DNP Application Process

Post-BSN applicants have a bachelor of science in nursing.

If you are an applicant with a non-APRN master’s degree (i.e., nurse education), you are considered a post-BSN applicant. You can waive up to 18 credits based on previous graduate coursework, pending a review of syllabi.

Post-BSN Eligibility Requirements:

• Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate program
• RN license (unencumbered, active)
  • If you do not have a Wisconsin RN license, you must be eligible to obtain one by the program start date
• GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 credits for the baccalaureate degree
• One year of professional nursing experience
• Grade of B or better in a graduate-level statistics course within the last 5 years. (Note: The course can be taken after applying but must be completed before the start of the fall term.)

Post-MSN applicants are certified (or eligible for certification) as advanced practice nurses (APRNs) with a master’s degree in a specialty track.

Post-MSN Eligibility Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate program
• RN license (unencumbered, active)
  • If you do not have a Wisconsin RN license, you must be eligible to obtain one
• Master’s degree in a specialty track from an accredited nursing program
• GPA of 3.5 for the master’s degree
• Certification or eligible for certification as an advanced practice nurse
• One year of professional nursing experience
• Grade of B or better in a graduate-level statistics course within the last 5 years. (Note: The course can be taken after applying but must be completed before the start of the fall term.)

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

• CGFNS Certification
• Minimum English proficiency scores in one of the following:
  • TOEFL (600 PBT, 100 iBT)
  • IELTS (8)
  • Duolingo (125)

Post-BSN applicants have a bachelor of science in nursing.

Post-BSN Eligibility Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program
• RN license
• GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 credits for the baccalaureate degree
• At least one year of experience in nursing, public health, or a health-related field
• Grade of B or better in a graduate-level statistics course within the last 5 years. (Note: The course can be taken after applying but must be completed before the start of the fall term.)

Post-MS applicants are candidates with a master’s degree a related or an applicable field. You can waive up to 18 credits based on previous graduate coursework, pending a review of syllabi.

Post-MS Eligibility Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate program
• RN license
• GPA of 3.5 for the master’s degree
• At least one year of experience in nursing, public health, or a health-related field
• Grade of B or better in a graduate-level statistics course within the last 5 years. (Note: The course can be taken after applying but must be completed before the start of the fall term.)

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

• CGFNS Certification
• Minimum English proficiency scores in one of the following:
  • TOEFL (600 PBT, 100 iBT)
  • IELTS (8)
  • Duolingo (125)

• View UW–Madison Graduate School application requirements
• Supplemental application materials
  • Transcripts from all previously attended and currently attending institutions
  • Copy of all nursing and professional licenses
  • Three (3) professional letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum vitae or resume
  • Statement of Purpose/Reasons for Graduate Study

• International applicants, must submit:
  • CGFNS Certification
  • Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English test scores

The specific prompts for the statement of purpose will be found in the application.

Your statement must address ALL parts of all questions in 1,600 words or less (5 pages maximum, double-spaced, PDF format):

DNP students must possess strong writing abilities. The Statement of Purpose serves as evidence of your ability to communicate thoughts and ideas in a logical and analytical manner. Your Statement of Purpose will be assessed in the following areas:

• 1. Ability to address the entire prompt.
  2. Ability to write in a logical, analytical, and meaningful manner, while threading thoughts together to demonstrate a depth of understanding of the concepts you are addressing.
  3. Ability to be concise, utilize proper grammar and syntax, and citation of sources.
  4. Understanding of the core competencies for professional nursing education, AACN Level II Essentials of Graduate Education.

Switching population focus areas after starting the program is strongly discouraged and are rarely approved.

Please view the program plans to see the differences in course load between the 3 and 4 year tracks.

Applicants with a master’s in nursing (or related field) should choose the three-year program plan.

When you apply, your application can be evaluated with unofficial transcript(s). If you are recommended for admission, the Graduate School will request official transcript(s)

Submit your online application to UW–Madison Graduate School and pay application fees.

Representatives of the School of Nursing will review submitted applications for eligibility. This review process will generally take 3 weeks for applications submitted by the priority due date, and then on a rolling basis for applications submitted later. All applicants who submit by the priority due date and who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited to participate in a virtual group interview.

Applicants who submit after the priority due date will be invited to participate in a group interview as long as the DNP program is still accepting applicants. The timeframe for how long applications will continue to be accepted after the priority due date varies depending on application numbers.

After an initial application review, eligible applicants who submitted by the priority due date will be invited for a group interview in mid-to late-January. Applicants who submit later than the priority due date, and are not able to participate in the aforementioned group interviews, will be scheduled for a group interview if/when there are enough participants to schedule an additional group interview

Eligible applicants must participate in an interview to be considered for this program. The School of Nursing assigns the interview dates and times.

Historically, admission notifications for applicants who submit by the priority due date, have been made by the end of February. Admission notifications for applicants who submit after the priority due date are made on a rolling basis.

It is possible for an offer of admission to be revoked. We may revoke admission if one of the following occurs:

• You provided false or misleading information on your application or compliance documents.
• Your Caregiver Background Check reveals disqualifying information.