Doctor of Nursing Practice

Admissions Information

Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is competitive. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review all application requirements, deadlines, and specialty-specific expectations before applying.

The DNP program welcomes applicants with either a BSN or an MSN in nursing. Some specialties are available only to master’s-prepared nurses, so applicants should review the requirements for their intended specialty before applying.

Applying to the DNP program requires two applications:

Submit an application through NursingCAS for admission review to the College of Nursing. If recommended, then:
Applicants must complete an application to the U of A Graduate College through GradApp to complete the DNP admission process.

How to Apply

APPLICATION STEPS

STEP 1: Review Specialty Requirements

Before applying, carefully review the admission requirements, prerequisite coursework, certifications, and RN experience requirements for your intended specialty. Some specialties have additional requirements and may be available only to master’s-prepared nurses. Applicants may apply to only one specialty per application cycle. Please do not submit multiple applications.

STEP 2: Submit NursingCAS Application

All applicants must first apply via NursingCAS, the centralized application service for nursing programs. The College of Nursing uses this application to review applicants for admission consideration to the DNP program. Applicants will be required to submit:

Academic history and transcripts
Professional references
CV/Resume
Specialty-specific documentation
Certifications or licensure information

*The Nurse Anesthesiology (CRNA) application can be found in the appropriate NursingCAS application cycle.

STEP 3: Submit Official Transcripts

Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended must be submitted directly to NursingCAS for verification and must be verified within two weeks of the application deadline. Incomplete or unverified applications will not be reviewed. See NursingCAS Help with Transcripts.

STEP 4: Complete Graduate College App

Applicants recommended for admission by the College of Nursing will receive an email with instructions for completing the U of A Graduate College application through GradApp. Please do not complete the GradApp application until you receive this email. Admission to the DNP program is finalized only after both of the following conditions have been completed successfully:

College of Nursing admission recommendation
Graduate College admission approval.

For application dates and deadlines, see the "Application Timeline" section below.

DEADLINES

Applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their application materials well before the deadline. Because NursingCAS transcript verification and application processing can take time, early submission is strongly recommended.

Applications Open

Nurse Anesthesiology (CRNA): June 1^st
All Other DNP Specialties & Certificates: August 15^th

Application Deadlines

Nurse Anesthesiology: August 1st (11:59 PM EST)

All Other DNP Specialties & Certificates:

Priority Deadline: Applications submitted on or before November 1, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
Applications Accepted: November 2, 2026, through March 1, 2027 (11:59 PM EST)
Final Deadline: March 1, 2027 (11:59 PM EST)

Notification of Admission

Nurse Anesthesiology: End of October

All Other DNP Specialties & Certificates:

Applications Submitted by the Priority Deadline: will be notified of the admissions decision in mid-December.
Any Applications Submitted AFTER the Priority Deadline: will be notified of their admissions decision in mid-April.

Program Start

Nurse Anesthesiology: Summer 2026
DNP Specialties and Certificates: Fall 2026
- Exception - Nurse-Midwifery Certificate, Summer 2026

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review all admission requirements before applying to the DNP program. Some specialties have additional requirements beyond the general admission criteria outlined below.

General Requirements

DEGREE

Applicants must have a degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Accepted degrees for all DNP specialties:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Post-Baccalaureate BSN
- Master of Science in Nursing, Entry to the Profession of Nursing (MS-MEPN)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Post-Master’s DNP and Specialty Certificate Programs:
- Master of Science in Nursing, with an Advanced Practice specialty
Applicants currently enrolled in their advanced-licensure or pre-licensure program may receive conditional admission, pending successful completion of their program before the DNP program begins.

GPA

Applicants must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in nursing coursework for their most recent nursing degree.
See the DNP GPA Calculator for assistance, if needed
NOTE: The Nurse Anesthesia specialty has additional GPA requirements listed below

LICENSURE

All applicants to DNP specialties must hold a current, unencumbered RN license.
Applicants for the Post-Master’s DNP specialty must also hold a current, unencumbered APRN license.
Applicants currently enrolled in an advanced-licensure or pre-licensure program may receive conditional admission, pending receipt of the required license before the end of their first semester in the DNP program.

REFERENCES

Applicants must submit two references from a professional colleague (e.g., a supervisor, faculty, program director, etc.)
The Nurse Anesthesiology specialty requires three references.

TRANSCRIPTS

Applicants must submit transcripts from all postsecondary education institutions
All transcripts must be verified by NursingCAS within 2 weeks of the application deadline. No exceptions.

CV

Applicants must submit their CV in PDF format
Applicants must use the DNP Applicant CV Template.

The DNP graduate nursing program is rigorous and prepares nurses to become Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and for advanced roles in administration. The DNP program builds on the knowledge and skills a nurse has learned in their bachelor’s (BSN) or master’s (MSN) of nursing science program and has continued to develop through clinical practice. The DNP program requires that all students have the equivalent of one year of full-time clinical experience (1,800 hours) prior to the start of their clinical year. The clinical year is full-time (10-14 units) and comprises a rigorous academic course and an immersive clinical training schedule during the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters.

Admission Options:

Full-Time: To be eligible for the full-time option, applicants must have completed at least 1 year (1,800+ hours) of RN experience before submitting their application. Each specialty requires experience in specific areas. See the specialty specifics below. Due to the rigor and pace, full-time students are strongly advised to work fewer than 12 hours per week while enrolled in classes. Full-time students in the Nurse Anesthesiology specialty are strongly advised not to work at all.
Part-Time: The part-time option is available to students who prefer a part-time schedule and to those with fewer than 1,800 RN experience hours at the time of application. With a less rigorous schedule, part-time students are expected to work as an RN for approximately 900 hours per year to accumulate the 1,800 required hours before the start of the DNP clinical year. Part-time students will automatically transition to full-time status during their clinical year, which is the final three semesters of the DNP Program.
**Due to the rigor and required clinical hours of the Nurse Anesthesiology program, there is no part-time option.

Applicants must reside in the United States and hold an unencumbered RN license in the United States.
Complete the online NursingCAS application and University of Arizona Graduate College Application by the international deadline date.
Submit a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 paper-based (PB), 79 internet-based (iBT), or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) composite score of 7 (no subject area below a 6)
Transcripts and Degrees: Submit CGFNS documentation for nursing degrees earned outside of the United States. Please see Transcript Requirements above for complete instructions on submission of international degrees and transcripts

In addition to the DNP requirements above, the Nurse Anesthesiology specialty also requires:

GPA

Applicants must have completed all courses below with a C or better and an overall 3.0 or higher GPA within 10 years of the application deadline
- Chemistry: 1 semester
- Biology: 1 semester
- Human Anatomy and Physiology: 2 semesters
- Statistics: 1 semester
See the DNP-NA GPA Calculator for assistance, if needed

REFERENCES

Applicants must submit a total of three references from professional colleagues

EXPERIENCE

Applicants must have completed at least 1 year (a minimum of 1800 hours) of critical care ICU work within the last 3 years.
- The following experiences will count toward this requirement: coronary, cardiac, burn, medical, surgical, trauma, neuro.
- The following experience will not count toward this requirement: neonatal ICU, emergency room, pediatric ICU.

CERTIFICATIONS

Applicants must have earned the following certifications by the application deadline: ACLS, BLS, PALS, CCRN
ACLS, BLS, and PALS certifications must be issued from the American Heart Association