Brenau University offers three nurse practitioner population focuses at its North Atlanta campus in Norcross: family (FNP), psychiatric-mental health (PMHNP), and adult-gerontology acute care (AGACNP). FNP is available as an MSN and a post-master’s certificate; PMHNP and AGACNP are post-master’s certificates only.
Brenau is a private university built around working nurses who study part-time. Three policies shape the decision more than any single specialty detail:
- Certificates are the core. Brenau has no BSN to DNP; most of its NP options are for nurses who already hold a master’s degree.
- Certificate and DNP together. Certificate students can start Brenau’s post-master’s DNP at the same time.
- Campus time differs by track. FNP and PMHNP meet in Norcross monthly, while the AGACNP certificate meets one weekend per semester.
Quick facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | North Atlanta campus, Norcross, GA |
| NP Specialties | FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP |
| Degree Options | MSN (FNP); post-master’s certificate (FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP); post-master’s DNP for APRNs |
| Format | Hybrid (FNP, PMHNP): monthly in-person sessions; Mostly Online (AGACNP): one weekend per semester |
| Clinical Placement | Guaranteed within 100 miles of Gainesville for Georgia residents (AGACNP); coordinator assistance for other tracks |
| Entry Points | BSN (MSN); master’s degree (certificates); certified APRN (AGACNP certificate, DNP) |
| Tuition | $896 per credit (MSN and certificates); $1,425 per credit (DNP), 2026–27 |
| Accreditation | CCNE |
Comparing Brenau’s NP programs
| Pathway | Credits | Clinical hours | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | |||
| MSN | Not published | Not published | 8 semesters part-time |
| Post-master’s certificate | 26 | 624 | 4 semesters part-time |
| Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMHNP) | |||
| Post-master’s certificate | 26* | Not published | 15 months, 4 semesters |
| Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (AGACNP) | |||
| Post-master’s certificate | About 15* | Not published | 2 semesters |
Figures come from Brenau’s program pages. *Brenau’s PMHNP and AGACNP pages do not list credit totals; the PMHNP figure comes from our specialty research, and the AGACNP figure assumes five 3-credit courses. Brenau’s general nursing pages describe NP certificates as four semesters, while the AGACNP page lists two.
What stands out about Brenau’s NP programs
- A guaranteed acute care placement. Georgia residents in the AGACNP certificate get a clinical placement within 100 miles of Gainesville.
- The shortest acute care certificate in Georgia. The AGACNP certificate runs two semesters for APRNs already certified in adult care.
- A doctorate alongside the certificate. Students can begin the DNP while earning a certificate, then finish in as few as three more semesters.
- Certificates without APRN certification. The FNP and PMHNP certificate pages list a master’s degree as the admission requirement.
Which Brenau NP program fits your goal?
- FNP: A first NP degree for BSN nurses, or a certificate for master’s-prepared nurses
- PMHNP: Psychiatric preparation for master’s-prepared nurses, part-time over 15 months
- AGACNP: A fast acute care add-on for APRNs certified in adult care
Family Nurse Practitioner
Clinical hours 624 (certificate) · MSN · Certificate
The MSN-FNP runs eight semesters part-time, combining online coursework with monthly Saturday classes in Norcross. Applicants need a BSN, an active RN license, a 3.0 GPA, undergraduate physical assessment and research courses, two references, and a resume. Brenau does not publish the MSN’s credit or clinical-hour totals, and the page also mentions a 20-month full-time online option without details.
The FNP certificate runs 26 credits and 624 clinical hours over four part-time semesters, with the same monthly Saturday classes.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
15 months · Certificate
The PMHNP certificate takes four part-time semesters, about 15 months. Most courses are online, with monthly in-person weekend intensives in Norcross. Applications for spring 2027 close November 4, 2026.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
2 semesters · Certificate
The AGACNP certificate runs two semesters with one in-person weekend per semester. It is open to any APRN certified to work with adults and requires an MSN or DNP, active RN and APRN licenses, and a 3.0 GPA. Admission is first come, first served.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Brenau’s DNP–Advanced Practice Nurse is post-master’s only and does not itself prepare students for NP certification.
- Length: 37 credits over seven semesters, hybrid in Norcross
- Admission: an MSN, a 3.0 GPA, a statistics course, licensure, and a year of APRN experience
- Concurrent option: FNP, PMHNP, and AGACNP certificate students can start the DNP at the same time
Clinical placement
Placement support differs by track.
- AGACNP: Brenau guarantees a placement within 100 miles of Gainesville for Georgia residents.
- Other tracks: a graduate clinical coordinator helps students find sites, and Brenau says most students practice within 50 miles of campus.
Coordinator help is not a guarantee. Out-of-state AGACNP students and FNP or PMHNP students should ask how placements are arranged before enrolling.
Format and campus requirements
| Program | Format | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| MSN-FNP and FNP certificate | Hybrid | Monthly Saturday classes in Norcross |
| PMHNP certificate | Hybrid | Monthly weekend intensives in Norcross |
| AGACNP certificate | Mostly Online | One in-person weekend per semester |
| DNP–Advanced Practice Nurse | Hybrid | Campus schedule not detailed |
Tuition
Brenau’s 2026–27 rates apply regardless of residency.
| MSN-FNP and NP certificates, per credit | $896 |
| DNP, per credit | $1,425 |
| Innovation and infrastructure fee | 2.5% of tuition |
| University services fee, per semester | $375 |
| Pathway | Credits | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| FNP certificate | 26 | $23,296 |
| PMHNP certificate | 26 | $23,296 |
| AGACNP certificate | About 15 | About $13,440 |
| DNP–Advanced Practice Nurse | 37 | $52,725 |
- Fees add up: the 2.5% fee and $375 per semester add about $2,100 to a four-semester certificate.
- MSN total not estimated: Brenau does not publish the MSN-FNP credit total.
- Stale program pages: some program pages still show $824 per credit from 2025–26.
These are NPPrograms.com estimates built from Brenau’s 2026–27 rates. See Brenau’s tuition page for current figures.
Accreditation
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits Brenau’s baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-master’s certificate programs in nursing. The Georgia Board of Nursing grants full approval. Graduates sit for certification in their population focus.
Who is Brenau best for?
May be a strong fit for
- Adult-care APRNs adding acute care in two semesters
- Georgia residents who want a guaranteed AGACNP placement
- Master’s-prepared nurses adding FNP or PMHNP
- APRNs who want a certificate and DNP together
- North Atlanta nurses who can attend monthly sessions
Compare other options if
- You want a BSN to DNP
- You need public-university tuition
- You cannot travel to Norcross each month (FNP, PMHNP)
- You want AGPCNP or pediatric preparation
- You need published credit and clinical-hour totals before applying
Compare more NP programs in Georgia
- Augusta University - Augusta
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- Mercer University - Atlanta
- South University - Savannah
- Valdosta State University - Valdosta