How to Become a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP)

Paths to Becoming a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

There are several pathways to becoming an adult gerontology nurse practitioner. Once you have completed an undergraduate degree or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), here are some potential educational journeys you can embark on:

Master’s in Nursing MSN

A Master of Science in Nursing, or MSN, is required to become a geriatric nurse practitioner. In this program, you will complete coursework in gerontology. This could take several years, but if you’re limited on time, you can find an accelerated online MSN program in gerontology to earn the degree quickly.

Post-Grad Certificate

A post-grad certificate, also called a post-master’s certificate, is a certificate you earn upon graduation from an MSN program. It is not required. This sort of program is beneficial if you did not specialize in gerontology in your MSN program and want to qualify for the requisite certifications. You can find post-grad certificate programs online.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

A Doctor of Nursing Practice program typically comes after a master’s program. Earning your DNP may help prepare you for more advanced or leadership positions. A doctor of nursing, also known as a DNP, will take two to five years, and a student can complete an online DNP program, in person or a hybrid of both.

BSN to DNP

If you know you want to earn your doctor of nursing, you can go directly into a BSN-to-DNP program, which will take you from earning your BSN to completing your DNP degree. The length of these programs varies, but they usually take two to six years, depending on whether you’re full-time or part-time. You can complete these programs online, in person or in a hybrid environment.

Career Paths for a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

There are various career paths you can take to become a gerontological nurse practitioner. It all depends on what you want to specialize in and what kind of setting you’d like to work in. Your career options include the following:

Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)

An AGNP is an advanced practice nurse who serves adolescents, adults and seniors. They differ from a GNP because a GNP solely focuses on the elderly. You can become an acute, primary or clinical adult gerontology nurse practitioner.

• An acute AGNP will focus on critical care, oncology, the emergency department or cardiopulmonary and work in inpatient hospitals, specialty labs and intensive care units.
• A primary care AGNP will typically not specialize but work in private practices and VA facilities and on college campuses.
• Clinical AGNPs will work in clinical settings like urgent care clinics, nursing homes and community clinics.

How to Become an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner

Common steps to become an AGNP may include:

1. Earn your BSN: You need to go to an undergraduate program and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
2. Become a licensed RN: Upon graduating and passing the licensing exams, you must become a licensed RN.
3. Earn your MSN through an AGNP program: You need to complete courses in an AGNP program and graduate with coursework and supervised clinical experience.
4. Earn your state licensure to be an AGNP: Your state will have requirements to earn your licensure to practice as an AGNP.
5. Earn your American Nurses Credentialing Center board certification: In addition to state licensure, you’ll need to take and pass American Nurses Credentialing Center board certification.

Geriatric Nurse Practitioner

A geriatric nurse practitioner is a nurse who provides care for elderly patients. They will give patients physicals, diagnose and come up with care plans and provide prescriptions. They work in acute care, ambulatory care, private homes, private practices and in long-term care. They are also called gerontological nurse practitioners.

GNPs will take into consideration the effect that common senior illnesses like dementia and depression contribute to overall health, and typically treat seniors who fall, experience incontinence, are dehydrated and have physiological dysfunctions. They treat seniors of all ages, from those in their 60s to those in their 90s and beyond.

How to Become a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner

Common steps to become a geriatric nurse practitioner may include:

1. Get your undergraduate degree in nursing: You’ll need to attend a four-year program and obtain your BSN, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
2. Obtain your RN license: You’ll have to take the test to become an RN.
3. Gain work experience: To demonstrate your interest in geriatric nursing to your future master’s program, as well as figure out if this is something you really want to do, you should gain experience working in gerontology.
4. Earn your master’s degree: Once you have your RN license, you can apply to a geriatric nurse practitioner master’s program. Work experience and a minimum GPA may be required.
5. Get certification: With a minimum of 500 clinical hours, you’ll need to take and pass your American Nurses Credentialing Center’s certification tests as well as any other state requirements to practice as a GNP.

What is a Gerontology Nurse Practitioner?

A gerontology nurse practitioner is a nurse who works with older adults. It differs from a nurse practitioner, who works with all populations. A GNP will work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, private homes, private practices and schools, and come up with treatment plans for their patients and treat common ailments seniors experience.

Should I become a Gerontology Nurse Practitioner?

You may find that becoming a geriatric nurse practitioner is a fulfilling career. GNPs make a difference by helping seniors heal and lead healthier lives. And demand for NPs is strong because of the aging baby boomer population.

Salary

By 2034, it’s projected that there will be more older adults than children under 18. This could lead to increased need for GNPs and higher spending on nurses in this specialty. The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners was $132,050 in May of 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. Here are the average salaries for nurse practitioners in the five highest-paying states, as of May 2024. Keep in mind that your salary may be different depending on your education, work experience, demand in your state and the setting in which you work.

Nurse salaries will also be higher in states with a higher cost of living. If you want to increase your salary, you can earn a higher degree, such as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Roles and Responsibilities

As a gerontological nurse practitioner, you will complete physical examinations for patients, diagnose any illnesses, give them a treatment plan and prescribe medicine. You will follow up to ensure your treatment plan is working and, if not, develop a new course for them. Typically, you’ll deal with common senior issues like falling, dementia, constipation and dehydration, and determine ways to ensure seniors have the highest quality of life possible.

Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP) Certifications

There are different nursing certifications you need to earn as a GNP. They include the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC) and the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification – Adult Gerontology (ACNPC-AG). For the most up-to-date information on these certifications, be sure to check with the related organization.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP-BC), from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC):

• Eligibility requirements: You must have an active RN license and a master’s degree or a doctor of nursing in an approved adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program to be eligible to earn this certification, as well as three separate graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology.
• Fees: The fees are $295 for American Nurses Association members, $395 for non-members and $340 for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
• Renewal information: You must recertify every five years. Fees for recertification are $275 for American Nurses Association members, $375 for non-members and $295 for the American Association of Nurse members.

Certification information from the ANCC was

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification – Adult Gerontology (ACNPC-AG), from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN):

• Eligibility requirements: You must have an active RN license and a master’s degree or a doctor of nursing in an approved acute care nurse practitioner program to be eligible to earn this certification.
• Fees: $270 for AACN members and $380 for non-members.
• Renewal information: You can renew your certification in three ways: i. Practice hours & continuing education (CE); ii. Practice hours, exam, and pharma CE; and iii. CE and an exam.
• Renewal Fees:
  • Option 1 (practice hours & CE): AACN members is $250 and non-members is $240.
  • Option 2 (practice hours, exam, & pharma CE): AACN members is $210 and non-members is $315.
  • Option 3 (CE points & exam): AACN Members is $210 and non-members is $315.

Certification information from the AACN was

Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP) Resources

When becoming a gerontological nurse practitioner, or if you’re already a GNP, you can join organizations to further your professional development and meet your fellow GNPs. Some organizations you may want to join include:

Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA): This organization, founded in 1981, provides professional conferences for advanced practice nurses who care for seniors. They also provide continuing education for nurses and educate consumers on issues related to aging.

American Assisted Living Nurses Association (AALNA): AALNA is for nurses who work in assisted living facilities. This organization provides certification and professional development for nurses in different chapters in states like Florida, Arizona, Texas and New Jersey.

The Long Term Care Nurses Association (LTCNA): LTCNA is composed of nurses working in long-term care facilities and provides them with professional development, career advancement and networking opportunities. It also focuses on resident advocacy and public relations.

Related Nurse Practitioner Careers

You may not want to become a geriatric nurse practitioner. Instead, you can work in a related nurse practitioner career. Some possible careers include:

• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP): To become an acute care nurse practitioner, you must earn a nursing degree, obtain an RN license and pursue a nurse practitioner program such as an acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) program.
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): To become a family nurse practitioner, where you provide family-focused healthcare, you’ll need a nursing degree, an RN license, a completed degree from an on-campus or online FNP program and clinical experience.
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP): If you want to work with children, you can become a pediatric NP by earning a nursing degree, obtaining a license as a RN and completing a nurse practitioner program related to pediatric care.
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): To become a psychiatric mental health NP, you must obtain a nursing degree, have an active RN license and earn a degree from an on-campus or online PMHNP program.
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP): If you want to focus on care for women, you can become a women’s health NP by earning your nursing degree, becoming a registered nurse and completing a WHNP program.
• Nurse Practitioner: To become a nurse practitioner, you need to complete an on-campus or online nurse practitioner program. This is different from a nurse educator. While NPs practice in a variety of settings to provide care, a nurse educator trains and educates nurses in classroom and clinical settings. Both can specialize in areas like women’s health, pediatrics, acute care and mental care.