DNP-FNP application timeline

Apply now for June 2024

Online applications for summer incoming classes in the Doctor of Nursing Practice — Family Nurse Practitioner Degree Program are available through UC Davis Graduate Studies. Applications open each year in September and close at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Jan. 15 (for guaranteed consideration). Applications received between Jan. 16 and June 1 are reviewed if it's determined that the program has space after reviewing general deadline applicants. The space available application deadline is 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) June 1.

Click on the link below to access additional application information. The document below provides essential information needed to complete the application process which is not included in the online UC Davis application. Follow the detailed instructions and note the helpful tips. It is important that you use these documents as a guide when completing your application.

To begin the application, click “Apply now” on the Grad Studies page.

Apply now

Thinking about applying?
Click this link to access our step-by-step guide to applying to the D.N.P.-F.N.P. program

  • Current unencumbered registered nurse (R.N.) licensure
    • International applicants must have U.S. licensure or be eligible for the NCLEX
  • One year of experience as a registered nurse or equivalency (i.e., two years part‐time) prior to the start of clinical rotations (end of year 1)
    • Offer of admission is contingent on completion of this requirement by end of year 1. If a student is admitted with this contingency, admission will be revoked at the end of year 1 if the student is not able to show proof of completion.
  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
    • The School of Nursing evaluates applicants with a master’s degree from an accredited college or university on a case-by-case basis, provided applicants have shown previous course equivalence to waive out of the first quarter of graduate courses in the D.N.P.-F.N.P.
  • A minimum bachelor's-degree GPA of 3.0
  • Completion of all prerequisite courses (see prerequisite section below for more details)
  • A minimum cumulative 2.7 GPA in all science prerequisite coursework is required (we anticipate increasing the science GPA requirement to 3.0 minimum in the future — see prerequisite section below for details).
  • Statement of purpose, personal history and diversity statement and future interest or goals submitted through the UC Davis Graduate Studies Application
  • The application process may require an interview
  • TOEFL (international graduates only) scores for international applicants and those whose native language is not English.
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Official transcripts from each institution attended*

*Transcripts must reflect the bachelor’s degree awarded, including date awarded and major(s). For those who are recent graduates, it may take several weeks to months for new degrees to be reflected on official transcripts.

Online applications are processed through UC Davis Graduate Studies, which coordinates UC Davis graduate degree programs. All applicants must submit a completed UC Davis Graduate Studies application and meet UC Davis requirements for graduate admissions.

Admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Meeting some or all of these criteria does not guarantee admission, but merely eligibility. Admission is competitive.

An offer of acceptance is based on the premise that all data submitted in application materials (including but not limited to UC Davis Graduate Studies and criminal background check applications) are true and accurate. Should there be misrepresentation in or a violation of any of the terms of the application process, the university reserves the right to rescind the offer of acceptance at any time, or, disqualify the student at any time during their education.

All prerequisites are required at the college level from an accredited school and must be included on the submitted transcript during the application process. Each prerequisite is expected to be one full course, either a quarter or a semester, and a minimum of three units, depending on the location where it was completed. Completion of prerequisite coursework online is acceptable if it is from an accredited academic institution. Advanced Placement scores awarded in high school do NOT fulfill prerequisites. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or better.

If an applicant has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree from an accredited university, they must only complete the statistics prerequisite.

If an applicant has an entry-level master’s prelicensure nursing degree from an accredited university (such as the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing), they must only complete the statistics prerequisite.

If an applicant has an Associate Degree in Nursing (A.D.N.) with a bachelor’s degree in another field, they must complete all the prerequisite courses listed below.

Science prerequisite courses

  • One course in human anatomy with lab*
  • One course in human physiology with lab*
    • o Or human anatomy and physiology series: Part I and Part II with lab*
  • One course in chemistry with lab (expected to change  to one semester or quarter of organic chemistry or biochemistry with lab in the near future)
  • One course in microbiology or bacteriology with lab

Other prerequisite courses

  • One course in English composition
  • Two courses in social sciences. Ideal courses provide exposure to human or organizational behavior — such as psychology, sociology, ethnic studies, women's studies or cultural anthropology.
    • Social science courses may be completed in two different subject areas or within the same subject area.

*It is desired that the human anatomy and human physiology prerequisite courses be completed within the past five years of when you plan to apply. Competitive applicants should self-assess their strengths. If it has been a number of years since courses were completed, applicants may want to consider retaking them. Applicants may complete a combined human anatomy and human physiology series course. Series courses are offered in two parts and are completed over the course of two quarters or two semesters. Series courses must be completed in full and must include a lab component. If the applicant only completes one part of the series course, they must additionally complete a course in either human anatomy or human physiology to fulfill the requirement. Mammalian or animal will not fulfill this requirement.

Statistics prerequisite (waived for 2022 and 2023 entrants)

  • Completion of a basic course in descriptive and inferential statistics completed with a grade of B or higher within three years prior to the start of the program. Applicants are expected to have the equivalent of the following UC Davis courses: STA100: Applied Statistics (4 units)
    • Due to the proximity of timing between when admissions requirements were posted to our website to the application deadlines, the Admissions Committee waived the statistics course requirement for the inaugural D.N.P.-F.N.P. cohort entering in 2022 and the 2023 cohort. Instead, admitted students are strongly encouraged to complete a statistics course before the program begins or no later than the end of year 1. Course should cover key topics of descriptive and inferential statistics, which provides the foundational knowledge to support student success in the program.

Visit the D.N.P.-F.N.P. FAQ page for additional details about program requirements and prerequisites. 

View D.N.P-F.N.P. sample prerequisites web page.

Each student admitted to the Doctor of Nursing Practice — Family Nurse Practitioner (D.N.P.-F.N.P.) program at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing receives generous financial support to cover approximately 30% of University of California in-state tuition and fees.

Graduate school is challenging, especially for the many students who juggle family, school and financial responsibilities. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing seeks students with diverse life experiences along with the potential and determination to make an impact. Scholarships and other financial support ensure the most qualified, diverse and driven students may enter graduate degree programs —a principle upon which the school was launched with its founding grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Specific details about financial support are provided to individuals as part of the admission offer.

All Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership students are encouraged to seek a variety of forms of financial support and it is essential for students to apply as early as possible. Please review the general financial aid resource section below for additional details and links about financial aid resources available.

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees for the Doctor of Nursing Practice — Family Nurse Practitioner Degree Program at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis are set by the University of California and are subject to change without notice. Tuition and fees are based on residency as well as degree type (i.e. academic or professional). The D.N.P.-F.N.P. program is a Self-Supporting Degree Program (SSDP). For more information, visit the Office of Budget and Institutional Analysis.

UC Davis internal fellowships

There are a variety of fellowships available for students with varying backgrounds, research interests and undergraduate majors. These fellowships are competitive funds for graduate students across the entire UC Davis campus. Please check if you qualify for any of the current funding opportunities. For more information, visit UC Davis Graduate Studies, Internal Fellowship

General financial aid resources

Information about various financial aid resources available for clinical education (grants, scholarships, fellowships, loan programs and short-term loans) is provided through the UC Davis Health Financial Aid Office. There are different procedures for applying for each type of financial assistance and they are not program-specific to the School of Nursing.

Both federal and state resources provide a range of flexible repayment options, including, but not limited to, income-based and income-contingent repayment plans, as well as loan-forgiveness benefits. Other forms of assistance, such as short-term and interest-free loans, are also available to enrolled students. A member of the UC Davis Health Financial Aid Office can answer questions regarding these programs and discuss how to best meet your financial aid needs.

Students are encouraged to seek private scholarships and external funding. For more information, visit the UC Davis Graduate Studies External Support Resources page. There are also several online scholarship databases. One example is collegeboard.org

For UC Davis information regarding cancelation of registration, withdrawal from a program and fee refunds, please refer to the UC Davis policy.

Financial aid tips

Credit-based loans are a part of most financial aid packages.

  • Check your credit through free credit score checks from Transunion, Experian, and Equifax.
  • To increase your credit score and your ability to qualify for loans, pay off credit card debt before beginning graduate school. Plan ahead as credit scores take time to update.
  • Interest rates are affected by your credit ratings.
  • Financial aid is not to be used for paying credit card debt; it is only for school tuition and fees.
  • To apply for federal student loans, scholarships and grants, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application early.

For additional information about applying to the D.N.P.-F.N.P program, including admission requirements and an overview of the application process, please view the recording of the webinar information session.

Questions? For more application assistance, email us at hs-BettyIreneMooreSON@ucdavis.edu.