The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing offers five nurse practitioner population focuses: family (FNP), adult-gerontology primary care (AGPCNP), adult-gerontology acute care (AGACNP), pediatric primary care (PNP-PC), and pediatric acute care (PNP-AC).
UAB builds every specialty the same way. Each is available as an MSN, a BSN-to-DNP, and a Post-Graduate APRN Certificate, with the same credit totals, semester lengths, and tuition rate. All NP tracks are part-time and Mostly Online: online coursework plus required on-campus intensives in Birmingham.
Two policies set UAB apart from most public universities:
- One tuition rate for everyone. Distance students pay $744 per credit whether or not they live in Alabama.
- School-assisted clinical placement. UAB helps students find sites and preceptors through more than 5,000 clinical affiliates.
The main limit is geography. UAB’s NP tracks are closed to residents of a number of states.
Quick facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Nursing School | School of Nursing |
| Location | Birmingham, AL |
| NP Specialties | FNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC |
| Degree Options | MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate in all five; Post-MSN to DNP |
| Format | Mostly Online, part-time only |
| Campus Visits | MSN: intensives. DNP: orientation plus an annual intensive |
| Clinical Placement | School-assisted; not guaranteed |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 |
| Entry Points | BSN for MSN and DNP; MSN plus APRN certification for the certificate |
| Cost per Credit | $744 (2026-27), residents and non-residents alike |
| Start Terms | MSN and DNP: summer or fall. Certificate: summer only |
| Accreditation | CCNE; SACSCOC institutional |
Comparing UAB’s NP programs
All five specialties use the same pathway structure, so the pathway you choose drives credits, length, and cost more than the specialty does.
| Pathway | Credits | Length | Start Terms | Est. Tuition + Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSN | 45 | 6–7 semesters | Summer, fall | ~$36,535 |
| BSN-to-DNP | 79 | 9–10 semesters | Summer, fall | ~$64,416 |
| Post-Graduate APRN Certificate | 27 minimum | 4 semesters | Summer only | ~$21,733+ |
| Post-MSN to DNP (no new specialty) | 43 | 7 semesters | Fall | ~$35,282 |
On the cost column: these are estimates, not UAB-published program costs. They use the 2026-27 rate of $744 per credit plus the $235 per-course fee. For the MSN and DNP, fall entrants finish one semester sooner than summer entrants.
The specialties differ in population focus and in who can apply:
| NP Specialty | MSN | BSN-to-DNP | Certificate | Specialty-Specific Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNP | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | None beyond general admissions |
| AGPCNP | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | None beyond general admissions |
| AGACNP | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | None; optional RNFA subspecialty |
| PNP-PC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | None beyond general admissions |
| PNP-AC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | One year of full-time pediatric RN experience |
UAB states practicum requirements in credit hours. It does not publish clinical clock-hour totals for any NP track.
What stands out about UAB’s NP programs
- Every specialty at every level. Any of the five population focuses can be earned as an MSN, a BSN-to-DNP, or a certificate, including pediatric acute care.
- Residency does not change tuition. An out-of-state student pays the same $744 per credit as an Alabama resident. UAB is a regional or national option, but only in states where it is authorized.
- Placement assistance, not a guarantee. The School of Nursing supports site and preceptor placement, but the process varies by clinical agency.
- Part-time in a fixed sequence. Courses run once a year in a set order. A failed or deferred course costs a full year, not a term. There is no full-time or accelerated option.
- Surgical subspecialty for acute care. AGACNP students can add a 9-credit RN First Assist (RNFA) subspecialty.
Which UAB NP program fits your goal?
- FNP: Primary care across the lifespan, covering pediatric, adult, and older adult patients
- AGPCNP: Primary care for adolescents and young adults through older adults
- AGACNP: Acute and critical care for adults and older adults, with an optional surgical first assist add-on
- PNP-PC: Pediatric primary care in ambulatory and community settings
- PNP-AC: Pediatric acute and complex care across inpatient, emergency, critical care, and subspecialty settings
Family Nurse Practitioner
Credits 45 / 79 / 27+ · MSN · BSN-DNP · Certificate
UAB offers FNP preparation through the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner, the BSN-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner, and the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate. FNP is UAB’s only lifespan specialty. The clinical sequence covers pediatric, adult, and elderly populations.
The MSN spends its first year on the APRN core: advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, advanced health assessment, evidence-based practice, population health, and leadership. Specialty work begins with NFH 618L, Focus on Advanced Nursing Practice Specialization. Three paired terms follow, each pairing an Advanced Family Nursing course with a practicum:
- Practicum I: care delivery across age groups
- Practicum II: diagnostic and management skills
- Practicum III: evidence-based management of chronic and complex conditions
FNP preceptors must be a certified nurse practitioner or a physician.
The practical difference: FNP is the broadest scope UAB offers, but it has no acute care component. Nurses who want hospital-based practice should compare the AGACNP or PNP-AC tracks.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
Credits 45 / 79 / 27+ · MSN · BSN-DNP · Certificate
AGPCNP is available as the MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, the BSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, and the Post-Graduate APRN Certificate. The population runs from adolescents and young adults through older adults. Practicum placements are adult-only; AGPCNP students may not see pediatric patients.
The MSN splits into 18 credits of NP core and 27 credits of AGPCNP specialty coursework. After the NAH 618QL specialization course, students take three paired terms, each combining an Advanced Primary Adult-Gerontology Nursing course (NAH 621Q–623Q) with a practicum. UAB publishes no minimum RN experience requirement for AGPCNP admission.
Graduates are prepared to apply for national AGPCNP certification through AANPCB or ANCC.
This pathway is most relevant to nurses who want primary care practice limited to adults. Nurses who want pediatric patients in scope should choose FNP.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
Credits 45 / 79 / 27+ · MSN · BSN-DNP · Certificate
UAB offers AGACNP as an MSN, a BSN-DNP, and a Post-Graduate APRN Certificate, with the same credit structure as the other specialties. Course details are in the UAB graduate catalog.
After the shared APRN core, the specialty sequence opens with NCA 618L, Focus on Practice Specialization. Three paired terms follow, each combining an Advanced Adult/Gerontology Nursing, Acute Care course (NCA 621–623) with a practicum. Practica are supervised by acute and critical care advanced practice providers.
No acute care experience requirement. UAB publishes no RN experience minimum for the AGACNP MSN, DNP, or certificate. Applicants can enter without ICU or emergency department time.
RNFA subspecialty. AGACNP students can add a 9-credit RN First Assist subspecialty for perioperative practice:
- Courses: NFA 620 Surgical Techniques, plus NFA 621 and NFA 622 Advanced Perioperative Nursing
- Added cost: an estimated $7,401 in tuition and fees
- References: two of three must attest to RN experience and perioperative patient care skills
Graduates are eligible for the ANCC AGACNP-BC and AACN ACNPC-AG exams.
UAB runs both pediatric population focuses at all three credential levels. The two tracks share an identical core, so the MSN’s first year is the same either way. Applicants still choose a specialty at application.
Pediatric Primary Care
Credits 45 / 79 / 27+ · MSN · BSN-DNP · Certificate
Pediatric primary care is available as the MSN Pediatric Primary Care NP, the DNP Pediatric Primary Care NP, and the certificate. The specialty block pairs three courses (NPE 621Q–623Q, Nurse Practitioner Pediatric Primary Care I–III) with three practica. Clinical work takes place in ambulatory and community pediatrics, supervised by pediatric primary care providers.
This track has no experience requirement beyond general admissions. Graduates are prepared for the PNCB CPNP-PC exam.
Pediatric Acute Care
Credits 45 / 79 / 27+ · MSN · BSN-DNP · Certificate
Pediatric acute care is available as the MSN Pediatric Acute Care NP, the DNP Pediatric Acute Care NP, and the certificate. NCC-prefixed acute care courses replace the primary care sequence. They focus on acute and chronic complex health problems across acute care settings, and practica are supervised by pediatric acute care providers.
Experience requirement. Applicants need at least one year of full-time RN experience in direct pediatric care by the start of the first semester. Qualifying settings include pediatric urgent care, emergency departments, specialty clinics, inpatient floors, intermediate care, and critical care units. UAB encourages two of the three references to come from pediatric supervisors or providers.
Applicants should pay particular attention to the timing. The requirement is measured at program start, not at application. A nurse can apply while still building pediatric experience, as long as the full year is complete by the first semester.
Graduates are prepared for the PNCB CPNP-AC exam.
MSN or DNP?
The BSN-to-DNP requires 34 more credits than the MSN, but it adds no specialty content. Both degrees use the same three-course specialty and practicum sequence and lead to the same certification eligibility.
The extra DNP credits cover doctoral coursework: nursing theory and scholarly writing, health policy, health information technology, quality improvement and program evaluation, clinical data management, a DNP project with planning and a two-term seminar, and writing for publication. Specialty courses begin in the summer of year two, and the clinical sequence runs in year three. UAB revised its BSN-DNP curriculum effective summer 2025; students already enrolled keep their original plan of study.
The practical difference: the DNP adds about $27,900 in estimated tuition and fees, three to four extra semesters, and an annual trip to Birmingham. Nurses who want NP certification without a doctorate reach the same exam through the MSN.
Post-MSN to DNP. Nurses who already hold an MSN and APRN certification can complete the doctorate through UAB’s Post-MSN to DNP:
- 43 credits across seven semesters, with fall entry
- Adds no NP specialty and does not prepare students for a new certification exam
- Requires evidence of 500 advanced practice practicum hours
- APRN certification must be earned before completing 12 credit hours
Clinical placement
UAB states that the School of Nursing supports MSN and DNP students in securing clinical sites and qualified preceptors, drawing on more than 5,000 clinical affiliates. Placement is not guaranteed, and the process varies by site. Some agencies ask the School of Nursing to arrange placement. Others expect students to approach preceptors directly.
Students complete practica where they live, not in Birmingham. Every placement follows the same rules:
- Preceptor match: a board-certified or board-eligible NP, MD, or DO in the student’s population focus
- Approval: an approved Preceptor Planning Form before the practicum begins
- Licensure: an unencumbered RN license in the state where the practicum takes place
For students outside Alabama, the affiliate network may be thinner in their area. Ask UAB about site availability in your metro area before enrolling.
Format and campus requirements
Every NP track is part-time and delivered online, including synchronous class sessions. All tracks require some travel to Birmingham.
- MSN: on-campus orientation and intensives. UAB does not publish how many intensives or how long they last. Students also complete an Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation, on campus or virtually.
- BSN-to-DNP: on-campus orientation plus an annual intensive each year of enrollment. UAB budgets about $800 a year for travel and lodging.
- Certificate: UAB describes asynchronous and synchronous distance coursework. The certificate page does not list an intensive requirement the way the MSN and DNP pages do.
Faculty may also require a campus visit if a clinical concern arises.
Admissions
Requirements for the MSN and BSN-to-DNP are shared across all five specialties:
- Degree: BSN from a regionally accredited institution and a CCNE- or CNEA-accredited nursing program
- GPA: 3.0 cumulative, or 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours
- Testing: GRE (297 combined verbal and quantitative) or GMAT (480) if GPA is below 3.2, with scores from the past five years
- Test waiver: available with a prior graduate degree and a 3.0 GPA; international, non-native English speaking, and dual-degree applicants are not eligible
- References: three professional letters
- Transcripts: official transcripts from every college attended
- License: unencumbered RN license in the state of clinical practicum
- Statistics: a descriptive statistics course equivalent to UAB’s MA 180, completed before starting
- DNP only: resume or CV
- Visas: F-1 and J-1 visa holders are not eligible
Deadlines: October 8, 2026 for summer 2027 entry; February 11, 2027 for fall 2027 entry.
Specialty exceptions: PNP-AC requires one year of full-time pediatric RN experience by program start. The RNFA subspecialty requires two of three references to attest to perioperative skills.
This matters because of the testing rule. Applicants with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.2 and no prior graduate degree must take the GRE or GMAT and meet a minimum score.
Post-graduate certificate eligibility
The Post-Graduate APRN Certificate is for practicing APRNs adding a population focus. It is not an entry route into advanced practice.
- MSN from a regionally accredited institution
- Current APRN certification and licensure
- 3.0 graduate GPA
- Summer entry only. The summer 2027 deadline is October 8, 2026.
A nurse without an existing APRN credential should apply to the MSN instead.
Gap analysis. The published plan is 27 credits of specialty coursework. After admission, UAB reviews prior coursework against six 3-credit core courses: leadership, population health, evidence-based practice, advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and pharmacology. Any course that does not meet UAB’s standard is added. A full add-back raises the certificate to 45 credits, the same as the MSN.
Pharmacology currency rule. Pharmacology must have been completed within two years of starting specialty coursework, unless the applicant is a practicing NP who can show current prescribing in the new population. APRNs with older pharmacology coursework who are not prescribing in that population should expect the course to be added.
Financial aid. Certificate students are non-degree students and may not qualify for financial aid or scholarships.
Tuition
For 2026-27, UAB charges $744 per credit for distance-accessible graduate nursing coursework. The rate is the same for Alabama residents and non-residents, and applies to MSN, DNP, and certificate students. A $235 Educational Support and Technology Fee is charged per course.
| Distance-accessible tuition per credit (all residencies) | $744 |
| Educational Support and Technology Fee (per course) | $235 |
| Books and supplies (per term, estimate) | $600 |
| Background check (per year) | $92 |
| Student health insurance (per month, waivable) | $270 |
| DNP intensive travel and lodging (per year, estimate) | $800 |
2026-27 rates and UAB cost estimates. See UAB’s detailed tuition and fees page for current figures.
Estimated tuition and fees by pathway:
| Pathway | Tuition | Course Fees | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSN (45 credits, 13 courses) | $33,480 | $3,055 | ~$36,535 |
| BSN-to-DNP (79 credits, 24 courses) | $58,776 | $5,640 | ~$64,416 |
| Certificate (27 credits minimum, 7 courses) | $20,088 | $1,645 | ~$21,733+ |
| Post-MSN to DNP (43 credits) | $31,992 | $3,290 | ~$35,282 |
| RNFA subspecialty add-on (9 credits) | $6,696 | $705 | ~$7,401 |
These are estimates calculated from the published rate and fee, not UAB-published program costs. Each gap-analysis course added to a certificate adds about $2,232 in tuition plus the course fee.
The Board of Trustees sets tuition annually. A nine- or ten-semester DNP will likely cross several rate changes, so treat these estimates as a floor.
Accreditation and certification
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits UAB’s baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs, with accreditation running through June 30, 2030. The Alabama Board of Nursing approves the School of Nursing, and UAB is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC.
Because the certificate program is itself CCNE-accredited, certificate completers meet the accredited-program requirement for national certification in their new specialty.
State authorization
UAB can admit NP applicants only if they live in Alabama or in a state where both UAB and the School of Nursing are authorized to operate. The NP tracks are closed to residents of more than a dozen states, including California. Restrictions vary by program, so a state can be open to some UAB nursing programs and closed to every NP track.
Check UAB’s state authorization page before applying.
Who is the University of Alabama at Birmingham best for?
May be a strong fit for
- Nurses in authorized states who want to choose among five NP population focuses at one school
- Out-of-state nurses who want public-university tuition without a non-resident premium
- Pediatric nurses with at least a year of bedside experience who want pediatric acute care at the MSN, DNP, or certificate level
- Nurses without ICU or emergency department experience who want adult-gerontology acute care preparation
- AGACNP applicants interested in perioperative practice through the RNFA subspecialty
- Working nurses who want a part-time schedule and help finding clinical placements
- Practicing APRNs adding a second population focus who meet the certificate’s pharmacology currency rule
Compare other options if
- You live in a state where UAB’s NP tracks are closed
- You want to finish quickly through full-time study
- You cannot travel to Birmingham for intensives, or for annual DNP intensives
- You need a guaranteed clinical placement rather than school assistance
- You want to compare programs by published clinical clock hours
- You want pediatric acute care but will not have a full year of pediatric RN experience by program start
- You are a certificate applicant who cannot start in summer
Compare more NP programs in Alabama
- University of South Alabama - Mobile