GW nursing programs and the clinical hours behind each one

Updated September 24, 2026 · Reviewed by the GW Preceptor placement team

Every GW nurse practitioner track, from the MSN to the post-BSN DNP to the post-master's certificates, asks for 600 hours with an approved preceptor. Midwifery and leadership follow their own patterns. The table gives GW's figures, and each program guide below explains the courses and the preceptor you need.

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Bar chart of clinical and practice hours in GW's 2026-27 Bulletin: post-BSN DNP 600 direct plus 500 indirect; post-MSN DNP 1,000 with 500 from the MSN; Direct-Entry MSN 900; Nurse-Midwifery 840; every NP track 600 with a preceptor; Nursing Leadership and Management 300. — Clinical and practice hours in GW's 2026-27 Bulletin: post-BSN DNP 600 direct plus 500 indirect; post-MSN DNP 1,000 with 500 from the MSN; Direct-Entry MSN 900; Nurse-Midwifery 840; every NP track 600 with a preceptor; Nursing Leadership and Management 300.

Clinical hours by GW program

Where GW's own pages disagree, the table shows both figures. Your course syllabus and CORE settle it for your term; the clinical hours guide has the planner.

GW clinical and practicum hours (Bulletin 2026-27 and GW Nursing program pages)
Program	Clinical or practicum hours	Who finds the site
MSN FNP, AGPCNP, PMHNP	600 with an approved preceptor	You, with GW's support
MSN AGACNP	600, in DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia	GW's program director is closely involved
Post-BSN DNP NP tracks	600 direct + 500 indirect (Bulletin 2026-27); the website says 1,100	You, except AGACNP
Post-master's NP certificates	600 (FNP: 500 on the website, 600 in the Bulletin)	You, from the first semester
MSN Nurse-Midwifery	840 in two immersion semesters	You, with faculty and placement team support
MSN Nursing Leadership and Management	300 (two 150-hour practicums)	You, with a master's-prepared preceptor
Post-MSN DNP	1,000 total, 500 carried from the MSN	Set in the DNP project courses
Accelerated and Veterans BSN, Direct-Entry MSN	540 (BSN), 900 (DEMSN)	GW places you

Nurse practitioner MSN

MSN Family Nurse PractitionerGW's online FNP MSN: 48 credits, 600 precepted hours in NURS 6230, 6231 and 6232, CLASI and OSCEs, and when your first preceptor must be in place.MSN Adult-Gero Primary Care NPGW's Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP MSN: 48 credits, 600 hours in NURS 6224, 6225 and 6229, long-term care hours, fall and spring starts, OSCEs.MSN Adult-Gero Acute Care NPGW's Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP MSN: part-time, fall only, for DC, MD and VA residents with critical care experience; 600 hours in DC, MD or Northern VA.MSN Psychiatric Mental Health NPGW's Psychiatric Mental Health NP MSN: 50 credits, five 120-hour clinical courses (NURS 6244 to 6248), part-time plans and the PMHNP or CNS preceptor rule.

Doctoral

DNP Family NP (post-BSN)GW's post-BSN DNP Family NP: 72 credits, 600 direct and 500 indirect hours, and a first clinical course in semester 9 of an 11-semester plan.DNP Adult-Gero Primary Care (post-BSN)GW's post-BSN DNP in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care: 72 credits, NURS 6224, 6225 and 6229 in years 3 and 4, long-term care hours and two OSCEs.DNP Adult-Gero Acute Care (post-BSN)GW's post-BSN DNP in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care: 72 credits, living in the DC region for NURS 6235 to 6237, program director placements, simulations.DNP Psychiatric Mental Health (post-BSN)GW's post-BSN DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health: 74 credits, five 120-hour rotations from NURS 6245 in semester 7, virtual CLASI and the NURS 6248 rule.DNP Nursing Practice (post-MSN)GW's post-MSN DNP in Nursing Practice: 36 credits, 1,000 practice hours with 500 carried from your MSN, and the DNP options not admitting for Fall 2026.

Post-master's certificates

Post-master's AGPCNP, AGACNP, FNPGW's AGPCNP and AGACNP post-master's certificates: 20 credits, 600 hours and clinicals from the first semester. The FNP certificate is not admitting.Post-master's PMHNP certificateGW's post-master's PMHNP certificate: 22 credits, 600 precepted hours, a fall start and clinical rotations that begin with the first course, NURS 6245.

Midwifery and leadership

MSN Nurse-MidwiferyGW's Nurse-Midwifery MSN: 50 credits, 840 immersion hours in NURS 6321 and 6322, CLASI in semester 7, the Birth Center workshop and the ACME wording.MSN Nursing Leadership and ManagementGW's Nursing Leadership and Management MSN: 36 credits, two 150-hour practicums (NURS 6258, 6259) with master's-prepared preceptors, plus the MSN/MPH@GW.

Pre-licensure

BSN and Direct-Entry MSN (Ashburn)GW's Accelerated and Veterans BSN and new Direct-Entry MSN in Ashburn: GW arranges your clinicals. How the final preceptorship works and where we help.

Questions GW students ask

How many clinical hours are in GW's nurse practitioner programs?

Every GW nurse practitioner option carries 600 hours with an approved preceptor. The figure is the same for FNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP and PMHNP students, and the same again whether the degree is an MSN, a DNP entered after the BSN or a certificate added to a master's.

Which GW programs place students in clinical sites?

The Accelerated and Veterans BSN and the new Direct-Entry MSN in Ashburn. In the graduate programs, students identify and secure their own site and preceptor, except in the Acute Care NP options, where GW's program director is closely involved.

Is every GW program still admitting?

No. GW's pages show the online RN-BSN, the DNP in Executive Leadership, the DNP in Health Policy and the FNP post-master's certificate as not accepting applications. Students already enrolled in them still complete their courses.

HoursClinical hours by programGW Nursing clinical hours for each program: 600 in every NP track, 840 for midwifery, 300 for leadership, the DNP totals, and where GW's figures disagree.NP hours600 NP clinical hoursEvery GW NP track needs 600 precepted clinical hours. See the 120/240/240 course splits, PMHNP's five 120-hour courses and the older figures still online.GuideGW clinical systemsEvery GW Nursing clinical guide in one place: CORE and the Site Prospector, clearance, preceptor rules, hours and logs, Complio, CLASI, OSCEs and state limits.GuideGW clinicals by stateDoing GW Nursing clinicals where you live? Guides for DC, every state and GW's state limits: RN license rules, boards, compacts and local preceptors.

Last checked 2026-09-24

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Preceptors matched to the course: family practice for NURS 6230 to NURS 6232, older-adult primary care for AGPCNP, psychiatric care for PMHNP
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