App State’s new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares registered nurses to become leaders in advanced clinical practice with a special focus on serving rural populations across North Carolina and beyond. The program, which begins in fall 2026, is currently accepting applicants for its first cohort of students.
This program blends the flexibility of online coursework with hands-on training at the App State Hickory campus (one week each semester), where students will utilize simulation labs to sharpen and practice their clinical skills.
DNP-FNPs work in a variety of settings, including outpatient primary care, community health centers, specialty care, school-based health centers, and correctional facilities.
About App State's DNP-FNP Program
The DNP-FNP program at Appalachian State University is uniquely designed to advance health equity in rural and underserved communities across the region. Grounded in the university’s mission to serve the people of North Carolina and beyond, the program prepares high-quality advanced practice nurse clinicians to care for their communities. In addition to preparation as doctorally prepared Family Nurse Practitioners, students can tailor their curriculum to pursue focused studies in nursing education, public health, or health care administration.
The program is part of the Department of Nursing housed in the Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), which is shared with five other departments with multiple undergraduate and graduate programs related to health and well-being.
Course of Study
The DNP program requires 76 total credit hours of coursework. including:
- Minimum of 1,000 hours of direct and indirect advanced practice clinical experiences
- 67 hours of required core courses and 9 credit hours of specialty cognate in Nursing Education, Public Health or Health Administration
Fieldwork/Internship
The DNP course of study includes the required minimum of 1,000 hours of direct and indirect clinical practice for nurse practitioners, as outlined by national standards. These hours are completed in the student’s home region, allowing learners to serve their communities while gaining advanced practice experience.
Clinical placement staff work closely with students to secure high-quality, mission-aligned sites that meet learning objectives and reflect the program’s commitment to rural and underserved populations.
Program Location
Coursework will be completed online.
Each semester, students will have a one-week intensive residency at App State Hickory.
Apply to Graduate School
Applicants should begin the process by applying for graduate admission at Appalachian State University's Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies.
NOTE: When starting a new application, please select the appropriate application type and follow the steps on how to apply.
Academic Costs
App State Tuition & Fees
UNC System approves App State's new DNP program
Nov. 20, 2024
Beginning in fall 2026, Appalachian State University will welcome its first cohort of students to a hybrid Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program, designed to educate family practice nurse practitioners and respond to health care provider shortages, especially in rural areas. The DNP program, which received approval from the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors on Nov. 14, holds the distinction of being the university’s first doctoral degree program in the field of health sciences.
“Offering a doctoral program in nursing practice advances App State’s strategic plan of delivering academic programs that are innovative and relevant to the needs of our rural communities and region," said App State Interim Chancellor Heather Norris. "Nurse practitioners serve a critical role in extending access to and availability of health care in our state.”
Program Accreditation
Appalachian State University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in August 2025 to begin enrolling students in Fall 2026.
The university is also pursuing initial accreditation for the DNP program from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). A site visit is anticipated during the program’s first year of enrollment. If granted, CCNE accreditation will be retroactive to the first day of the site visit, ensuring that students in the inaugural cohort graduate from an accredited program.
Program Director
Anna S. Hamrick, DNP, FNP-C
Director, Doctor of Nursing Practice Program
Clinical Professor of Nursing
hamrickas@appstate.edu