(PMG)
Application Deadlines
Admission to the DNP program is once per year, starting in August for the Fall semester. For example, applying by the January 15 or March 15 deadline means applying to start that following August.
Post-Master’s General (PMG)
Applications Open: August 15
Priority Deadline: January 15
Final Deadline: March 15
Applying by the priority deadline ensures that a decision will be awarded to applicants within 2 months.
Additional spots and decisions are possible after the final deadline.
Admission Requirements
Education Requirements
- Post-master’s General DNP applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or another field AND:
- A master’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
OR - A graduate nurse anesthesia degree from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
OR - A graduate nurse-midwifery degree from a program accredited by the American College of Nurse Midwives Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education
- A master’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher in a bachelor’s, and if applicable, master’s program
- Official transcripts from all previous college work
Practice & Professional Requirements
- 1 year of full-time nursing practice preferred
- International students are strongly encouraged to have working experience in the field of nursing in the US
- Students must hold a current, unencumbered RN license in each state or United States territory where practice or clinical experiences occur.
- Vancouver DNP Students: Every effort is made to place you in a location which is convenient to you with a schedule that works with your current schedule; however, travel and adjustments to your schedule are often necessary. If you live in the greater Vancouver/Portland area, it is highly recommended that you hold a current and active license in both Oregon and Washington to open placement opportunities.
International Students
International students are eligible to apply if they are eligible to obtain a current, unencumbered RN license in each state or United States territory where practice or clinical experiences occur. International applicants must meet the Application Requirements for International Students.
Required Documentation & Interview
- Your NursingCAS application will require the following documents by uploading them into the application:
- Updated professional CV/Resume
- Copy of RN License (optional)
- Applicants who have attended a previous graduate nursing school or another health-related profession school must have a letter submitted from that school that includes a statement regarding the student’s standing at the previous school. Applicants who have been previously dismissed from a program or who are not in good standing will not be considered for admission. Admission will not be considered for anyone who earned a “NC”, or ”C” in any two graduate nursing courses or a “D”, “F”, “WD” or “WF” in any graduate nursing course.
- Note that a virtual interview through Kira Talent will be done online as part of the application process.
You will also be asked for additional items, so we encourage you to assemble these in advance:
- Determine three references willing to provide a recommendation for you
- The reference will discuss your leadership, academic standards, and skills as they pertain to your primary interest area.
- You will need to provide names and emails of your references on your application. We recommend (but do not require) your references include a current or past faculty member in a nursing program you attended and two professionals from a work setting (head nurse, provider, NP/PA etc.).
- Your references will be contacted directly by CAS via email after you have saved their information to your application. Each reference will receive instructions for submitting their recommendation online. CAS requires you to add a Due Date for the reference, please make this due date within one week of adding them your application.
- Prepare a document responding to the prompt of: In 500 words or less, describe a situation and reflect on how it changed your understanding of the social determinants of health, and influenced your practice. Include a minimum of 2 scholarly citations in APA format to support your response. You will upload this document into the interview system if you are offered an interview.
Program Requirements
Technical Standards
Nursing education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of skills and professional attitudes and behaviors.
Graduate Clinical Passport Requirements
The College of Nursing calls the combination of proof of licensure, immunizations, required trainings (e.g. CPNW Modules), and certifications (e.g., CPR) the “Clinical Passport.”
Required Courses
Select a plan below based on the program you’re interested in to see an example of how the program might look for you.
| Program | Plan 1 (shorter) | Plan 2 (longer) |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Master’s General | 5-semester Sample | 8-semester Sample |
Program Outcomes
The Mission of the DNP program is to prepare nurse leaders who are experts in evidence-based practice to provide the highest quality health care for patients, families, communities, and populations.
General DNP Outcomes
At the conclusion of the program, the DNP graduate will be able to:
- Apply biophysical, psychosocial, behavioral, sociopolitical, cultural, economic, and nursing science to improve health care practice and delivery systems. (DNP Essentials I, V, and VIII)
- Analyze organizational structure, functions and resources to improve the delivery of care. (DNP Essential II)
- Translate evidence-based research into practice to improve health care delivery and outcomes for all. (DNP Essential III)
- Use information systems/technology to support and improve patient care and health care systems. (DNP Essential IV)
- Advocate for the nursing profession through the development, implementation and evaluation of health care policy. (DNP Essential V)
- Collaborate with other health professionals to improve health care access and health outcomes for individuals and populations. (DNP Essential VI)
- Advocate for ethical policies and practice that prevent illness, promote health and social justice, and reduce disparities for patient populations in urban, rural, and global settings. (DNP Essential V, VII)
- Apply advanced knowledge and skills within an area of specialized nursing practice. (DNP Essential VIII)
Students who are adding a specialty will also meet the outcomes of their specialty track:
Paying for the Program
What does it cost to attend the program?
Visit the WSU Student Financial Services website for information on tuition and expenses at the program and campus level.
How much does it cost to apply?
Nursing CAS itself will cost approximately $55. Applicants who are invited to the final step of an interview will be charged approximately $15 in Kira Talent fees.
What support can I get with financial aid?
Please see our Financial Aid page for information on scholarships.
What is the Border Bill as it relates to WSU?
The State of Washington’s Border Bill is a program that allows Oregon residents who live in specified counties to attend WSU Vancouver and/or WSU Tri-Cities part-time (8 credits or less per semester) and pay resident tuition rates for the courses taken through these 2 WSU campuses ONLY. More information is below after the pricing table.
What is the WRGP program as it relates to WSU?
The DNP program is now part of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) which allows students living in a 16-state region to utilize in-state tuition. There are some criteria to be aware of for utilizing the WRGP:
- The College of Nursing credit requirement for the WRGP is 9+ for Spring and Fall semesters and 5+ credits for summer.
- The College of Nursing automatically enrolls qualifying students in WRGP.
For further information about the Border Bill or WRGP, contact a graduate advisor.
| Item | *Amount | Expense Occurs | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Service & Activities Fee included in tuition with slight campus variation) | Academic Year 2024-2025: $1,180 per credit. The PMG program is approximately 34 credits, putting the total at approximately $40,120. | Beginning of each semester | Note that some campuses may have additional fees as well on top of tuition. |
| Books | $500 over the course of your degree | Throughout program | Book costs for the whole program are approximately $500 |
Course and Program Fees | $2,000 over the course of your degree | Throughout program | Fee costs for the whole program are approximately $2,000. Course registration will provide details on which courses have fees and what that amount is. Course fees pay for simulation materials, skills technologies, and membership in WIN |
| Immunization and Onboarding requirements | $15: liability insurance $140: CastleBranch Account Varies: Immunizations | Required prior to first semester | Some immunizations are also required annually, and pricing will vary depending on individual health plan. |
| Health Fee (Spokane and Yakima students) | $100 | Beginning of each semester | Charged to students enrolled for seven or more credit hours in Fall and Spring, and 1 or more in Summer. Tri-Cities & Vancouver students are not charged this campus fee. |
| Personal budgeting | Computer needs | If you do not already have a computer, one option is this agreement between WSU and Dell. |
AACN Fee Waivers
- The applicant can only qualify based on either income or service.
- The applicant is only able to apply for one fee waiver per application cycle.
- The waiver counts only for the applicant’s first application, if the applicant completes applications for additional schools and/or programs, they must pay the fees associated with those applications.
- The fee waiver form must be completed before the application is fully submitted.
- The fee waiver form can take up to 10 days to process, so the applicant must keep this timeframe in mind when applying. The application may not be fully submitted until a fee waiver decision has been made. If the decision falls outside the application deadline, the applicant will not be able to submit their application.
- If the waiver is approved, the application must be submitted within 30 days of approval or the waiver will be void.
For more information, including additional qualification requirements and how to apply, please visit the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center Fees and Fee Waiver page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which WSU College of Nursing campus sites offer the DNP program?
The DNP program is offered at WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, WSU Vancouver, and Yakima. If you live outside of these locations and are interested in the DNP program, contact the graduate program coordinator for more information.
Is the PMG program offered online?
The program is considered “hybrid” with most of the instruction offered online. Most DNP courses have 5 synchronous Zoom class sessions per semester that can be attended from the student’s home – a reliable internet connection and a non-distracting environment are essential.
Some Nurse Practitioner courses will meet in-person on the campus of registration. Details are provided to students in advance if that is an expectation.
Class sessions typically are block-scheduled in a 1-2 day block (for example one of the class sessions might be scheduled Monday/Tuesday.) These blocked days may vary each semester.*
*Some nurse practitioner courses require labs or intensives that are scheduled separately from typical block scheduling.
How are classes delivered?
Class sessions are delivered by two-way, fully interactive videoconferencing, allowing for maximum interaction with the instructor and students from all participating campus sites.
Can I complete my clinical hours where I work?
Clinical/practicum hours in the workplace follow strict requirements. You may complete clinical hours within the organization where you’re employed but not within the same unit or the same supervisory area, and no reimbursement may be given for practicum hours.
What is the difference between “direct-care” and “non-direct care” practicum hours?
Direct-care practicum hours are clinical experiences where nurse practitioner students are working directly with individual patients to provide health care in a clinical setting. Non-direct care practicum hours are leadership experiences or DNP project work that may involve healthcare organizations, community members, or patient populations but the student is not providing direct patient care. DNP students must have 1,000 hours of practicum experiences. For nurse practitioner students, these will be divided between direct-care and non-direct care practicum hours per our national guidelines for advanced practice nursing certification and the DNP degree. For non-nurse practitioner DNP tracks, these will be composed of non-direct care practicum hours.
Where can I complete my clinical/practicum hours?
Practicum hours must be completed in the vicinity of the campus of registration. WSU has clinical placement coordinators who place nurse practitioner students for direct-care practicum experiences, but DNP students must establish their own sites and preceptors for non-direct care practicum experiences. This gives students the opportunity to maximize their networking skills and existing professional connections to find a DNP project that aligns with their professional goals.
What is a DNP Project?
A hallmark of the DNP-prepared nurse is the ability to utilize the concept of practice inquiry to translate meaningful health research into practice. Students learn this process through the completion of a DNP project. Students investigate an area of nursing practice, the health care delivery system, or a health care policy issue to develop a project meaningful to the organization as well as one that meets the scope of doctoral level work. DNP projects may take the form of quality improvement, evidence-based practice, program evaluation, or policy change projects.
About the
Post-Masters Nurse Practitioner Track
This program typically includes coursework in advanced nursing practice, healthcare policy and advocacy, evidence-based practice, healthcare leadership, and research methods. It may also involve a clinical component where students can apply their learning in real-world healthcare settings.
Upon completion of a PM-DNP program, graduates are awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, which is a terminal practice-focused degree that prepares nurses for advanced clinical practice, leadership positions, and research roles within the nursing profession and the broader healthcare industry.
Graduate Program Advisors
The Washington State University College of Nursing BSN, MN and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K. Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
