10 Best AGNP Programs in Massachusetts (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
AGNP programs in Massachusetts will prepare you to deliver care to patient populations from adolescence through adulthood and into old age. Why is it such a hot field right now? Because AGNP programs have a particular focus on the unique needs of the elderly. Right now, 22 percent of the Bay State's residents are older than 66, and that number is growing every day. APRNs in Massachusetts make $149,280 a year, and in a single decade, their employment opportunities will be 47 percent higher. You'll find much more information about this dynamic career path in the guide below to the 10 best AGNP programs in Massachusetts.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 10 BEST AGNP PROGRAMS IN MASSACHUSETTS (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 10 best campus-based and online AGNP programs in Massachusetts.)
1. Boston College - Chestnut Hill
Programs Offered: MSN
MSN Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN Program Details: Massachusetts is a full practice authority state for nurse practitioners, so once you graduate from Boston College's Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN)/Adult Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP) track and pass your national certification exam, you'll be able to practice to the full scope of your training and education. This 48-credit AGNP program in Massachusetts combines core MSN classes like "Nursing Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Advanced Practice," "Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse," and "Just and Equitable Care of the Whole Person" with courses that will teach you how to provide hands-on wellness promotion and preventive care to adults and senior citizens. Classes are taught in person on Boston College's campus in Chestnut Hill.
This MSN/AGPCNP program also entails 500 clinical hours. You'll participate in practicums at more than 85 prestigious hospitals and clinics, such as Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Medical Center, and South Boston Community Health Center, throughout the metropolitan Boston area. Boston College accepts a new cohort into this program at the beginning of the fall semester. If you enroll full-time, you'll graduate after four semesters (24 months). Applicants must hold an active Massachusetts RN license and have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited nursing program, with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Boston College is a Catholic school, though students from all faith backgrounds are welcome to attend. Its Connell School of Nursing reflects the Jesuit tradition of social justice, but Catholic tenets per se do not inform the college's nursing education.• U.S. News & World Report ranks Boston College 26th on its list of the best U.S. nursing programs.
• Boston College also offers an RN-to-MSN/AGPCNP bridge program for nurses with associate degrees in nursing (ADNs) or hospital diplomas. The course comprises 112 credits: 42 in general education and 70 in specialized nursing education.
• Additionally, Boston College has a 96-credit accelerated MSN program for individuals with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than nursing who want to become AGPCNPs. You'll spend the first four semesters preparing to take the NCLEX-RN exam, at the end of which you'll earn your MSN. You'll spend your final semesters completing clinical courses and fieldwork in your AGPCNP specialty.
2. University of Massachusetts Lowell - Lowell
Programs Offered: MSN and BSN-to-DNP
MSN Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN Program Details: Though UMass-Lowell's 45-credit MSN/AGPCNP track is largely delivered online, you will get to make one four-day visit to the university's Lowell campus to conduct lab work and simulated clinical exams of mock patients. Core MSN courses like "Health Equity and Informatics," Social, Cultural, Policy Issues in Healthcare," and "Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice" are integrated into clinical practicums and classes that teach the knowledge and hands-on skills you'll need for professional success as a primary care provider to adults and the elderly. You'll participate in 750 hours of clinical practicums at some of the Bay State's top-ranked medical facilities, including UMass Memorial Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, and VNA of Greater Lowell Winchester Hospital.
Though you won't need a Massachusetts nursing license to apply to this program, you'll need one by the time you begin taking classes. You'll have your choice of spring semester or summer semester start dates. Full-time students can expect to graduate in two years; part-time students have up to five years to finish the program.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: UMass's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)-to-Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)/AGPCNP track focuses on the improvement of healthcare through policy and research in addition to clinical practice, which makes it a better choice for individuals seeking to take a leadership role in the healthcare sector. This AGNP program in Massachusetts involves 75 credits and at least 1,000 clinical hours. Though this track is primarily online, you will make four visits to the university's campus in Lowell for two-day intensives combining scholarly collaboration with networking.
In addition to the courses you'd take pursuing an MSN, you'll also take foundational DNP classes, such as "Operational Analysis and Quality Improvement" and "Healthcare Finance." You'll also create a DNP project, using evidence-based research to design, implement, and evaluate a solution to a clinical challenge. Your clinical rotations will take place at one of UMass's many partner healthcare facilities in the Bay State.
UMass accepts new cohorts into this program in the summer and spring. If you enroll full-time, you can graduate in two years. Part-time students can expect to graduate in three years.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• The first-time pass rate on national nurse practitioner certification exams for AGPCNP grads at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell is 100 percent.• UMass-Lowell's tuition rate for its online AGPCNP tracks is one of the lowest in the nation.
3. MGH Institute Of Health Professions - Boston
Programs Offered: Direct-Entry MSN, Master of Science Advanced Practice Nursing (Post-BSN), and Certificate of Advanced Study
Direct-Entry MSN Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Dual Adult-Gerontology Primary Care/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science Advanced Practice Nursing (Post-BSN) Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Dual Adult-Gerontology Primary Care/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Certificate of Advanced Study Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Dual Adult-Gerontology Primary Care/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
Direct-Entry MSN Program Details: As the only degree-granting affiliate of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, the MGH Institute of Health Professions is dedicated to healthcare education, making it unsurprising that it has one of the best AGNP programs in Massachusetts. The 99-credit accelerated MSN/AGPCNP and the 96-credit accelerated MSN/AGACNP tracks both take three years to complete. You'll spend your first three semesters taking prelicensure nursing courses and participating in experiential learning in a variety of settings, including interprofessional lectures/rounds, community engagement, and healthcare simulations. At the end of your third semester, you'll take your NCLEX-RN exam.
You'll spend the final three semesters of the program pursuing nursing master's coursework, including core MSN classes like "Research for Clinical Practice," "Transitions in Life and Health," and "Professional Issues." The MSN portion of the curriculum requires 630 hours of supervised patient care at healthcare facilities like Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital within the Mass General Brigham network. New cohorts can begin this program in the fall. Applications are managed through NursingCAS.
Master of Science in Advanced Practice Nursing (Post-BSN) Program Details: In addition to its 48-credit MSN/AGACNP track, the MGH Institute of Health Professions also offers a unique dual MSN/Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP/Women's Health (WH) NP track, which involves 61 credits. Both tracks begin in the fall, and full-time students can graduate in six semesters (24 months).
Coursework is presented in a hybrid format that combines online classes with periodic skills intensives at the institute's campus in Boston. Foundational MSN coursework for both tracks includes classes like "Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan," "Research for Clinical Practice," and "Transitions in Life and Health." APRN specialties each require 630 clinical hours; you'll be able to complete practicums at healthcare settings in your own community.
Certificate of Advanced Study Program Details: Are you a graduate-level RN who wants to expand your scope of practice beyond the degree you've already earned? The MGH Institute of Health Professions offers a 38-credit AGACNP certificate and a 54-credit AGPCNP/WHNP certificate. Both certificate programs can be shorter if a gap analysis awards you credit for courses you've already taken. In addition to classes and hands-on skills training, you'll complete a minimum of 500 hours in your chosen practicum. The program begins in the fall and typically takes five semesters to complete.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• 96 percent of the MGH Institute's AGNP graduates are employed in their field of choice within one year of completing their program.• The MGH Institute of Health Professions is the home of the Center for Climate Change and Health Equity, a unique nurse-led initiative that addresses the health consequences of climate change.
4. University of Massachusetts Boston - Boston
Programs Offered: MSN and BSN-to-DNP
MSN Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
MSN Program Details: UMass-Boston's 48-credit MSN/AGNP track focuses on the primary care of adults and senior citizens. MSN core courses like "Introduction to Advanced Practice Nursing: Knowledge for Practice in the Global Community" and "Advanced Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan" lay the groundwork for specialty coursework that focuses on wellness promotion and illness prevention among your chosen population. You'll learn hands-on skills and care strategies by participating in 600 hours of practicums at some of the finest medical facilities in the Boston area, including Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
This is one of the AGNP programs in Massachusetts best suited to the needs of working nurses because, except for clinical rotations, it's offered entirely online and has start dates in the fall, spring, and summer. Full-time students can complete the program in six semesters (24 months), while part-time students complete it in 12 semesters (48 months). Applicants to this program must have at least one year of professional nursing experience and hold a Massachusetts RN license.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Want a competitive edge for that nursing leadership role you're interested in pursuing? UMass-Boston's BSN-to-DNP/AGNP program will serve you better than its nursing master's equivalent. The university offers a 73-credit (1,065 clinical hours) doctoral AGNP program that you can finish in just two years. In addition to the coursework you'd complete if you were enrolled in the MSN track, you'll take foundational DNP classes like "Introduction to Advanced Practice Nursing: Knowledge for Practice in the Global Community" and "Introduction to Health Policy, Finance and Ethics." You'll also design, implement, and evaluate a performance improvement initiative as a DNP project, focusing on finding a solution to a practicum challenge.
You'll complete your practicums at a slew of first-rate hospitals and other healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area. Applicants must have at least 12 months of professional nursing experience and be licensed as RNs in Massachusetts. This program starts each fall.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• As a public university, UMass Boston offers some of the lowest tuition rates you'll find in the area.• Interested in urban healthcare? UMass Boston's nurse practitioner programs focus on teaching students how to deliver healthcare to diverse populations in inner-city environments.
5. University of Massachusetts Medical School - North Worcester
Programs Offered: Graduate Entry-to-DNP, BSN-to-DNP, and Post Graduate Certificate
Graduate Entry-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Post Graduate Certificate Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Graduate Entry-to-DNP Program Details: In addition to schools of medicine and biomedical sciences, the University of Massachusetts Medical School houses a highly respected nursing school that offers a direct-entry program for non-nurses that will help them earn their RN licenses, their DNP degrees, and either an AGACNP or AGPCNP certification. The Graduate Entry-to-DNP/AGACNP and Graduate Entry-to-DNP/AGPCNP tracks are both 117-credit programs that will take you 11 semesters (44 months) to complete.
You'll spend your first year pursuing the foundational nursing coursework and clinical experiences that will prepare you to pass your NCLEX-RN exam, which you'll take at the end of that year. During your second year, you'll take core nursing theory classes like "Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry" and "Evidence-Based Practice & Scholarly Inquiry" as well as courses that impart the knowledge and hands-on skills you'll need for primary or acute adult gerontology nurse practice. The program culminates with a four-semester DNP project that will address a significant issue you've encountered in healthcare delivery or patient outcomes during clinical rotations.
This AGNP program in Massachusetts is primarily taught on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in North Worcester. Doctoral students are required to complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours, and you'll leverage the resources of UMass Memorial Health, the most extensive healthcare system in central Massachusetts, for your clinical rotations.
This program is open to non-nurses who've completed a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field. All applications must be submitted through NursingCAS. The program accepts an incoming cohort each fall.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Core DNP courses for the University of Massachusetts Medical School's BSN-to-DNP/AGACNP and BSN-to-DNP/AGPCNP tracks are identical and include courses like "Societal Forces," "Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry," and "DNP Practice Inquiry Methods." Both tracks involve 67 credits and a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours. You'll also develop and present a DNP project where you will apply your new research skills to a problem you've observed in a clinical setting. These BSN-to-DNP pathways are primarily taught at UMMS's campus in North Worcester.
Your first three semesters will be devoted to didactic coursework; at the beginning of your fourth semester, you'll begin learning about the clinical specialty you've chosen. Clinical rotations will be scheduled for medical facilities within the UMass Memorial Health system. Classes begin in the fall semester. Full-time students should be able to complete this program in eight semesters (32 months), and part-time students in 11 semesters (44 months). These two AGNP programs are open to BSN-educated students who possess a Massachusetts RN license.
Post Graduate Certificate Program Details: The University of Massachusetts Medical School's post-graduate AGPCNP certificate allows you to build on the graduate nursing education you already have. The curriculum entails 18 credits and 630 clinical hours, but your individualized study plan may be different depending upon your prior academic record and your professional experience. The two-semester program accepts new students each fall and is open to registered nurses who have previously earned a master’s degree in nursing.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• In addition to the clinical concentrations that reflect the American Nurses Association's nurse practitioner specializations, the University of Massachusetts Medical School offers subspecialties in critical care, oncology, palliative care, and women's health.• UMass Memorial Medical Center, where you will be doing your clinical rotations, is the public academic health sciences center in the Bay State. As such, it offers unparalleled exposure to diverse patient populations and advanced medical technology.
6. Northeastern University - Boston
Programs Offered: Direct-Entry Nursing (BSN & MS), MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study
Direct-Entry Nursing (BSN & MS) Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Direct-Entry Nursing (BSN & MS) Program Details: Northeastern University's Direct-Entry-to-BSN-to-MSN/AGACNP program is one of the AGNP programs in Massachusetts that was set up to address the significant shortage of registered nurses throughout the Bay State. The entire 107-credit (600 clinical hours) course consists of two parts: a 64-credit (16 months) prelicensure track that will prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN exam and a 43-credit MSN track that will prepare you to sit for your adult gerontology acute care NP certification examination.
There is a gap between these two parts. After attaining your RN license, you must work as a nurse for one to two years, during which time you'll take two online "transition to practice" courses and retain your student status for loan purposes. At the end of the prelicensure track, you'll be awarded a BSN degree.
Core pre-licensure courses include classes that emphasize the registered nurse's role in healthcare, such as "Health Assessment & Fundamental Nursing Skills" and "Health and Illness Nursing Perspective." MSN core courses, such as "Healthcare System and Professional Role Development" and "Epidemiology and Population Health," focus on healthcare leadership, research, and ethics. Classes are taught at the university's campus in Boston, and you'll participate in clinical rotations at hospitals and clinics like Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Beth Israel Lahey Health.
This program is open to individuals who hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Note that advancement into the MSN part of the program is not automatic. You must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all undergraduate didactic, laboratory, and clinical courses. This program accepts a new cohort each fall, and full-time students will complete the curriculum in three and a half years. However, due to the RN work requirement, it will take them four and a half years before their MSN degree is awarded.
MSN Program Details: Northeastern University's MSN/AGACNP and MSN/AGPCNP tracks both entail 43 credits and 600 hours of supervised patient care. They share a common MSN core curriculum with classes like "Translating Research Evidence into Practice" and "Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice," but the AGACNP specialized curriculum focuses on the nursing care of acute and/or episodic illnesses, while the AGPCNP specialized curriculum focuses on primary nursing care. Courses are taught in classrooms at Northeastern's Boston campus, and clinical rotations are scheduled for healthcare facilities within the Boston Area.
Northeastern accepts new students into its MSN program each fall. Depending upon how many credits you take each semester, you'll complete the program in one to two years. The program accepts BSN-educated applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and a Massachusetts RN license. Professional nursing experience is not required for acceptance into this program, but it is recommended.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Northeastern University's BSN-to-DNP/AGNP tracks aim to prepare RNs with the skills and tools that will help them lead the nursing profession into the next century. The highlight of the 72-credit BSN-to-DNP/ACAGNP and 70-credit BSN-to-DNP/ACPCNP tracks is a five-semester DNP project, a scholarly initiative that focuses on improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes in the clinical setting. Foundational DNP courses include "Health Policy and Law," "Healthcare Finance and Marketing," and "Leadership in Advanced Practice Nursing." You'll be able to access the DNP curriculum online, but you must make four visits to the North Worcester campus every year during the three years it will take you to complete this program as a full-time student.
These two programs also require a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours, which you'll be able to complete at a healthcare facility in your own community. New cohorts join this program in the fall semester. Applicants must have at least two years of professional nursing experience; critical care experience is preferred but not required. Applications must be submitted through NursingCAS.
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study Program Details: Looking to build out your APRN repertoire with a certificate in AG acute care or AG primary care nurse practice? Northeastern University offers AGACNP and AGPCNP certificates for MSN-educated RNs. The curriculum includes a requirement of 600 clinical hours, which can be fulfilled at one of Northeastern University's more than 100 clinical partners throughout Boston and New England. You'll also complete 24 credits of coursework—the same AGACNP or AGPCNP specialty curriculum you'd take if you enrolled in one of Northeastern University's graduate degree programs. The program admits new students in the fall. Full-time students will complete the program in one year; part-time students will complete it in two years.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Northeastern's Goldstein Simulation Lab is a state-of-the-art experiential facility where nursing students learn alongside students from other healthcare schools, as well as with licensed professional healthcare providers.• Boston has some of the top-rated hospitals and medical centers in the world, and Northeastern University's AGNP students get special access to facilities like Mass General, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for clinical rotations and research opportunities.
7. Elms College - Chicopee
Programs Offered: DNP (BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP) and Post Graduate APRN Certificate
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Post Graduate APRN Certificate Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: Elms College's 80-credit BSN-to-DNP/AGACNP track consists of four components: DNP core courses, APRN core courses, AGACNP specialization classes, and clinical practicums. Though much of your education will be delivered using distance learning via the online platform Moodle, you will attend classes on the college's Chicopee campus at regular intervals throughout each semester. Your core DNP courses will include "Research Methods and Translation for Advanced Practice," "Population Health and Epidemiology," and "Leadership and Collaboration in Health Care Organizations."
The hallmark of Elms College's BSN-to-DNP/AGACNP track is a five-semester DNP project that will empower you to delve into a practice issue that affects patient outcomes or healthcare delivery on a large scale. You'll also complete a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours at a hospital or clinic within Elms College's geographic area.
This AGNP program in Massachusetts begins in the fall semester. If you enroll full-time, you can expect to graduate in three years. You also have the option of enrolling part-time and graduating in four years. Applicants must hold RN licensure in Massachusetts.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Have an MSN already? Want to continue on with your education to earn a DNP and become APRN-certified? Elms College's MSN-to-DNP/AGACNP track may be for you. The 70-credit program offers many of the same courses you'd take in the BSN-to-DNP track, including the signature DNP project. You may be able to transfer some of your MSN clinical hours toward the 1,000-hour DNP practicum requirement.
This program is available to MSN-educated nurses who are licensed RNs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It will take part-time students four years to complete the program and full-time students three years. New cohorts are admitted into this program each fall.
Post Graduate APRN Certificate Program Details: Elms College's postgraduate AGACNP certificate is a 37-credit track that consists of six core classes, two didactic specialization courses, and four practicums. However, upon acceptance into the program, the college will conduct a gap analysis to determine how many courses from your previous graduate degree will meet the certificate requirements.
You'll also complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours at healthcare facilities throughout central Massachusetts. Most students can complete the curriculum in a single year. The program starts in the fall.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Elms College is a Catholic institution of higher learning where all are welcome regardless of faith. The college's nursing education evinces its commitment to holistic learning, but Catholic precepts and doctrines are not otherwise reflected in its nursing curricula.• Elms College's AGACNP grads have a 94 percent first-time pass rate on their national nurse practitioner certification examinations.
8. Regis College - Weston
Programs Offered: RN-to-BSN-to-MSN, MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate
RN-to-BSN-to-MSN Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master’s Certificate Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
RN-to-BSN-to-MSN Program Details: Regis College's flexibility is what makes it one of the best AGNP programs in Massachusetts. It offers no fewer than five pathways for earning expertise in either primary or acute adult gerontology nurse practice. The college's RN-to-BSN-to-MSN AGNP degrees are expressly designed for RNs who hold an associate degree in nursing or a hospital diploma. This pathway is offered 100 percent online, except for clinical rotations, and typically takes nine semesters (36 months) to complete. Courses are taught using synchronous technology. You can start this program in the summer, fall, or spring.
You'll complete your BSN requirements with courses like "Concepts and Challenges in Professional Practice" and "Concepts in Nursing Leadership" and continue on to the 46-credit MSN curriculum, where you'll receive your nurse practitioner training. You'll participate in clinical rotations at hospitals and clinics near your home; if your home is in Massachusetts, you can take advantage of Regis College's clinical partnerships with respected healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Boston Area, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Franciscan Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital. This program awards both a BSN degree and an MSN degree.
MSN Program Details: Regis College's MSN/AGACNP and MSN/AGPCNP tracks both comprise 46 credits. Core MSN courses such as "Concepts and Challenges in Professional Practice," "Health Policy, Politics and Perspectives," and "The Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice" will lay a theoretical foundation upon which you'll build the hands-on learning you'll need to develop expertise in primary or acute adult gerontological healthcare. You'll also complete 800 hours of clinical rotations at a healthcare facility in your own community. Apart from practicums, you'll access all your coursework through distance learning.
Regis College accepts new cohorts into this program in the spring, summer, and fall. If you take two courses each semester, you'll graduate in 28 months. You must have a minimum of one year of professional nursing experience in an ICU, ER, or other critical care setting to be eligible for the MSN/AGACNP track.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: You'll learn the same set of clinical skills whether you acquire your AGNP expertise at Regis University through an MSN or a DNP, but the BSN-to-DNP/AGACNP and BSN-to-DNP/AGPCNP tracks will prepare you better for future leadership and managerial roles in healthcare. Both of Regis College's DNP/AGNP tracks require 73 to 76 credits and a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours. Foundational DNP coursework includes classes like "Advanced Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice I & II," "Regulatory Issues: Nurse Leadership," and "Roles and Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing." All coursework is delivered online.
You'll be able to complete your clinical rotations in the area where you already live and work. Regis College offers start dates in the spring, summer, and fall for its BSN-to-DNP/AGACNP and AGPCNP tracks. Depending upon your course load, most full-time students are able to complete this program in three and a half years. To apply to this program, you'll need a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and a valid RN license in the state where you'll be doing practicums. One year or more of professional experience in an acute setting is a must for all BSN-to-DNP/ACAPNP applicants.
MSN-to-DNP Program Details: Regis College's MSN-to-DNP/AGACNP and MSN-to-DNP/AGPCNP tracks comprise 36 credits and 1,000 clinical hours; however, you may be able to transfer some of the clinical hours you accumulated while working on your nursing master's degree towards your DNP practicum requirements. In addition to your specialty concentration, you'll take core DNP courses and complete a DNP project.
You can begin this program in the summer, fall, or spring according to your own needs. You'll graduate in 24 to 36 months, depending upon how many courses you enroll in each semester. This program accepts MSN-educated RNs who are acquiring their first clinical specialty as well as APRNs who want to add a second clinical specialty to their nursing portfolios. AGACNP candidates must have at least one year of experience in critical care.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: Regis College's AGACNP and AGPCNP certificates were developed for graduate-level RNs who want to add a new clinical specialty to their nursing skill set without earning another degree. When you enroll in this program, the college will create an individualized study plan tailored to your academic background and professional experience.
If you're already a nurse practitioner, you can expect to finish the curriculum in 12 months; if this is your first APRN, plan on completing the certificate in 20 months. You can start this program in the spring, summer, or fall.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• While Regis College is a Catholic school, its curriculum is rigorous and grounded in professional nursing standards, and the college admits students from many different religious backgrounds.• Regis College also offers accelerated RN-to-MSN/AGACNP and RN-to-MSN/AGPCNP tracks for nurses who have bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields. You'll complete four bridge courses (15 credits) before proceeding on to the traditional MSN curriculum.
9. Salem State University - Salem
Programs Offered: MSN
MSN Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN Program Details: Salem State University's 42-credit MSN/AGPCNP track is designed for the working nurse. While classes are taught at the university's Salem campus, they're typically offered in the evenings, and many of them include online components. Additionally, all MSN/AGPCNP students enroll part-time. You can expect to complete this program within three years.
Foundational nursing master's courses include "Theoretical Foundations of Nursing," "Research for Evidence-Based Practice," and "Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse." You'll also complete 750 clinical hours at healthcare facilities in Boston and throughout Massachusetts' northern coast, such as Anna Jacques Hospital, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, and the North Shore Medical Center. New cohorts begin this program in the fall semester. Applicants must have an active Massachusetts RN license and at least one year of relevant professional nursing experience.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• Salem State University accepts RNs with ADNs or hospital diplomas as well as RNs with bachelor's degrees in non-nursing fields into its MSN/AGPCNP program.• Salem State University advises MSN/AGPCNP students to reduce their working hours in the final year of the program because that's when students will be dealing with their most intensive practicum requirements.
10. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth - Dartmouth
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study
BSN-to-DNP Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study Specialties Offered: Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: UMass Dartmouth's BSN-to-DNP/AGPCNP track involves 66 credits and 1,008 clinical hours. The program is delivered online, utilizing asynchronous technology, except for clinical rotations and one on-campus visit per semester. Core DNP courses include "Translating Research Evidence to Advance Nursing Practice," "Healthcare Economics and Managing Healthcare Finance," and "Translating Research for Evidence Based Practice I & II." This AGNP program in Massachusetts also requires the completion of a scholarly DNP project in which you'll translate research into an actionable intervention and evaluate the effectiveness of that intervention.
You'll complete your clinical rotations at hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities in Fairhaven, Fall River, New Bedford, and Wareham in Massachusetts and in Providence in Rhode Island. You'll start the program at the beginning of the fall semester. As a full-time student, you'll graduate in three years; if you enroll part-time, you'll graduate in four years.
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study Program Details: Already have a graduate nursing degree and interested in adding an AGPCNP specialty to your scope of practice? The curriculum for UMass Dartmouth's Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certificate consists of 24 credits and 500 hours of supervised patient care. This is an excellent program for working RNs: Courses are taught online using an asynchronous format, and you'll never take more than one class and one practicum per semester. The program spans six semesters (36 months), and coursework begins in the fall semester.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• UMass Dartmouth's AGNP programs are only open to students with RN licenses in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, or New Hampshire.• UMass Dartmouth has a Graduate Admission Program (GAP) that gives RNs with ADNs or hospital diplomas the opportunity to enter the BSN-to-DNP program, provided they can compile a professional portfolio that demonstrates they've achieved BSN-level nursing objectives.
HOW MUCH DO AGNP GRADUATES MAKE IN MASSACHUSETTS?
WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF AGNP PROGRAMS IN MASSACHUSETTS EXPECT?
| Hourly | $52.80 |
| Weekly | $2,112 |
| Monthly | $9,150 |
| Annual | $109,830 |
HOW MUCH CAN GRADUATES OF AGNP PROGRAMS IN MASSACHUSETTS EARN WITH EXPERIENCE?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Entry-Level | $52.80 | $2,112 | $9,150 | $109,830 |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $59.75 | $2,390 | $10,360 | $124,270 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $70.52 | $2,821 | $12,220 | $146,690 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $78.54 | $3,142 | $13,610 | $163,360 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $93.86 | $3,754 | $16,270 | $195,220 |
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AGNP SALARY IN MASSACHUSETTS?
| Hourly | $71.77 |
| Weekly | $2,871 |
| Monthly | $12,440 |
| Annual | $149,280 |
HOW MUCH DO AGNPS EARN IN THE VARIOUS METROS OF MASSACHUSETTS?
| Metro | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Barnstable Town | $70.11 | $2,804 | $12,150 | $145,830 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua | $72.41 | $2,896 | $12,550 | $150,610 |
| Leominster-Gardner | $67.21 | $2,688 | $11,650 | $139,800 |
| New Bedford | $74.27 | $2,971 | $12,870 | $154,480 |
| Pittsfield | $65.70 | $2,628 | $11,390 | $136,650 |
| Springfield | $67.41 | $2,696 | $11,680 | $140,210 |
| Worcester | $72.37 | $2,895 | $12,540 | $150,530 |
AGNP SALARY IN MASSACHUSETTS VS. OTHER SALARIES
AGNP SALARY IN MASSACHUSETTS VS. AGNP SALARY IN THE NATION
| Average Massachusetts AGNP Annual Salary | Average National AGNP Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| $149,280 | $133,190 | +$16,090 | +12.08% |
AGNP SALARY IN MASSACHUSETTS VS. AGNP SALARIES IN OTHER STATES
| State | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| California | $167,450 | -$18,170 | -10.85% |
| Nevada | $154,110 | -$4,830 | -3.13% |
| Washington | $150,720 | -$1,440 | -0.96% |
| New Jersey | $150,340 | -$1,060 | -0.71% |
| Oregon | $150,250 | -$970 | -0.65% |
| Massachusetts | $149,280 | $0 | 0.00% |
| New York | $148,050 | +$1,230 | +0.83% |
| Connecticut | $141,990 | +$7,290 | +5.13% |
| New Mexico | $141,770 | +$7,510 | +5.30% |
| Minnesota | $139,950 | +$9,330 | +6.67% |
| District of Columbia | $139,780 | +$9,500 | +6.80% |
| Rhode Island | $138,340 | +$10,940 | +7.91% |
| Hawaii | $137,460 | +$11,820 | +8.60% |
| Arizona | $137,410 | +$11,870 | +8.64% |
| Delaware | $135,910 | +$13,370 | +9.84% |
| Iowa | $135,610 | +$13,670 | +10.08% |
| New Hampshire | $135,520 | +$13,760 | +10.15% |
| Texas | $134,770 | +$14,510 | +10.77% |
| Wisconsin | $133,020 | +$16,260 | +12.22% |
| Maryland | $132,670 | +$16,610 | +12.52% |
| Utah | $132,500 | +$16,780 | +12.66% |
| North Dakota | $132,430 | +$16,850 | +12.72% |
| Pennsylvania | $132,110 | +$17,170 | +13.00% |
| Illinois | $131,540 | +$17,740 | +13.49% |
| Alaska | $130,790 | +$18,490 | +14.14% |
| Vermont | $130,710 | +$18,570 | +14.21% |
| Montana | $129,200 | +$20,080 | +15.54% |
| Idaho | $129,110 | +$20,170 | +15.62% |
| Oklahoma | $128,880 | +$20,400 | +15.83% |
| Wyoming | $128,080 | +$21,200 | +16.55% |
| Indiana | $127,830 | +$21,450 | +16.78% |
| Maine | $127,440 | +$21,840 | +17.14% |
| Ohio | $127,360 | +$21,920 | +17.21% |
| Colorado | $126,450 | +$22,830 | +18.05% |
| Nebraska | $126,130 | +$23,150 | +18.35% |
| North Carolina | $126,040 | +$23,240 | +18.44% |
| Georgia | $125,580 | +$23,700 | +18.87% |
| South Dakota | $125,410 | +$23,870 | +19.03% |
| Virginia | $125,290 | +$23,990 | +19.15% |
| Michigan | $125,090 | +$24,190 | +19.34% |
| Florida | $124,090 | +$25,190 | +20.30% |
| Kansas | $123,630 | +$25,650 | +20.75% |
| Louisiana | $123,010 | +$26,270 | +21.36% |
| Mississippi | $121,790 | +$27,490 | +22.57% |
| South Carolina | $121,220 | +$28,060 | +23.15% |
| Missouri | $120,950 | +$28,330 | +23.42% |
| West Virginia | $117,600 | +$31,680 | +26.94% |
| Arkansas | $117,560 | +$31,720 | +26.98% |
| Kentucky | $114,410 | +$34,870 | +30.48% |
| Alabama | $114,040 | +$35,240 | +30.90% |
| Tennessee | $107,510 | +$41,770 | +38.85% |
AGNP SALARY IN MASSACHUSETTS VS. OTHER NURSE SALARIES IN MASSACHUSETTS
| Type of Nurse | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Nurse Anesthetist | $272,510 | -$123,230 | -45.22% |
| Nurse Midwife | $154,080 | -$4,800 | -3.12% |
| Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner | $149,280 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Registered Nurse | $108,850 | +$40,430 | +37.14% |
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $87,140 | +$62,140 | +71.31% |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $73,400 | +$75,880 | +103.38% |
| Nursing Assistant | $44,750 | +$104,530 | +233.59% |
AGNP SALARY IN MASSACHUSETTS VS. SALARIES OF OTHER CLOSELY RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Podiatrist | $162,920 | -$13,640 | -8.37% |
| Veterinarian | $162,030 | -$12,750 | -7.87% |
| Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner | $149,280 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Optometrist | $142,680 | +$6,600 | +4.63% |
| Physician Assistant | $132,550 | +$16,730 | +12.62% |
| Pharmacist | $128,580 | +$20,700 | +16.10% |
| Radiation Therapist | $120,240 | +$29,040 | +24.15% |
| Physical Therapist | $99,700 | +$49,580 | +49.73% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $96,910 | +$52,370 | +54.04% |
| Dental Hygienist | $96,410 | +$52,870 | +54.84% |
| Audiologist | $95,510 | +$53,770 | +56.30% |
| Occupational Therapist | $94,340 | +$54,940 | +58.24% |
| Chiropractor | $92,850 | +$56,430 | +60.78% |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits AGNP Programs In Massachusetts?
| S.No. | Accrediting Agency |
| 1 | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) |
| 2 | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) |
2. How Many Accredited AGNP Schools Are There In Massachusetts?
| 10 |
3. On Average, How Much Does An Adult-Gerontology NP Make Per Hour In Massachusetts?
| $71.77 |
4. On Average, How Much Does An Adult-Gerontology NP Make Per Week In Massachusetts?
| $2,871 |
5. On Average, How Much Does An Adult-Gerontology NP Make Per Month In Massachusetts?
| $10,100 |
6. On Average, How Much Does An Adult-Gerontology NP Make Per Year In Massachusetts?
| $12,440 |
7. What Is The Job Outlook For AGNPs In Massachusetts?
| 10-Year Job Outlook (2020-2030) |
| +46.89% |
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPHPattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.
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