CNS Program Directory

StateName of UniversityWebsiteMSNBSN-DNPMSN-DNPCertificateAdult Acute careAdult-GeroPediatricsNeonatalFamily Across the lifespanWoman's HealthOtherOnsiteOnlineOther Notes
AlabamaUniversity of South Alabamahttps://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/msn/clinnursespec.htmlXXXXXX
Beirut, LebanonAmerican University of Beiruthttps://www.aub.edu.lb/hson/Pages/AdultGerontologyClinicalNurseSpecialist.aspxXX
CaliforniaAzusa Pacific Universityhttps://www.apu.edu/nursing/programs/msn-cns/XXXX
CaliforniaCalifornia Baptist Universityhttps://calbaptist.edu/programs/master-of-science-nursing/XXX
CaliforniaCSU-Dominguez Hillshttps://www.csudh.edu/son/programs/msn/XXXXXX
CaliforniaLoma Linda Universityhttps://home.llu.edu/programs/nursing-clinical-nurse-specialist-adult-gerontology-dnp-onlineXXhybrid
CaliforniaMount Saint Mary's Universityhttps://www.msmu.edu/graduate-programs/nursing/curriculum/specialty-tracks/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist/XXX
CaliforniaPoint Loma Nazaren Universityhttps://www.pointloma.edu/graduate-studies-0/nursing-msXXXXX
CaliforniaSan Diego State Universityhttps://nursing.sdsu.edu/programs/ms-in-nursing/concentrations/advanced-practice-nursing-of-adults-the-elderly/XXX
CaliforniaSan Francisco State Universityhttps://nursing.sfsu.edu/rn-msnXXXX
CaliforniaUniversity of California-Los Angeleshttps://www.nursing.ucla.edu/admissions/graduate/msn-advanced-practice-registered-nurse-aprnXXX acute and primaryoffer dual NP/CNS in adult and peds acute care
CaliforniaUniversity of California-San Franciscohttps://nursing.ucsf.edu/admissions/welcome-ucsf-nursing/post-masters-and-postdoctoral-studies/post-masters-certificate#Clinical-Nurse-Specialist-SpecialtiesXXoncology, criticalcare/trauma
CaliforniaUniversity of San Diegohttps://www.sandiego.edu/nursing/academic-programs/msn/XX
ColoradoColorado Christian Universityhttps://www.ccu.edu/ccu/nursing/msn/XX
ColoradoUniversity of Colorado College of Nursinghttps://nursing.cuanschutz.edu/academics/graduate-specialties/advanced-ms-dnp-specialities/adult-gerontology-programs/clinical-nurse-specialist-adult-gerontologyXXXXXXHybridHybrid
ConnecticutWestern Connecticut State Universityhttps://catalogs.wcsu.edu/grad2122/sps/programs/master-of-science-in-nursing/XX
IllinoisGovernor's State Universityhttps://www.govst.edu/NursingMS/XXXXX
IllinoisLoyola University Chicagohttps://www.luc.edu/nursing/academics/degreeprograms/XXpost-DNP onlyXXoncologyX
IllinoisRush University Medical Centerhttps://www.rushu.rush.edu/college-nursing/programs-admissionsXXXprimaryXneonatal and peds only, acute care is hybrid
IndianaIndiana University-Purdue Universityhttps://nursing.iupui.edu/graduate/programs/msn/index.shtmlXXXX
IndianaPurdue University Northwesthttps://www.pnw.edu/program-finder/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist/XXXX
IndianaUniversity of Southern Indianahttps://www.usi.edu/health/nursing/degrees-and-programs/XXX - BSN-DNPMSN-DNP - APRN not CNS specificX
LouisianaLouisiana State Universityhttps://nursing.lsuhsc.edu/AGCNS/XXXX
MarylandJohns Hopkins Universityhttps://nursing.jhu.edu/academics/programs/doctoral/msn-dnp/dnp-clinical/index.htmlXXXcritical careX
MarylandUniversity of Marylandhttps://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/academics/doctoral/dnp/agnp-cns/XXXXhybrid - both onsite & online componentsdual AG-ACNP & AG-CNS program
MarylandUniformed Services University of the Health Scienceshttps://nursing.usuhs.edu/homexxxxSpecializes in peri-op; Active duty only
MichiganEastern Michigan Universityhttps://www.emich.edu/chhs/nursing/programs/explore.php?level=graduateXXX
MichiganMichigan State Universityhttps://nursing.msu.edu/graduate/clinicalnursespecialistXXXXXX
MichiganUniversity of Detroit Mercyhttps://healthprofessions.udmercy.edu/academics/nursing/grad/agcns.phpXXXXXXxX
MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesotahttps://nursing.umn.edu/academics/doctor-nursing-practicexxxxxXX- only MSN-DNP and must come to campus 1 week per term.
MinnesotaWinona State Universityhttps://www.winona.edu/graduatenursing/doctor.aspXXXXX
MissouriUniversity of Missouri - Columbiahttps://nursing.missouri.edu/academic-programs/XXXXXXX - 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.
NebraskaNebraska Methodist Collegehttps://www.methodistcollege.edu/nursing/doctor-of-nursing-practice/bsn-to-dnp-adult-gerontology-cnsXXhybrid
New YorkBinghamton Universityhttps://www.binghamton.edu/decker/nursing/graduate/master.htmlXX
New YorkCollege of Staten Island - CUNYhttps://www.csi.cuny.edu/academics-and-research/departments-programs/nursingXXXXX
New YorkHunter Collegehttp://www.hunter.cuny.edu/nursing/admissions/graduate/masters/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist-cnsXX
New YorkMolloy Universityhttps://www.molloy.edu/academics/schools/nursing-health-sciences/nursing/graduate/cnsXXXXX
New YorkSt. John Fisher Collegehttps://www.sjfc.edu/graduate-programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice-dnp/program-requirements/XXX
New YorkSage Collegeshttps://www.sage.edu/academics/programs/nursing-master-of-science/XXXCommunityX
North CarolinaEast Carolina Universityhttps://nursing.ecu.edu/msn/XXX
OhioCapital Universityhttps://www.capital.edu/academics/graduate-programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice/XX
OhioKent State Universityhttps://www.kent.edu/nursing/programs/masters/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialistXXXXXX
OhioThe Ohio State Universityhttps://nursing.osu.edu/academics/graduate-specializations/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialistxxxxxxBSN to PhD
OhioUrsuline Collegehttps://www.ursuline.edu/academics/programs/msn-track-adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialistXX
OklahomaUniversity of Oklahomahttps://nursing.ouhsc.edu/Programs-Academics/DNP/BSN-to-DNP-CNSXXXX
PennsylvaniaDeSales Universityhttps://www.desales.edu/academics/academic-programs/detail/adult-gerontology-acute-care-clinical-nurse-specialist-cnsXX (adult-gero)XXX
PennsylvaniaLasalle Universityhttps://www.lasalle.edu/nursing-msn/master-of-science-in-nursing/adult-gerontology-clinical-nurse-specialist/XXXnot accepting into CNS track at this time
PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pittsburghhttps://www.nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programsXXXBSN-DNP; dual PhD/DNPMSN-DNP
PennsylvaniaWest Chester Universityhttps://www.wcupa.edu/healthSciences/nursing/graduate.aspxXX
PennsylvaniaWidner Universityhttps://www.widener.edu/academics/graduate-studies/doctor-nursing-practice-dnpXXXX -MSN-DNPBSN-DNP - hybridMSN-DNP - not CNS specific
PennsylvaniaYork Collegehttps://www.ycp.edu/academics/graduate-and-professional-studies/XXXX
Rhode IslandRhode Island Collegehttps://www.ric.edu/academics/graduate-programs/health-profession-programs#masters-of-nursing-scienceXX
South CarolinaClemson Universityhttps://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/departments/nursing/degrees/nursing-master-of-science.htmlXX
South DakotaAugustana Universityhttps://www.augie.edu/academics/graduate-programs/graduate-nursing-programsXXX
TexasTexas Christian Universityhttps://harriscollege.tcu.edu/nursing/academics/areas-of-study/graduate-nursing-programs/XXPost-graduate APRN certificateXXxXSome scheduled onsite visits, but primarily online
TexasUniversity of Texas-Austinhttps://nursing.utexas.edu/academics/graduate/certificate-programs/aprnXXX
VirginiaOld Dominion Universityhttps://www.odu.edu/nursing/graduateXXXXXXX
VirginiaUniversity of Virginiahttps://www.nursing.virginia.edu/academics/dnp/XXXXXX
WashingtonSeattle Pacific Universityhttps://spu.edu/academics/school-of-health-sciences/graduate-nursing-programXxxXXMSN-DNP if you already are prepared as an AGCNS
WashingtonUniversity of Washingtonhttps://nursing.uw.edu/programs/degree-programs-tracks/XXXhybridrequires both onsite and also distance ed options
WisconsinAlvernohttps://www.alverno.edu/Program/Master-of-Science-in-NursingXXX
WisconsinEdgewood Collegehttps://www.edgewood.edu/academics/programs/nursing/clinical-nurse-specialist-in-adult-gerontologyXXX
WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin- Eau Clairehttps://www.uwec.edu/academics/programs/graduate/doctor-nursing-practice/XXhybrid
WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin-Madisonhttps://guide.wisc.edu/graduate/nursing-school-wide/nursing-practice-dnp/XXXhybridrequires both onsite and also distance ed options
WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukeehttps://uwm.edu/nursing/academics/?_program_type_facet=doctoral&_program_format_facet=on-campus%2ConlineXXXXXXX - BSN-DNPMSN-DNP - not CNS specificDNP/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: 

  1. a) State; b) University or College Name; c) World Wide Web Address;
  2. 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
  3. 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.