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The information on this page applies to the post-master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston. We also offer BSN to DNP tracks in Nurse Anesthesia and four Nurse Practitioner specialties.

Applications for our Post-master's Nurse Practitioner program are processed through Nursing Centralized Application System (NCAS).

NCAS charges an application fee.

Please note: Students who need an F-1 visa are not eligible for admission due to the amount of content delivered online. The Department of Homeland Security does not allow our DNP or MSN programs to issue F-1 visas. Additionally, students admitted to Cizik School of Nursing must personally reside in the state of Texas before the first day of class. 

Step 1: What you will need to apply

These items must be submitted through NCAS with your application:

  • Official transcripts with calculated GPAs from each post-secondary institution you have attended. 
  • One letter of reference attesting to your academic ability and potential for doctoral study. Applicants are strongly encouraged to select a doctorally prepared nurse who can attest to the applicant’s academic ability and potential for doctoral study.
  • A curriculum vitae or résumé that documents practice experience, professional activities, and presentations/publications.
  • A 500-word, typed essay stating your area of practice interest, career goals, and reason for desiring doctoral study.
  • If you have previous college coursework outside the U.S., you must submit official transcripts from all foreign institutions attended and course-by-course evaluations from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or Western Educational Services (WES).
  • International applicants must submit one official copy of their TOEFL score. TOEFL scores cannot be more than two years old. A minimum score of 550 is required on the paper exam, a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based exam, or a minimum score of 86 on the internet-based exam.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • For all tracks
    • A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program.
    • Graduate level nursing or equivalent research course with a grade of B or higher.* 

    *The course is not required to apply. If admitted without the prerequisite course, there will be an opportunity to enroll in the courses at UTHealth, or at other another institution. The course must be successfully completed prior to the first day of class

  • For advance practice/nurse practitioner tracks
    • A master’s degree in nursing or post-master’s certificate as an advanced practice nurse from a nationally accredited program with a GPA of 3.0 or above.
    • Proof of current certification by a nationally recognized credentialing organization.
    • Eligibility or approval to practice as an advanced practice nurse by the Texas Board of Nursing.
    • Minimum of one year of work experience in the advanced practice role.
  • For Nurse Executive track
    • Master’s degree in nursing (MSN), business administration (MBA), health care administration (MHA), public health (MPh), MSN or MN in Nursing Education with nursing leadership experience, or master’s degree in an equivalent nationally accredited healthcare leadership program with a GPA of 3.0 or above.
    • Minimum of one year of experience in the nursing leadership practice role.
  • For Nursing Informatics track
    • MSN, MBA, MHA, MPh, MSN or MN in Nursing Education with a systems/nursing informatics practice experience, or master’s degree in an equivalent nationally accredited informatics program with a GPA of 3.0 or above.

Step 2: Apply through NCAS

Before you apply: Make sure you have selected the program that will meet your educational and future career goals. Applications are not transferable between programs or terms. Application fees are non-refundable and are non-transferable.

Applications for the Post-master's DNP program are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. However, applicants are encouraged to apply before the deadline. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis. 

Once an application is received via NCAS, you will be assigned a seven-digit application ID and granted access to applyUTH, where you can track the status of your application.

Step 3: Admission decisions

Qualified applicants will be interviewed by Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston DNP faculty to assess whether the program aligns with applicant’s educational needs and career goals.

Cizik School of Nursing’s admission policy describes multiple factors taken into consideration in the admissions process. These admission factors are not assigned a specific weight or point value. Cizik School of Nursing considers the totality of each application and considers each of these factors.
 

Notification:

Once a decision is made, ApplyUTH is updated with the application status. If you are admitted, you will receive an email and a letter in the mail. If you are denied, you will receive a letter in the mail.

Please see the applications deadline page for approximate notification dates for prospective students who submit their applications by the priority date.
 

Step 4: Pre-enrollment requirements for accepted students

If admitted, enrollment is contingent upon successful completion of immunization screening, immigration status clearance, documentation of Texas nursing license, and clearance of the mandatory criminal background check and drug screening. 

Your American Heart Association Basic Life Support (AHA-BLS) for the Health Care Provider certification must be current before any clinical placement. You may choose to take the AHA-BLS through Cizik School of Nursing’s Simulation and Clinical Performance Laboratory.

Get all the details in our New Student Guide.


Essential Skills in Nursing

Nurses must be able to demonstrate cognitive skills in critical thinking and logical/analytical thinking. Nurses must also have psychomotor skills, including fine motor dexterity, physical strength, coordination, and proper body mechanics. Observational skills are also required, such as the ability to hear within the normal decibel range, the ability to read English in regular to extra-fine print, and the ability to palpate/auscultate. Students must be able to demonstrate these skills, with or without reasonable accommodation. See HOOP 101, Disability Accommodation.