| State | School | Website | Program/Degree with CNS Option | CNS Population(s) |
| Alabama | University of South Alabama | www.southalabama.edu | MS, DNP, & Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Alaska | No CNS Programs | |||
| Arizona | No CNS Programs | |||
| Arkansas | Arkansas State University | www.astate.edu | MS | Adult-Gero |
| Arkansas | University of Arkansas | www.uark.edu | MS, DNP | Adult-Gero |
| California | Azusa Pacific University | www.apu.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero; Pediatric |
| California | California State University, Dominguez Hills | www.csudh.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult-Gero; Pediatric |
| California | California State University-Fresno | www.csufresno.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero; Pediatric |
| California | Loma Linda University | www.llu.edu | DNP | Adult-Gero; Pediatric |
| California | Point Loma Nazarene University | www.pointloma.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero; Pediatric; FALS |
| California | San Diego State University | www.sdsu.edu | MS | Adult-Gero |
| California | UCLA | www.ucla.edu | MS | Adult-Gero; Pediatric |
| California | University of California at San Francisco | www.ucsf.edu | MS | Adult-Gero; Neonatal |
| California | University of San Diego | www.sandiego.edu | MS | Adult-Gero |
| California | California State-San Marcos | www.csusm.edu | MS | Adult-Gero; Pediatric |
| California | California Baptist University | www.calbaptist.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| California | San Francisco State University | www.sfsu.edu | MS | Adult-Gero; Pediatric; Womens Hlth |
| Colorado | University of Colorado at Denver | www.ucdenver.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Connecticut | Western Connecticut State University | www.wcsu.edu | MS | Adult-Gero |
| Delaware | Wesley College | www.wesley.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Florida | University of Central Florida | www.ucf.edu | MS | Adult-Gero |
| Idaho | No CNS Programs | |||
| Illinois | Governor’s State University | www.govst.edu | MSN | Adult Healthcare |
| Illinois | Loyola University Chicago | www.luc.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Illinois | Rush University | www.rushu.rush.edu | DNP | Adult-Gero, Neonatal, Pediatric |
| Indiana | Indiana University-IUPUI | www.nursing.iupui.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult-Gero, Pediatric |
| Indiana | Purdue University Northwest | www.pnw.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Indiana | University of Southern Indiana | www.usi.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Iowa | No CNS Programs | |||
| Kansas | No CNS Programs | |||
| Kentucky | University of Kentucky | www.uky.edu | DNP | Adult-Gero |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State University | www.lsuhsc.edu | DNP | Adult-Gero |
| Maine | No CNS Programs | |||
| Maryland | Johns Hopkins University | www.jhu.edu | DNP | Adult-Gero, Adult Gero Critical Care, Pediatric |
| Maryland | Uniformed Services University | www.usuhs.edu | MS, DNP | Adult-Gero; |
| Massachusetts | University of Massachusetts-Boston | www.umb.edu | MS | Adult-Gero Acute Care |
| Michigan | East Michigan University | www.emich.edu | MS, DNP, & Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Michigan | Michigan State University | www.msu.edu | BS, MS, DNP, | Adult-Gero; |
| Michigan | University of Detroit | www.udmercy.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Minnesota | Winona State University | www.winona.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Minnesota | University of Minnesota | www.umn.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero, Pediatric |
| Mississippi | No CNS Programs | |||
| Missouri | University of Missouri-Columbia, MU Sinclair | www.missouri.edu | DNP | Adult-Gero |
| Montana | No CNS Programs | |||
| Nebraska | No CNS Programs | |||
| Nevada | No CNS Programs | |||
| New Jersey | No CNS Programs | |||
| New Mexico | No CNS Programs | |||
| New York | Binghamton University | www.binghamton.edu | MS | Adult-Gero |
| New York | College of Staten Island | www.csi.cuny.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| New York | Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing | www.hunter.cuny.edu | MS | Adult-Gero |
| New York | Malloy College | www.molloy.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| New York | Saint John Fisher College-Rochester | www.sjfc.edu | MS | Adult-Gero |
| New York | Sage Colleges | www.sage.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| North Carolina | East Carolina University | www.ecu.edu | MS | Adult-Gero; Neonatal |
| North Dakota | No CNS Programs | |||
| Ohio | Capital University | www.capital.edu | Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Ohio | Kent State University | www.kent.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Ohio | Ohio State University | www.osu.edu | MS | Adult-Gero |
| Ohio | Ursuline College | www.ursuline.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult Gero |
| Ohio | University of Akron | www.uakron.edu | MS-Call before applying | Adult Gero |
| Oklahoma | University of Oklahoma | www.ouhsc.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult Gero |
| Oregon | No CNS Programs | |||
| Pennsylvania | DeSales University | www.desales.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult Gero |
| Pennsylvania | Gwynedd-Mercy College | http://www.gmercyu.edu/ | MS | Adult Gero |
| Pennsylvania | La Salle University | www.lasalle.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult Gero |
| Pennsylvania | Widener University | www.widener.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult Gero |
| Pennsylvania | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | www.wcupa.edu/ | MS | Adult Gero |
| Pennsylvania | York College of Pennsylvania | www.ycp.edu | MS | Adult Gero |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island College | www.ric.edu | MS | Adult Gero |
| Rhode Island | University of Rhode Island | www.uri.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult Gero |
| South Carolina | No CNS Programs | |||
| South Dakota | No CNS Programs | |||
| Tennessee | University of Tennessee-Knoxville | www.utk.edu | MSN, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Texas | Texas Christian University | www.tcu.edu | DNP, MSN, Certificate | Adult-Gero & Pediatric |
| Texas | University of Texas-Austin | www.utexas.edu | MSN | Adult-Gero |
| Texas | University of the Incarnate Word | www.uiw.edu | MSN, Certificate | Adult Health/Gerontology |
| Utah | No CNS Programs | |||
| Vermont | No CNS Programs | |||
| Virginia | Old Dominion University | www.odu.edu | MSN | Adult-Gero, Pediatric, Neonate |
| Virginia | University of Virginia | www.virginia.edu | MSN | Adult-Gero Acute Care |
| Virginia | Virginia Commonwealth University | www.vcu.edu/ | MSN | Acute Care |
| Washington | Seattle Pacific University | www.spu.edu | MSN | Adult-Gero, Pediatric |
| Washington | University of Washington | www.washington.edu | DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero, Perinatal, Pediatric |
| Washington | Georgetown University | www.georgetown.edu | DNP | Adult-Gero Acute Care |
| Wisconsin | Alverno College | www.alverno.edu | MS, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Wisconsin | Marquette University | www.marquette.edu | MS, DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | www.uwec.edu | DNP | Adult-Gero |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Madison | www.wisc.edu | DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero |
| Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | www.uwm.edu | DNP, Certificate | Adult-Gero; Pediatric; Womens Hlth |
| Wyoming | No CNS Programs |
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 contact:
Michelle Matz at the following e-mail: info@nacns.org
Last Updated: 5/23/2019