Doctor of Nursing Practice

Program Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the University of Vermont prepares nurses for advanced practice, leadership, and systems-level impact in healthcare. Students may pursue preparation for national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), or advance their leadership expertise through the Executive Nurse Leader (ENL) track.

Our program combines rigorous academic preparation with personalized mentorship from expert faculty clinicians and scholars. Small class sizes foster meaningful faculty-student engagement and provide the individualized support needed for success.

Through partnerships with the University of Vermont Health Network, a premier academic medical center, and Appletree Bay Primary Care, our nurse practitioner-led practice, students gain access to high-quality clinical and experiential learning opportunities that support the development of advanced clinical, leadership, quality improvement, and systems-based practice competencies.

Graduates are prepared to improve healthcare outcomes, lead organizational change, translate evidence into practice, and address the complex health needs of individuals, families, communities, and healthcare systems.

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Accreditation

The Baccalaureate degree program in nursing, Master’s of Science degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Vermont are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. The Office of Professional Regulation in the Vermont Secretary of State's office governs Vermont licensure requirements.

Concentrations

• Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP)
• Family nurse practitioner (FNP)
• Executive Nurse Leader (ENL)

Curriculum

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program offers three tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), and Executive Nurse Leader (ENL).

The AGNP track consists of 69.5 credits, while the FNP track consists of 76 credits. Both nurse practitioner tracks are designed as full-time programs that prepare graduates for national certification and advanced clinical practice in primary care.

The FNP and AGNP tracks include advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, advanced physical assessment, and biostatistics. Applicants who have previously completed these courses must have done so within five years of matriculation. Coursework completed more than five years prior to enrollment may not be accepted toward degree requirements, and students may be required to repeat the coursework or otherwise demonstrate current competency as determined by program requirements.

Students in the FNP and AGNP tracks complete 240 DNP Project Practicum hours. When combined with required clinical practicum experiences, graduates meet the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) requirement of a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours for the DNP degree.

The Executive Nurse Leader track consists of 36 credits and may be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis, providing flexibility for working professionals seeking advanced leadership preparation. The curriculum builds upon prior graduate-level coursework in nursing theory, nursing research/evidence-based practice, and healthcare policy.

All Executive Nurse Leader students complete a scholarly DNP Project and are required to complete between 360 and 1,000 DNP Project Practicum hours. The exact number of practicum hours is determined through an individualized gap analysis conducted at the time of admission to ensure each student meets the AACN requirement of a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours for the DNP degree.

Please note that curriculum requirements, course offerings, and plans of study are subject to change. Students should work closely with their academic advisor to ensure timely progression through the program and to stay informed of any updates.

Students enrolled in fewer than 6 credits per semester may experience changes to their financial aid eligibility. Because financial aid packages vary based on individual circumstances, students are responsible for understanding the requirements and implications of their specific financial aid award. Questions regarding aid eligibility should be directed to Student Financial Services.

Curriculum requirements, course offerings, and program requirements are subject to change.  

View sample study plans and current curriculum requirements:

• Adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP) (PDF)
• Family nurse practitioner (FNP) (PDF)
• Executive Nurse Leader (ENL) (PDF)

Deadlines

Program applications are due March 30.

Admissions

Family Nursing Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology tracks:

• Bachelor of Science degree in nursing 
• RN licensure in Vermont prior to initiating coursework
• College grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• Three letters of recommendation
• Prerequisite courses: Basic physical assessment, Statistics 
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required but may be included to complement your application.

Executive Nurse Leader track

• Master of Science degree in nursing
• RN licensure in Vermont prior to initiating coursework
• College grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• Three letters of recommendation
• Prerequisite courses: Nursing theory, Biostatistics, Health Care Policy
• Practice experience preferred.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required but may be included to complement your application.

International students are eligible to receive an I-20 immigration document to participate in this program. However, whether a student has Vermont RN licensure or not to begin the program, UVM is unable to authorize students for nursing employment experiences while in the program as off-campus authorization (CPT) would not be possible because of the curricular structure of our program. While limited on-campus work would be possible, the UVM Medical Center is not an on-campus employment location, so students should expect not to have any paid nursing opportunities if they come to the program as an F-1 student. Post-Graduate OPT would be an option for students completing the program. This program is not on the STEM Designated list and thus not eligible for OPT beyond one year. Further questions can be directed to internationalstudents@uvm.edu.

New York applicants: Due to requirements of the New York Office of the Professions, UVM is restricted from offering clinical placements for licensure programs in the state of New York. Therefore, students from the state of New York or any other state may enroll in the MSN/FNP or FNP/DNP but MAY NOT complete any clinical preceptorships in the state of New York. If students from the state of New York or any other state enroll in these programs, it is with the understanding that all clinical hours MUST be accrued in a state other than New York.

Outcomes

UVM nursing graduates demonstrate a strong record of success, consistently achieving certification pass rates exceeding 95% on both the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) national certification examinations since the program inception.

DNP Project Outcomes

As a DNP student, Natalie Ray worked with her advisor, Dr. Jean Pelski, and Dr. Thomas Delaney, a mental health researcher, on a scholarly project focused on preventing intentional self-harm in adolescents. Her work not only highlights the critical need for effective suicide prevention strategies among adolescents; it also exemplifies the power of academic collaboration in driving impactful change. Her project was selected through a competitive process for presentation at the Suicide Research Symposium—the premiere conference in the US for suicide prevention research and quality improvement—contributing valuable insights that could shape future interventions and save lives, fostering a safer environment for young individuals facing mental health challenges. Read "Advancing Suicide Prevention Through Academic Practice Partnerships" >>

Costs and Funding

Learn more about program costs and financial support options.

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Will courses be online or on campus?

Some courses are available live on campus at set times, while others are provided in a hybrid format with either remote synchronous or asynchronous online delivery. Travel to rural sites requires a car.

How will I know my transcripts and other materials have been received?

UVM will inform you upon the receipt of application materials.

Can international students work while in the program?

International students are eligible to receive an I-20 immigration document to participate in this program. However, whether a student has Vermont RN licensure or not to begin the program, UVM is unable to authorize students for nursing employment experiences while in the Program as off-campus authorization (CPT) would not be possible because of the curricular structure of our program. While limited on-campus work would be possible, the UVM Medical Center is not an on-campus employment location, so students should expect not to have any paid nursing opportunities if they come to the program as an F-1 student. Post-Graduate OPT would be an option for students completing the program. This program is not on the STEM Designated list and thus not eligible for OPT beyond one year. Further questions can be directed to internationalstudents@uvm.edu.