10 Best Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Programs – 2025

Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

An Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) is someone who specializes in providing comprehensive care to adults of all ages, including the elderly. In order to become an AGNP, you will need to complete one of the available Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner programs which results in a master’s or a doctoral degree. This is a rewarding career choice with an excellent salary and strong outlook for the future, as well. AGNPs earn an average of $104,250 a year, and because of the aging baby boomer generation, the demand for AGNPs is expected to climb substantially over the next decade. Below, you will learn more about the 10 best on-campus and online AGNP programs in the country to help you make better decisions about your future career.

Degree Options Available to Become an AGNP

1. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - AGNP

Program Cost:

A Master of Science in Nursing degree, or MSN, varies in cost from $29,300 - $85,900. Costs fluctuate somewhat depending on the school you attend and whether you choose an online or on-campus program.

Program Length:

Master’s programs will take roughly one to three years after completing a baccalaureate degree. The length can vary depending on whether you have transferrable credits and the amount of time you can dedicate to your studies.

Curriculum:

Typical MSN curriculum varies depending on whether you choose the acute or primary specialty. It includes courses like Advanced Pharmacology, Acute Care of Adults and Older Individuals, The Care of the Elderly, and Advanced Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures. There is also a clinical requirement that varies from one school to the next. During this practicum, you will work under the supervision of nurse practitioners, doctors, and faculty as you put your knowledge to the test and provide care for patients.

2. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - AGNP

Program Cost:

A Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree, or DNP, can cost anywhere from $31,200 - $92,600. The school you choose has the most influence on the overall cost of your education in this case.

Program Length:

Program length will also vary from one school to the next, but you can expect to spend four years studying if you attend full time. Part-time students may complete the DNP program in five to six years.

Curriculum:

The courses you will take include Evidence-Based Nursing; Leadership, Communication, and Professional Role Development; Diagnostic Management and Decision Making; Management of Adults, Women’s Healthcare, Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology, and Pharmacotherapeutics for Older Adults. A clinical practicum is also required – typically in year three or four – and gives you the opportunity to work directly with patients in a medical facility to put your knowledge to the test.

FOLLOWING ARE THE 10 BEST ADULT-GERONTOLOGY NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS - 2025

1) University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing - Philadelphia, PA

Programs Offered:

MSN and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Program

MSN Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Post-Graduate APRN Certificate Concentrations:

Streamlined Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP

2) The University of Iowa - Iowa City, IA

Programs Offered:

BSN to DNP, MSN to DNP, and Post-Graduate Certificate

BSN to DNP Concentrations:

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Dual (Adult Gerontology Acute Care/Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care/Psych Mental Health Nurse Practitioner & Family/Adult Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner)

MSN to DNP Concentrations:

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Post-Graduate Certificate Concentrations:

Post-Graduate Adult/Gero - Acute Care Certificate and Post-Graduate Adult/Gero - Primary Care Certificate

3) University of Washington - Seattle, WA

Programs Offered:

DNP and Graduate Certificate

DNP Concentrations:

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Graduate Certificate Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

4) The University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Memphis, TN

Programs Offered:

DNP and Post-MSN/Post-DNP Certificate

DNP Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care/Family Nurse Practitioner (Dual)

Post-MSN/Post-DNP Certificate Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

5) Duke University School of Nursing - Durham, NC

Programs Offered:

MSN, BSN to DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate, and Continuing Education Programs

MSN Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care

BSN to DNP Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care

Post-Graduate Certificate Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care

6) Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions - Philadelphia, PA

Programs Offered:

MSN and Post-Master's Certificate

MSN Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Post-Master's Certificate Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

7) University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI

Programs Offered:

MSN, BSN to DNP, and Post-Master's Advanced Practice Certificate

MSN Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

BSN to DNP Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Post-Master's Advanced Practice Certificate Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP

8) Columbia University - New York, NY

Programs Offered:

Post-BSN to DNP, Post-MSN to DNP, and Masters Direct Entry (MDE)

Post-BSN to DNP Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP)

Post-MSN to DNP Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP)

Masters Direct Entry (MDE):

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP)

9) Rush University - Chicago, IL

Programs Offered:

DNP and Postdoctoral Certificate

DNP Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Postdoctoral Certificate Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care

10) The George Washington University - Washington, DC

Programs Offered:

Online RN-MSN, MSN, BSN to DNP, and Post-Master's Certificate

Online RN-MSN Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

MSN Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

BSN to DNP Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Post-Master's Certificate Concentrations:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

AGNP Board Certification

Just as doctors and nurses must become board certified in order to provide medical care, AGNPs must also obtain credentials. There are three different credentials offered by three individual certifying bodies, and you will need to take an exam after completing your MSN or DNP program in order to obtain them. The American Nurses Credentialing Center, or ANCC, provides both the primary care and acute care certifications for adult-gerontology nurse practitioners. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) offers another acute care certification specific to the care of adults and the elderly, as well.

What Does an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Do?

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP):

As an AG-ACNP, or Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, you will typically work in an acute care or emergency department setting to provide immediate care to patients. You will primarily assess elderly patients and recommend an immediate course of treatment. AG-ACNPs may write prescriptions, refer patients to specialists, and even provide aftercare instructions upon their patients’ discharge.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP):

On the other hand, as an AG-PCNP, you will work more closely with individual patients in an office or clinic setting. Primary care AGNP duties include things like conducting health assessments and assisting the elderly in the prevention and management of chronic conditions. In the primary care setting, your focus is on promoting good health through preventative care. To this end, you may prescribe medications, refer patients to specialists or physical therapists, and perform minor in-office procedures.

AGNP Scope of Practice

As an AGNP, your scope of practice will include all the duties performed by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) along with additional responsibilities related to either the primary care or acute care specialty. These responsibilities may vary from one state to the next, especially as it relates to prescribing medications and performing minor surgical procedures in-office or in a trauma setting. For the most part, your practice focuses on the reduction of illness and disability through the promotion of self-care, the proper use of risk assessment tools, and the development of programs that help teach good health.

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Average Salary

Your Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner salary will vary somewhat depending on factors like the specialization you choose, the state where you work, and even your overall experience level. On average, though, AGNPs across the county working in all settings and specialties earn an average of $104,250 a year. Those working in acute care settings tend to earn slightly more due to the more unpredictable hours and high-stress environment, as well.

AGNP Job Outlook

The job outlook for AGNPs in both acute and primary care settings is very good. Overall, the employment of nurse practitioners in every specialization is expected to increase over the next decade. The baby boomer generation is aging, and due to wider access to affordable healthcare and new technologies designed to provide a better quality of life well into the later years, the demand for specialized, highly-educated healthcare providers will continue to climb.

Important AGNP Organizations

1. Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA)

: The Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, or GAPNA, is a membership-driven organization that provides support and advocacy for AGNPs and older adults alike. The group provides continuing education to healthcare professionals and strives to educate consumers about health concerns related to the aging process. Members receive discounts on initial certifications and renewals, access to annual conferences, discounts on continuing education credits, and more.



Other Related Programs