| State | Name of University | Website | MSN | BSN-DNP | MSN-DNP | Certificate | Adult Acute care | Adult-Gero | Pediatrics | Neonatal | Family Across the lifespan | Woman's Health | Other | Onsite | Online | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | University of South Alabama | https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/msn/clinnursespec.html | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Beirut, Lebanon | American University of Beirut | https://www.aub.edu.lb/hson/Pages/AdultGerontologyClinicalNurseSpecialist.aspx | X | X | ||||||||||||
| California | Azusa Pacific University | https://www.apu.edu/nursing/programs/msn-cns/ | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| California | California Baptist University | https://calbaptist.edu/programs/master-of-science-nursing/ | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| California | CSU-Dominguez Hills | https://www.csudh.edu/son/programs/msn/ | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| California | Loma Linda University | https://home.llu.edu/programs/nursing-clinical-nurse-specialist-adult-gerontology-dnp-online | X | X | hybrid | |||||||||||
| California | Mount Saint Mary's University | https://www.msmu.edu/graduate-programs/nursing/curriculum/specialty-tracks/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist/ | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| California | Point Loma Nazaren University | https://www.pointloma.edu/graduate-studies-0/nursing-ms | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| California | San Diego State University | https://nursing.sdsu.edu/programs/ms-in-nursing/concentrations/advanced-practice-nursing-of-adults-the-elderly/ | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| California | San Francisco State University | https://nursing.sfsu.edu/rn-msn | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| California | University of California-Los Angeles | https://www.nursing.ucla.edu/admissions/graduate/msn-advanced-practice-registered-nurse-aprn | X | X | X acute and primary | offer dual NP/CNS in adult and peds acute care | ||||||||||
| California | University of California-San Francisco | https://nursing.ucsf.edu/admissions/welcome-ucsf-nursing/post-masters-and-postdoctoral-studies/post-masters-certificate#Clinical-Nurse-Specialist-Specialties | X | X | oncology, criticalcare/trauma | |||||||||||
| California | University of San Diego | https://www.sandiego.edu/nursing/academic-programs/msn/ | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Colorado | Colorado Christian University | https://www.ccu.edu/ccu/nursing/msn/ | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Colorado | University of Colorado--Denver | https://nursing.cuanschutz.edu/academics/graduate-specialties/advanced-ms-dnp-specialities/adult-gerontology-programs/clinical-nurse-specialist-adult-gerontology | x | x | x | x | x | Doesn't specify | ||||||||
| Connecticut | Western Connecticut State University | https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/grad2122/sps/programs/master-of-science-in-nursing/ | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Illinois | Governor's State University | https://www.govst.edu/NursingMS/ | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Illinois | Loyola University Chicago | https://www.luc.edu/nursing/academics/degreeprograms/ | X | X | post-DNP only | X | X | oncology | X | |||||||
| Illinois | Rush University Medical Center | https://www.rushu.rush.edu/college-nursing/programs-admissions | X | X | X | primary | X | neonatal and peds only, acute care is hybrid | ||||||||
| Indiana | Indiana University-Purdue University | https://nursing.iupui.edu/graduate/programs/msn/index.shtml | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| Indiana | Purdue University Northwest | https://www.pnw.edu/program-finder/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist/ | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| Indiana | University of Southern Indiana | https://www.usi.edu/health/nursing/degrees-and-programs/ | X | X | X - BSN-DNP | MSN-DNP - APRN not CNS specific | X | |||||||||
| Louisiana | Louisiana State University | https://nursing.lsuhsc.edu/AGCNS/ | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| Maryland | Johns Hopkins University | https://nursing.jhu.edu/academics/programs/doctoral/msn-dnp/dnp-clinical/index.html | X | X | X | critical care | X | |||||||||
| Maryland | University of Maryland | https://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/academics/doctoral/dnp/agnp-cns/ | X | X | X | X | hybrid - both onsite & online components | dual AG-ACNP & AG-CNS program | ||||||||
| Maryland | Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences | https://nursing.usuhs.edu/home | x | x | x | x | Specializes in peri-op; Active duty only | |||||||||
| Michigan | Eastern Michigan University | https://www.emich.edu/chhs/nursing/programs/explore.php?level=graduate | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| Michigan | Michigan State University | https://nursing.msu.edu/graduate/clinicalnursespecialist | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Michigan | University of Detroit Mercy | https://healthprofessions.udmercy.edu/academics/nursing/grad/agcns.php | X | X | X | X | X | X | x | X | ||||||
| Minnesota | University of Minnesota | https://nursing.umn.edu/academics/doctor-nursing-practice | x | x | x | x | x | X | X- only MSN-DNP and must come to campus 1 week per term. | |||||||
| Minnesota | Winona State University | https://www.winona.edu/graduatenursing/doctor.asp | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Missouri | University of Missouri - Columbia | https://nursing.missouri.edu/academic-programs/ | X | X | X | X | X | X | X - Online programs, but does require travel to Columbia campus 2-3 times during degree completion for advanced hands-on training. | Option to chose dual emphasis, Military Friendly- Gold Award. | ||||||
| Nebraska | Nebraska Methodist College | https://www.methodistcollege.edu/nursing/doctor-of-nursing-practice/bsn-to-dnp-adult-gerontology-cns | X | X | hybrid | |||||||||||
| New York | Binghamton University | https://www.binghamton.edu/decker/nursing/graduate/master.html | X | X | ||||||||||||
| New York | College of Staten Island - CUNY | https://www.csi.cuny.edu/academics-and-research/departments-programs/nursing | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| New York | Hunter College | http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/nursing/admissions/graduate/masters/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist-cns | X | X | ||||||||||||
| New York | Molloy University | https://www.molloy.edu/academics/schools/nursing-health-sciences/nursing/graduate/cns | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
| New York | St. John Fisher College | https://www.sjfc.edu/graduate-programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice-dnp/program-requirements/ | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| New York | Sage Colleges | https://www.sage.edu/academics/programs/nursing-master-of-science/ | X | X | X | Community | X | |||||||||
| North Carolina | East Carolina University | https://nursing.ecu.edu/msn/ | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| Ohio | Capital University | https://www.capital.edu/academics/graduate-programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice/ | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Ohio | Kent State University | https://www.kent.edu/nursing/programs/masters/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Ohio | The Ohio State University | https://nursing.osu.edu/academics/graduate-specializations/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist | x | x | x | x | x | x | BSN to PhD | |||||||
| Ohio | Ursuline College | https://www.ursuline.edu/academics/programs/msn-track-adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Oklahoma | University of Oklahoma | https://nursing.ouhsc.edu/Programs-Academics/DNP/BSN-to-DNP-CNS | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| Pennsylvania | DeSales University | https://www.desales.edu/academics/academic-programs/detail/adult-gerontology-acute-care-clinical-nurse-specialist-cns | X | X (adult-gero) | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Pennsylvania | Lasalle University | https://www.lasalle.edu/nursing-msn/master-of-science-in-nursing/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist/ | X | X | X | not accepting into CNS track at this time | ||||||||||
| Pennsylvania | University of Pittsburgh | https://www.nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programs | X | X | X | BSN-DNP; dual PhD/DNP | MSN-DNP | |||||||||
| Pennsylvania | West Chester University | https://www.wcupa.edu/healthSciences/nursing/graduate.aspx | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Pennsylvania | Widner University | https://www.widener.edu/academics/graduate-studies/doctor-nursing-practice-dnp | X | X | X | X -MSN-DNP | BSN-DNP - hybrid | MSN-DNP - not CNS specific | ||||||||
| Pennsylvania | York College | https://www.ycp.edu/academics/graduate-and-professional-studies/ | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island College | https://www.ric.edu/academics/graduate-programs/health-profession-programs#masters-of-nursing-science | X | X | ||||||||||||
| South Carolina | Clemson University | https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/departments/nursing/degrees/nursing-master-of-science.html | X | X | ||||||||||||
| Texas | Texas Christian University | https://harriscollege.tcu.edu/nursing/academics/areas-of-study/graduate-nursing-programs/ | X | X | Post-graduate APRN certificate | X | X | x | X | Some scheduled onsite visits, but primarily online | ||||||
| Texas | University of Texas-Austin | https://nursing.utexas.edu/academics/graduate/certificate-programs/aprn | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| Virginia | Old Dominion University | https://www.odu.edu/nursing/graduate | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Virginia | University of Virginia | https://www.nursing.virginia.edu/academics/dnp/ | X | X- not CNS specific | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Washington | Seattle Pacific University | https://spu.edu/academics/school-of-health-sciences/graduate-nursing-program | X | x | x | X | X | MSN-DNP if you already are prepared as an AGCNS | ||||||||
| Washington | University of Washington | https://nursing.uw.edu/programs/degree-programs-tracks/ | X | X | X | hybrid | requires both onsite and also distance ed options | |||||||||
| Wisconsin | Alverno | https://www.alverno.edu/Program/Master-of-Science-in-Nursing | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| Wisconsin | Edgewood College | https://www.edgewood.edu/academics/programs/nursing/clinical-nurse-specialist-in-adult-gerontology | X | X | X | |||||||||||
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire | https://www.uwec.edu/academics/programs/graduate/doctor-nursing-practice/ | X | X | hybrid | |||||||||||
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Madison | https://guide.wisc.edu/graduate/nursing-school-wide/nursing-practice-dnp/ | X | X | X | hybrid | requires both onsite and also distance ed options | |||||||||
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | https://uwm.edu/nursing/academics/?_program_type_facet=doctoral&_program_format_facet=on-campus%2Conline | X | X | X | X | X | X | X - BSN-DNP | MSN-DNP - not CNS specific | DNP/MBA- onsite |
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Program Directory
This CNS Program Directory provides a list of currently active CNS programs in the United States that offer entry level preparation in the CNS role. The NACNS Education Committee revised the previous directory list during 2017-2019 through website review, AACN survey data, and some follow-up contacts with schools or colleges.
Information provided in the list includes:
- a) State; b) University or College Name; c) World Wide Web Address;
- d) Program or Degree(s) that offer entry level CNS preparation, which may include Masters Degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree; or Post Graduate Certificate Program
- e) CNS Populations offered, which may include Adult-Gero, Family Across the Lifespan (FALS), Neonatal, Pediatric, or Women’s Health.
To request additions or deletions to the list, please complete the website intake form.