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Programs

Your NKU program, and the clinicals it needs

Updated September 24, 2026 · Reviewed by the NKU Preceptors placement team

Each of NKU's three NP tracks and four NP certificates carries 750 clinical hours. Nursing Education needs 200, Nurse Executive Leadership 100, and the DNP tops you up to 1,000 post-baccalaureate hours. Choose a program to see its courses, preceptor rules and timing.

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Bar chart of clinical hours by NKU program: 750 each for the MSN FNP, AGACNP and PMHNP and the NP certificates; 200 for Nursing Education; 100 for Nurse Executive Leadership.
Clinical hours by NKU program: 750 each for the MSN FNP, AGACNP and PMHNP and the NP certificates; 200 for Nursing Education; 100 for Nurse Executive Leadership.

Hours at a glance

Some older NKU material, including the online FAQ, still gives 500 to 600 hours for the NP tracks; today's program pages give 750. See clinical hours for the full breakdown and that history.

Clinical hours by NKU program (NKU program pages, checked 24 September 2026)
ProgramHoursClinical courses
MSN: FNP750MSN 650L to 655L
MSN: AGACNP750MSN 659L to 663L
MSN: PMHNP750MSN 664L, 665L, 667L, 668L, 669L
Post-master's FNP, AGACNP, PMHNP; NP-to-PMHNP750 eachThe matching MSN clinicals
MSN: Nursing Education200MSN 614L and MSN 670
MSN: Nurse Executive Leadership100MSN 631L
Post-master's DNP1,000 post-baccalaureate in totalDNP 881 to 884, DNP 897 if needed
RN-to-BSNProject-basedNRP 478P

Programs

MSN: Family NP (FNP)Preceptors for NKU's online MSN FNP: 750 primary care hours over six 7-week clinicals, who can precept, the 11 admission states and the Medatrax request.MSN: Adult-Gero Acute Care NPHospital preceptors for NKU's online AGACNP: 750 hours in MSN 659L to 663L, who can precept, the 50% ER cap, the 11 admission states and Medatrax requests.MSN: Psych-Mental Health NPPsych preceptors for NKU's online PMHNP: 750 hours in five clinicals, PMHNP or psychiatrist preceptors, the 80-hour therapy cap, the age mix and Medatrax.MSN: Nursing EducationPreceptors for NKU's online MSN Nursing Education: 50 direct-care hours in MSN 614L and a 150-hour MSN 670 educator capstone, who can precept, and the states.MSN: Nurse Executive LeadershipPreceptors for NKU's online MSN Nurse Executive Leadership: the 100-hour MSN 631L capstone with a nurse leader at manager level or above, rules and states.Post-master's NP certificatesNKU's four online NP certificates, post-master's FNP, AGACNP and PMHNP plus NP-to-PMHNP: 750 clinical hours each, courses, gap analysis and preceptor help.Post-master's FNP certificatePreceptors for NKU's online post-master's FNP certificate: 36 credits, 750 primary care hours in MSN 650L to 655L, gap analysis and the Medatrax request.Post-master's AGACNP certificateHospital preceptors for NKU's post-master's AGACNP certificate: 35 credits, 750 acute care hours in MSN 659L to 663L, the critical care rule and the ER cap.Post-master's PMHNP certificatePsychiatric preceptors for NKU's post-master's PMHNP certificate: 35 credits, 750 hours in five clinicals, who can precept and the 80-hour therapy cap.NP-to-PMHNP certificatePreceptors for NKU's NP-to-PMHNP certificate for practicing NPs: 20 credits, 750 psychiatric hours in five clinicals, employer rules and the Medatrax request.Post-master's DNPNKU's online post-master's DNP: DNP 881 to 884, DNP 897 if needed, reaching 1,000 post-baccalaureate hours with MSN hours, the project site and state rules.RN-to-BSNNKU's online RN-to-BSN practicum, NRP 478P, is project-based, not hour-based: what it asks, the state table, and how to prepare now for MSN preceptors.
FAQ

Questions NKU nursing students ask

How many clinical hours do NKU's NP tracks need?

750 for each of the MSN FNP, AGACNP and PMHNP on NKU's current program pages, spread over five or six 7-week clinical courses. Each post-master's certificate, including NP-to-PMHNP, lists 750 as well.

Why does NKU's FAQ say 500 to 600 hours?

The FAQ hasn't caught up. NKU's 2023 program pages listed 500 or 600 hours; captures from 2025 on and the live pages list 750. Follow your program page and your Canvas shell.

Does the RN-to-BSN need clinical hours?

NKU describes the RN-to-BSN practicum, NRP 478P, as project-based rather than hour-based. You work on a leadership project with a preceptor rather than logging a set number of hours.

Last checked 2026-09-24

We check these pages against NKU's own published sources. NKU's School of Nursing and your Canvas clinical shells have the final word.

Placement desk

Your NKU preceptor, found and filed early.

Tell us your NKU track, where you live and which 7-week session your clinical starts. We find a preceptor and site that fit NKU's rules for your track and have your self-placement request ready well inside the 90-day window.

  • Built for FNP, AGACNP, PMHNP, Nursing Education, Leadership and DNP students
  • Preceptor CV, license and responsibilities form gathered for Medatrax
  • Near home, in a state NKU approves

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A placement advisor replies with the preceptor and site that fit NKU's rules for you.

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