Shortest Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Post-Master’s Certificate Programs near Denver, CO

Last Updated/Verified: Jun 24, 2025
A Nurse Practioner working with a patient. Accelerated ACNP Certificate Programs near Denver, CO

Colorado's Front Range is booming with high-acuity care. Porter Adventist opened a new cardiovascular ICU, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital expanded transplant beds, and Denver Health's Level I Trauma Center now treats more than 95,000 emergencies annually.¹ At the same time, the state's share of residents 65 and older climbed to 16 percent in 2024, and metro Denver's nurse-practitioner workforce already tops 1,900 clinicians.² Hospitals are competing hard for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NPs who can manage complex ventilator, cardiac-device, and post-operative cases.

For MSN-prepared nurses, the fastest pathway to this in-demand role is a post-master's ACNP certificate—and you don't have to leave Colorado (or pause your paycheck) to earn one. Below you'll find three Denver-friendly programs that clock in at just 16 to 23 credits, some as quick as one calendar year. We'll compare credit loads, on-campus requirements, tuition tricks, and career outcomes so you can step into an ICU leadership role sooner—and for less.

2025 Shortest Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Post-Master's Certificate Programs near Denver, CO

Why a "Short" Post-Master's Certificate Makes Sense

  • Fast ROI. A 16-credit certificate can be finished in three semesters, boosting earnings within 12 months. CU Anschutz reports a 100 percent first-time board-pass rate, so graduates hit the job market running.
  • Local clinical placements. Denver-area programs arrange rotations at UCHealth, Denver Health, and SCL Health, slashing travel costs and smoothing preceptor logistics.
  • Six-figure paychecks. Nurse practitioners in the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood metro earn $59.81 per hour ($123,320 annually).

Explore related guides:
Online Post-Master’s Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs | Online Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Programs

Program Snapshot: Credits, Calendars & Campus Days

UniversityTotal CreditsCompletion TimeOn-Campus VisitsTuition Snapshot*Clinical Hours
University of Colorado Anschutz163 semesters (≈ 12 months)3 skills intensives in Aurora$12,560 in-state ($785/credit)360
Colorado State Univ.–Pueblo16 (min)3–4 semesters (plan varies by gap analysis)1 orientation day in Pueblo~$550/credit online grad nursing rate585
Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)22–23†4 semesters (16 months)2 campus intensives in Birmingham$682/credit for CO residents via WRGP reciprocity600†

*Excludes university fees, books, and travel.
†Exact credits and clinical totals depend on gap analysis for second-specialty NPs.

Curriculum & Clinical Highlights

Denver-aligned ACNP certificates share a NONPF-compliant core:

Admission Requirements (Typical)

  • MSN or higher from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited school
  • Active Colorado RN license or multistate eNLC credential
  • One year of adult ICU or step-down RN experience (required for AGACNP tracks)
  • Graduate GPA ≥ 3.0 (GRE waived above 3.2)
  • Résumé, goal statement, and 2 professional references
  • Faculty interview (virtual)

Career Paths & Sub-Specialties

Certificate grads can:

  • Staff CVICUs, trauma ICUs, and advanced heart-failure units as AGACNPs
  • Join rapid-response teams or hospitalist services across UCHealth and CommonSpirit
  • Move into sub-specialty roles—cardiology, transplant, neurocritical care—after 6–12 months of practice
  • Transition into quality-improvement or educator posts by stacking the certificate into a DNP later (all three schools offer DNP bridges)

See more: Online MSN Acute Care NP Programs – Selecting the Best Program

Salary Outlook for Acute-Care NPs

GeographyHourly Mean WageAnnual Mean Wage
Denver–Aurora–Lakewood Metro$59.81$123,320
Colorado (statewide)$59.75$121,990
United States (all NPs)$58.47$121,610

Paying for a Post-Master's Certificate

  • Hospital tuition perks. UCHealth reimburses up to $5,250 annually; Centura Health offers $6,000.
  • Colorado Health Service Corps. Up to $25,000 loan repayment for NPs committing to rural critical-access hospitals.
  • WRGP reciprocity. CU Anschutz extends in-state tuition to Western Regional Graduate Program residents, including Wyoming, Utah, and Arizona, saving up to $8,000.
  • HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment. Forgives 60–85 percent of debt for NPs serving in Health-Professional-Shortage Areas.

For statewide options, browse Online Nurse Practitioner Programs in Colorado.

Work-Life-Study Balance Tips

  1. Leverage self-scheduling. Many Denver ICUs offer 3 × 12s; stack shifts to create four-day study blocks.
  2. Ride the A-Line or RTD Light Rail on campus-immersion days to avoid I-70 traffic and parking fees.
  3. Use virtual sim labs (Sentinel U, Shadow Health) to drill invasive-procedure checklists before skills weekends.
  4. Form Slack study pods for pharmacology flashcards and board-style quizzes.

Accreditation & Certification

All three certificates hold CCNE accreditation and meet AGACNP competencies, preparing graduates for ANCC AGACNP-BC or AACN ACNPC-AG boards—both accepted by the Colorado Board of Nursing for APRN licensure. For exam logistics, see our How to Become a Nurse Practitioner guide.

Networking & Professional Development

  • Colorado Council of Nurse Practitioners (CCNP) – quarterly Denver meet-ups with critical-care CEUs
  • Society of Critical Care Medicine – Colorado Chapter – procedure workshops (central lines, chest tubes)
  • CU Nursing Alumni Mentor Program – pairs post-cert students with practicing AGACNPs
  • Discussion threads inside our Online Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Programs community

Denver Employers Actively Hiring ACNPs

SystemRecent Postings (June 2025)High-Need Units
UCHealth University of Colorado HospitalAGACNP for Liver-Transplant Step-Down (days)Hepatology, transplant
Denver HealthAGACNP in Trauma-Surgery ICU (nights)Trauma, surgical critical care
Centura Porter AdventistCardiac-Surgery ACNP (CVICU)Open-heart recovery
SCL Health Saint JosephHospitalist ACNP (Nocturnist)Med-surg, rapid response

LinkedIn and Indeed listed 140+ ACNP roles across Colorado in the past 60 days.

How to Choose the Best (and Fastest) Program

  1. Credit load vs. clinical hours. CU Anschutz and CSU Pueblo tie at 16 credits, but CSU adds 225 extra practicum hours—ideal if you need more bedside time.
  2. Campus intensity. CU's three-day skills boot camps are concentrated; UAB spreads two immersions over 16 months.
  3. Preceptor support. CU places you; CSU provides leads, but you secure final contracts; UAB expects self-placement in Colorado.
  4. Cost of absences. Ask about simulation-lab fees ($300–$500/semester) and parking.
  5. Long-term ladders. If a DNP is on your radar, pick a school with a seamless credit transfer.

More decision help: Best Online Nurse Practitioner Programs & Schools.

Online & Hybrid Considerations

  • Confirm that Examity or ProctorU fees are bundled into tuition.
  • Ensure programs supply an EPIC sandbox for charting practice.
  • Budget 15–18 study hours per week during didactics; 24+ during final practicum block.
  • Verify your malpractice insurer covers student NP roles in Colorado.

Ready to Elevate Denver's Critical-Care Outcomes?

Colorado's aging population and expanding ICU footprint spell unprecedented demand for board-certified Acute Care NPs. With streamlined 16-credit certificates, you can transition from seasoned RN to high-impact provider in as little as one year, without draining your savings or leaving the Front Range. Compare the programs above, chat with admissions teams, and claim your seat at the bedside of Denver's sickest patients.

Sources

  1. Colorado Hospital Association Critical-Care Bed Expansion Report, 2024
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, Colorado QuickFacts (June 2024) census.gov
  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 OEWS – Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO bls.gov
  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 State Occupational Employment & Wage Estimates – Colorado bls.gov
  5. University of Colorado College of Nursing – AGACNP Post-Graduate Certificate overview & tuition nursing.cuanschutz.edunursing.cuanschutz.edu
  6. Colorado State University–Pueblo School of Nursing – AGACNP Post-Master's Certificate credit policy & clinical hours catalog.csupueblo.edu
  7. CSU Pueblo Online Graduate Tuition Rates 2024–2025 csupueblo.edu
  8. University of Alabama at Birmingham – Post-Graduate APRN Certificate FAQ suab.edu

(All tuition figures reflect 2025–26 published rates and may change.)

Judy Daniels, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC
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