Doctor of Nursing Practice

Program Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at UVM equips you for national certification as a nurse practitioner, offering Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) or Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) tracks. You'll benefit from personalized attention by expert faculty clinicians and small class sizes, ensuring the support necessary for success. Our dedication to diversity and inclusion fosters a welcoming educational atmosphere, complemented by our collaboration with a premier Academic Medical Center and NP led Appletree Bay Primary Care, providing you with essential hands-on clinical experience. 

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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)

Curriculum

The program comprises 69.5 to 76 credit hours of coursework, 800 to 870 hours of clinical experience, and an additional 240 practicum hours related to the D.N.P. project.

A student with a bachelor's degree in nursing may complete the program in three calendar years. A full-time student who has a master's degree in nursing can expect to earn the degree in approximately two calendar years. Nurses with a master's degree in nursing may advance to a postgraduate D.N.P. degree, specializing in primary care or executive nurse leadership.

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Program*

Semester 1 Courses

• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Advanced Health Assessment
• Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Semester 2 Courses

• Optimizing Health and Management of Community Health Issues
• Practicum in Optimizing Health and Management of Community Health Issues
• Advanced Neuropharmacology
• Fundamentals of Critical Inquiry

Semester 3 Courses

• Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
• Healthcare Ethics
• Policy and Politics in Healthcare

Semester 4 Courses

• Advanced Nursing Practice for Older Adults
• Practicum in Nursing for Older Adults
• Professional Role Development
• Advanced Topics in Health Informatics

Semester 5 Courses

• Management of Gendered Healthcare in Women
• Practicum in Women's Gender Specialty
• Healthcare Quality
• Genetics for Clinicians
• DNP Project & Seminar I

Semester 6 Courses

• Population-Based Health for Advanced Practice Nursing
• DNP Project Practicum I: Immersion Practicum

Semester 7 Courses

• Management of Acute and Common Health Conditions in Primary Care
• Acute and Common Health Conditions AGNP Practicum
• Organization, Delivery, and Financing of Healthcare
• DNP Project and Seminar II
• DNP Project Practicum II

Semester 8 Courses

• Management of Chronic and Complex Conditions in Primary Care
• Practicum: Chronic and Complex Conditions, Leadership in Healthcare Systems
• DNP Project and Seminar III
   

Total Credits: 69.5

Total Clinical Hours: A minimum of 1000 direct and indirect clinical practice hours.

Upon program completion, graduates are eligible to sit for the national APRN certification exam. Specific requirements are detailed in the UVM Course Catalog, relevant to the catalog year. Academic standards are outlined in the Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Family Nurse Practitioner Program*

Semester 1 Courses

• Advanced Pathophysiology
• Advanced Pharmacology
• Advanced Health Assessment
• Biostatistics & Epidemiology

Semester 2 Courses

• Optimizing Health & Management of Community Health Issues
• Practicum: Health & Community Health Issues Management
• Advanced Neuropharmacology
• Pediatric Concepts for APRNs
• Fundamentals of Critical Inquiry

Semester 3 Courses

• Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
• Health Care Ethics, Policy, and Politics

Semester 4 Courses

• Primary Care Management of Children and Adolescents
• Practicum: Children and Adolescents Primary Care
• Advanced Nursing Practice for Older Adults
• Professional Role Development
• Advanced Health Informatics Topics

Semester 5 Courses

• Women's Gendered Health Care Management
• Practicum: Women's Gender Specialty
• Quality in Health Care
• Genetics for Clinicians
• DNP Project & Seminar I

Semester 6 Courses

• Population-Based Health in Advanced Nursing Practice
• DNP Project Practicum I
• Immersion Practicum

Semester 7 Courses

• Primary Care Management of Acute & Common Health Conditions
• Practicum: FNP Acute & Common Conditions
• Health Care Organization, Delivery, and Financing
• DNP Project & Seminar II
• DNP Project Practicum II

Semester 8 Courses

• Chronic & Complex Conditions Primary Care Management
• Practicum: Chronic & Complex Conditions
• Health Care Systems Leadership
• DNP Project & Seminar III

Total Credits: 76

Total Clinical Hours: Minimum of 1000 direct and indirect clinical practice hours

*Curriculum subject to change.

Upon program completion, Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) graduates are eligible for the national Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) certification exam. Specific requirements are detailed in the UVM Course Catalog, based on the catalog year. Academic standards are outlined in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Nursing Graduate Student Handbook.

Deadlines

Program applications are due April 1.

Admissions

• Bachelor's 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

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.

Direct Entry Program in Nursing (DEPN)

The Direct Entry Program in Nursing (DEPN) is an accelerated, alternative-entry program is for those who have not graduated from a nursing program, and who hold a baccalaureate or higher degree in another field. Upon successful completion of the accelerated pre-RN licensure year, students complete the national examination for RN licensure (NCLEX) and continue into the MS- CNL or the DNP- Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track. A certificate of completion is awarded for the successful completion of the pre-licensure year. A BS degree is not conferred.  It is not a stand-alone accelerated RN program. Year 1 includes 36.5 credits and 810 clinical hours of full-time, year-round coursework to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam and gain registered nurse licensure in the State of Vermont.

Outcomes

NCLEX Pass Rates

In 2024, UVM nursing graduates attained a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN, significantly surpassing the national average of 87%, and also exceeded a 95% pass rate on the FNP and AGNP certification exams.

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.