Doctor of Nursing Practice Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Applicants must have either a MSN degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution and a nationally accredited school of nursing. (CCNE, CNEA or ACEN) OR BSN degree from a nationally accredited school of nursing and Master's degree in a related discipline from a regionally accredited higher education institution.

Admission criteria for the DNP program are as follows:

• MSN degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution and a nationally accredited school of nursing. (CCNE, CNEA or ACEN) OR BSN degree from a nationally accredited school of nursing and Master’s degree in a related discipline from a regionally accredited higher education institution.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the Master’s program
• Two (2) current professional letters of recommendation from a healthcare supervisor or professional colleague, or from a faculty member who has taught the applicant (dated and on organizational letterhead). All recommendations must be current, typed on letterhead and hand-signed. Electronic signatures without a hand-written signature will not satisfy the School of Nursing requirements.
• Well-written statement of background and goals – (instructions)
• Well-written scholarly essay - (instructions)
• Relevant professional work experience recommended
• Current valid unrestricted registered nurse license in the United States and state in which the Practicum will be completed.
• Current Résumé

The estimated 2019-2020 tuition for the DNP program is $798 per credit. Employees of our partner institutions are eligible for a 5 percent discount on tuition.

A $300 nonrefundable deposit will be required within two weeks of acceptance into the program in order to secure a place in the program. This deposit will be applied to the student's tuition.

Please submit payments to the Office of Student Financial Accounts, phone (609) 984-4099 or fax (609) 984-4066.
  Office of Student Financial Accounts
  Thomas Edison State University
  111 W. State Street
  Trenton, NJ 08608

If you have any questions, please email acatanzaro@tesu.edu.

Yes. The application fee is $50. The application fee is waived for employees of partner institutions.

Candidates apply online to the DNP program using the University’s online application.

The DNP program requires completion of 36 doctoral level credits.

The DNP program is designed to be completed in 18 months or 36 months.

• 18 Month Option
  • Students admitted to the 18 month option enroll as a cohort each October term and progress through the program with the cohort to which they were admitted. Students admitted to the 18 month option enroll in two 3-credit courses (6 credits) in six consecutive 12-week terms.

• 36 Month Option
  • Students admitted to the 36 month option are admitted as a cohort to either the October term or the January term and progress through the program with the cohort to which they were admitted. Students admitted to the 36 month option enroll in one 3-credit course each term for twelve consecutive 12-week terms.

Yes. The DNP program includes three scholarly immersion courses during which students will complete an evidence-based project.  The DNP program requires completion of a minimum of 1000 supervised post baccalaureate clinical/practicum hours. A minimum of 500 hours must be completed during the DNP program at TESU. The practicum hours may be completed in the state where the student resides.

Students admitted to the DNP program must submit written verification of the number of post baccalaureate supervised clinical hours completed during their MSN program. A form will be provided to the students on admission to the program.

Yes. Applicants requesting admission to the DNP program who have previously attended another DNP program may transfer up to 9 doctoral credits into the DNP program. The courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited university and a nationally accredited school of nursing (CCNE, CNEA or ACEN) within five years of the student's first enrollment in the DNP program at TESU. The applicant must have earned a grade of B or higher in the courses, and the courses must be equivalent to courses required for the DNP program at TESU. The School of Nursing will evaluate course syllabi to determine if courses will be accepted for transfer. Students must complete a minimum of 27 credits in the DNP program at TESU.

August 1 is the application deadline for an October start (6 credits per term/18 months) to the DNP Program.

November 15 is the application deadline for a January start (3 credits per term/36 months) to the DNP Program.

According to requirements of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), practicum hours that focused on the educational process, the academic curriculum, or on educating nursing students cannot be applied to the supervised practice hours required by the DNP program. However, supervised practicum hours that focused on direct patient care may be applied to the supervised practice hours required by the DNP.

See DNP White Paper, page 10.

https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/42/News/White-Papers/DNP-Implementation-TF-Report-8-15.pdf