Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs Across the United States: A Benchmark of Information: Part II: Admission Criteria

The adoption of the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has led to the exponential growth of DNP programs across the United States. This article is Part II of a 2-part series exploring DNP program information. The purpose of this research was to create a benchmark of information that can be used to compare and contrast programs throughout the United States. Part I discussed DNP program characteristics. Part II consists of DNP admission criteria that include graduate record examination (GRE) requirements, grade point average (GPA), national certification, degree requirements, specialty foci, clinical hours, and prerequisite courses.A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to explore 137 DNP programs across the United States. Data were collected exclusively via university Web sites. Descriptive statistics were calculated and presented in report, table, or figure format.As we move forward with the DNP, effective selection of students is of critical importance because admission and retention of outstanding candidates will ultimately strengthen the field of nursing. The data generated by this research provides programs with a starting point for discussion regarding admission criteria for the DNP degree.