Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice

Program Overview

The purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program is to provide a rigorous education to prepare clinical scholars who translate science to improve population health through expert leadership that powers innovation in health care for West Texas, the state, and the nation.

The program is designed for master's prepared nurses who are working. Classes are both on-line and in "executive sessions" over an average of 3 days twice during the semester. The TTUHSC program is 40 credit hours and can be completed over six consecutive semesters.

Upcoming DNP Informational Webinars

Please join us for one of our upcoming informational webinars in 2026! The DNP program director and DNP program coordinator will be available to discuss the program and answer questions. 

Sign Up For a Webinar

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon program completion, the graduate will be prepared to:

• Translate innovative practice approaches based on scientific knowledge from nursing and other disciplines.
• Design holistic initiatives championing person-centered care using evidence-based practice.
• Direct collaborative efforts among interprofessional teams and communities to improve population health and transform healthcare.
• Lead quality and safety initiatives to optimize outcomes across the continuum of healthcare from individuals to systems.
• Integrate systems leadership and professionalism to deliver efficient, equitable care to all populations.
• Critically appraise informatics and healthcare technologies to inform leadership and practice decision-making.
• Develop a professional identity reflective of individual roles to propel leadership, personal growth, and continuous learning.

Admissions Requirements

It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that their application is complete.

Although academic criteria (cumulative GPA) are the most important factors in admission consideration, additional non-academic information can be considered. All applicants will be reviewed in an individual and holistic manner. No single factor will determine a student's admission.

All applicants who receive offers of admission will be required to submit documentation of required immunizations and consent to a criminal background check. A history of criminal conduct or convictions may result in withdrawal of the admission offer. See "Criminal Background Checks" section of the School of Nursing Student Handbook for the school policy.

Due to changing regulations, the TTUHSC SON Graduate Programs cannot guarantee at the time of submission of an application that we can accept students from certain states. If you are an out-of-state student, please contact the Admissions Team at applynursing@ttuhsc.edu to determine if you are eligible to apply to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing.

Important note for applicants who attended a college or university in Spring 2020.

An explanation of how TTUHSC School of Nursing considers courses in which a student earns grades of Pass (P), Fail(F), Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) is outlined below:

• Official transcripts with courses awarded with P or CR during the SPRING 2020 semester can be used to meet prerequisite course requirements and will not be used in calculating either the cumulative or science GPA for admissions.  
• TTUHSC SON reserves the right to determine how, and if, courses awarded with P or CR during any semester, outside of spring 2020, will be calculated into a GPA and/or considered for transfer credit.
• Official transcripts with courses awarded with a Fail (F) or No Credit (NC) during any semester cannot be used to meet prerequisite course requirements
• International students with F1 and F2 status are not eligible to apply to an online program.

All DNP applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Current unencumbered licensure as a registered nurse in the United States
• Master of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited college or university with nursing program accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Post-Master's DNP applicants with unique credentials will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Such applicants may be required to complete one or more additional graduate nursing courses.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or ADN to MSN degree from a regionally accredited college or university with nursing program accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
• Official transcripts from each institution of higher education attended by applicant must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar
• GPA of 3.0 or higher for master's degree
• Three letters of reference attesting to the applicant's academic ability and potential, including one from a current professional colleague
• Personal Statement
• Interview with a DNP Admissions Committee faculty member
• Current CV or resume

Advanced Practice Nursing requirements

• Approval by a state Board of Nurse Examiners to practice as a Nurse Practitioner
• Current certification by a nationally recognized credentialing body as a Nurse Practitioner
• Minimum of one year's experience as a nurse practitioner
• BLS certification

Executive Leadership requirements

• Minimum of one year's experience in a health care leadership position

The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021) requires students graduating with the DNP degree have achieved 1000 clinical hours from a combination of clinical hours in the master’s program and the DNP program. Each student will achieve a minimum of 500 clinical/practice hours in the TTUHSC DNP program. The student may or may not have achieved 500 clinical hours in his/her master’s program. To meet the total 1000-hour requirement for a DNP graduate with the combination of master’s clinical/practice hours and the 500 clinical/practice hours required in the DNP program, individualized determinants are utilized to identify the number of clinical hours that students need for graduation as follows:  

• Qualified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) applicants with national certification as an APRN are expected to have had a minimum of 500 clinical hours in their APRN master’s program in order to meet requirements for APRN recognition and national certification, as appropriate for their professional role and practice area. The DNP post-master’s program provides a minimum of 500 clinical hours resulting in a minimum total of 1000 clinical hours for graduation with the DNP degree.
• Qualified applicants who hold a master of science in nursing (MSN) in administration, education, or other MSN typically have had some clinical hours in their master’s program. Clinical hours completed in the MSN program will be verified through a transcript review and school catalog verification, and/or verification of hours in writing from the MSN program. If the number of  clinical/practice hours from the MSN program is less than 500, students must achieve the required number of clinical/practice hours via a supervised academic program, which will be offered through an independent study in their first semester to provide an individualized clinical intensive based on their background, experience and learning needs; the independent study will be offered in subsequent semesters depending on the number of clinical/practice the student needs to complete.
• Qualified applicants with a master’s degree in a field other than nursing are evaluated for the clinical hour requirement and are required to complete clinical/practice hours via a supervised academic program, which will be offered through an independent study in their first semester to provide an individualized clinical intensive based on their background, experience and learning needs; the independent study will be offered in subsequent semesters depending on the student’s individual needs to complete the academically supervised 500 hours.

We've Got Your Back

You're Never Alone at TTUHSC

We know that as a busy nurse, you juggle both professional and personal responsibilities. That’s why our Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice program is built to support you every step of the way, meeting you exactly where you are. Designed specifically for for students who are not registered nurses to receive the latest state-of-the-art nursing education.

• Responsive support to our online Student Resource Center, offering writing tools, tech support, English language learner resources, and more.
• Faculty who are engaged and approachable, with an open-door policy. Reach out by call, text, or email, and expect a response within 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends.
• Questions are always welcome! You can ask anytime, and there are optional live meet-and-greet sessions or one-on-one screenshare opportunities to discuss topics directly with faculty.