University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

What to Expect from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

Admission Requirements: The admission requirements for the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences nursing programs vary depending on the degree and specialty.

• BSN-to-DNP: Applicants must hold a BSN degree from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Candidates need to submit official transcripts, proof of an unrestricted registered nurse (RN) license in their state of residence, two professional references from nurse educators, preceptors, or supervisors, and a professional resume demonstrating the equivalent of one full-time year of RN experience. They must also provide a 500-word career goal statement outlining their short-term and long-term objectives. An interview may be required, and international students must demonstrate English language proficiency.
• MSN: Includes two entry points: RN-to-MSN and BSN-to-MSN. RN applicants must have an accredited ADN with a minimum GPA of 2.8, while BSN applicants require a BSN with at least a 2.8 GPA. Additional admission components include official transcripts, proof of an unrestricted RN license, a resume or CV with one year of full-time nursing experience, a career goals essay, and two professional references. Interviews may be requested, and international applicants must meet English proficiency requirements.
• Post-Graduate Nursing Certificate: Requires applicants to have already earned an MSN or DNP degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Candidates must submit official transcripts from all institutions attended, provide proof of current, unrestricted RN or APRN licensure, depending on the certificate specialty and entry path, a professional resume showing one full-time year of RN experience, an essay outlining career goals, and two professional references. An interview may be requested, and international students must meet English proficiency criteria.

All programs require proof of unrestricted licensure. Comprehensive background checks and drug screenings must be passed before program participation. No GRE or other standardized tests are required for admission. Applicants are encouraged to verify state-specific program availability and licensure requirements due to varying state authorizations.

State Restrictions: The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences online NP programs have specific state restrictions due to varying licensure requirements and institutional authorizations.

Currently, the university is authorized to enroll students in its NP programs from numerous states including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Due to restrictions, some states do not permit enrollment in particular programs or specialties until authorization is secured. Prospective and current students are advised to regularly check the university’s state authorization page.

Students must also ensure that clinical placements satisfy their state’s nursing board regulations. The university offers multiple start dates each year and actively supports students in finding clinical preceptors in approved locations.

Study Plan: Designed for working professionals, the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences online NP programs offer flexible and structured study plans. Depending on the entry point and specialty, the duration of study varies. Start dates for all NP programs land in September, January, and May. Midterm entry is also offered for most programs.

The BSN-to-DNP FNP program can be completed in approximately 12 trimesters (around three years and four months). MSN study plans offer two pathways: RN-to-MSN and BSN-to-MSN. RN-to-MSN students usually complete their programs in about 10 to 11 trimesters, while BSN-to-MSN students typically complete in six to nine trimesters. Post-graduate nursing certificate programs are designed to be completed in two to six trimesters, depending on the specialty and entry path (APRNs or non-APRNs).

One campus intensive is required for all programs. All didactic courses are online, and nursing students complete clinicals locally at approved sites.

MSN Curriculum: The master of science in nursing (MSN) program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is structured with two different entry points. For RN-to-MSN students, the FNP track requires 59 credits. The PMHNP and AGNP specialties both require 64 credits. Meanwhile, BSN-entry MSN students in the FNP specialization complete 50 credits; in the PMHNP and AGNP specialties, 55 credits are required. Across all MSN specialties, 754 practicum hours are required.

Core courses for all specializations include interprofessional education and collaborative practice; organizational leadership and policy in healthcare; advanced physiology and pathophysiology; evidence-based practice for nurse leaders; advanced pharmacology; theoretical and scientific underpinning for nursing practice; and advanced health assessment and differential diagnosis.

• FNP Specialty Courses: Interprofessional approaches to regional and global population health; healthcare informatics and technology management; primary health care of the family I-III; FNP role practicum I-III; and an MSN capstone.
• AGNP Specialty Courses: Interprofessional approaches to regional and global population health; healthcare informatics and technology management; adult-gerontology primary health care part I-III; AGNP role practicum I-III; and an AGNP capstone.
• PMHNP Specialty Courses: Advanced psychopharmacology; psychotherapy for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner practice; PMHNP: acute and chronic management of child/adolescent with a psychiatric-mental health condition; PMHNP role practicum I child and adolescent population; PMHNP: acute and chronic management of the adult and older adult with psychiatric-mental health condition; PMHNP role practicum II adult and older adult population; PMHNP role practicum III diverse/special populations; and a PMHNP MSN community engagement capstone project.

BSN-to-DNP Curriculum: The BSN-to-DNP FNP program comprises 71 credits and 1,334 practicum hours. Core courses follow those listed for the MSN and FNP specialty courses. DNP courses include accounting, finance, and economics for the healthcare leader; operations and quality management in healthcare; program/project planning and management for evidence-based practice and policy change; data-driven evaluation and clinical analytics for outcomes improvement; and DNP practicum I-III.

Post-Graduate Certificate Curriculum: Post-Graduate certificate programs cater to MSN or DNP-prepared nurses. The FNP certificate consists of 31 credits. The PMHNP certificate offers two distinct tracks: an APRN-entry requiring 28 credits and a non-APRN-entry requiring 37 credits. Both specialties require 754 practicum hours.

The FNP certificate includes courses such as advanced physiology and pathophysiology; advanced pharmacology; advanced health assessment and differential diagnosis; primary health care of the family I-III; and FNP role practicum I-III.

The PMHNP certificate includes courses such as advanced physiology and pathophysiology; advanced pharmacology; advanced health assessment and differential diagnosis; advanced neurobiology and psychopathophysiology; advanced psychopharmacology; psychotherapy for PMHNP practice; PMHNP: acute and chronic management of child/adolescent with a psychiatric-mental health condition; PMHNP role practicum I child and adolescent population; PMHNP: acute and chronic management of the adult and older adult with psychiatric-mental health condition; PMHNP role practicum II adult and older adult population; and PMHNP role practicum III diverse/special populations.

Online Experience: The USAHS School of Nursing includes asynchronous elements in online coursework and optional synchronous sessions where students connect live with faculty and peers. One required and some optional on-campus immersions are offered for students to practice skills and meet faculty and fellow students face-to-face.

Courses are delivered through Blackboard and may include video components, synchronous and recorded lectures, assignments and projects, and assessments. Further student and faculty interaction takes place through discussion boards, chat, email, online faculty office hours, and other online tools.

Online students have access to various student services, including academic advising, career counseling, clinical placement services, technical support, and library and bookstore services.

On-Site Requirements: Except for the PMHNP programs, where students may attend intensives virtually (online), NP programs require students to come to the San Marcos, CA campus for one intensive in the Center for Innovative Clinical Practice. Additional optional campus immersions are offered to accelerate course completion. All other coursework is delivered online, while clinical preceptorships occur at approved locations near the student.