Pediatric Dual NP/CNS dual track comprising the greatest number of units. Also, to fulfill the clinical requirements, you must complete 840 to 1350 clinical hours. The clinical hours are divided into primary and acute care and also include CNS clinical hours, for the dual PNP/CNS track.

Now coming to the acute care of adults and the elderly population, you have two tracks to choose from, the single Adult/Gerontology Acute Care track or a dual specialization in Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Practitioner-Clinical Nurse Specialist. Regardless of the option, you will complete the program within two years of full-time study. Depending on the track you choose, the required credits for graduation range from 70 to 95, including 790 to 1,239 hours of clinical practice. Aside from this, you can also opt for a focus area such as oncology or cardiology wherein you require completing additional credits and clinical hours.

Regardless of the ACNP program you choose, upon graduation, you will be eligible to take the certification exam within your population focus.


3. California State University Los Angeles - Los Angeles


Programs Offered: MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate

MSN Concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Post-Master’s Concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner


About the School: If you are prepared to manage the complex challenges of acute care, then enrolling in one of the reputable ACNP programs in California can be a great starting point. California State University Los Angeles offers such ACNP programs that can help you in reaching your career goals. The college focuses on evidence-based practice & research and prepares competent NPs who are skilled at providing holistic care in an interdisciplinary environment. With excellent performance on the ACNP certification exam, the college also boasts of ranking among the U.S. News & World Report’s top MSN programs in the nation.

MSN Program Details: This acute care nurse practitioner program in California admits eligible RNs having a BSN. A 44-credit coursework, you can complete this program within two years of full-time study. The program starts with foundational courses in health care & policy, advanced pharmacology & pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, nursing informatics and theory, research, and practice. In the second year of the program, you gain expertise in the advanced acute care management of adults and senior patients. Finally, to graduate, you must complete 540 clinical hours in adult gerontology acute care.

Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: This is a 20-credit curriculum that spans one year. In addition to didactic courses, you must also complete 540 hours of clinical training. Some of the courses that you take include health care & policy, advanced pharmacology, advanced pathophysiology, diagnostic reasoning and the management of critical and acute illnesses in adults and aged patients.


4. California State University Long Beach - Long Beach


Programs Offered: MSN and Graduate Certificate

MSN Concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Graduate Certificate Concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner


About the School: If you are keen on advancing your nursing career, then maybe you should consider becoming an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. With promising job growth, you can explore a wide range of jobs in the Golden State.

California State University Long Beach can be a good place to start your journey into the rewarding field of adult-gerontology acute care. With 50 years of nursing education, this ACNP school takes pride in its award-winning faculty who leave no stone unturned in achieving a successful academic outcome for their students. To achieve your goals, here, you can either enroll in the MSN or graduate certificate program and specialize as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

MSN Program Details: To enroll in this acute care nurse practitioner program in California, you must have an active RN license along with a BSN and a minimum GPA of 3.0. The 40-credit coursework that leads to certification as an AGACNP comprises core courses, specialty-specific didactic courses and clinical courses.

While the core courses strengthen your knowledge in core topics of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, health care policy, human diversity and research, the specialty-specific courses focus on the theories for adult gerontology acute care nursing practice. In addition, you must complete four clinical courses to apply your theoretical knowledge to practice.

Graduate Certificate Program Details: Whether you are currently enrolled in an MSN, hold an MSN, or are a certified NP, this graduate certificate program can add value to your graduate nursing degree and further expand your expertise in adult-gerontology acute care. While the coursework comprises 16 credits in core courses and 18 credits in ACNP courses, your exact credit requirements will depend on a gap analysis. Regardless of where you are in your journey of becoming an AGACNP, you must complete a minimum of 18 credits, including four clinical courses. Upon completion of this ACNP program in California, you will be eligible to take the national certification program.


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