WT Launches Doctoral Program in Nursing, Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certificate for Fall 2026

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University today announces the launch of its third doctoral program, one that will have a significant impact on the future of rural healthcare in the Texas Panhandle.

Enrollment is open now for the first cohort of WT's new Doctor of Nursing Practice program this fall.

The University also has added a post-master's emergency nurse practitioner certificate for family nurse practitioners who want to expand their expertise in emergency and urgent care.

The DNP program, the first of its kind in the Panhandle region, is designed for advanced practice nurses who are ready to drive real improvements in patient outcomes, said Dr. Holly Jeffreys, dean of WT's College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

"This is such an incredible opportunity for our College to meet the needs of the Texas Panhandle by providing additional critical training for those on the front lines in rural areas," Jeffreys said. "We have worked with local stakeholders for support and have built a strong team of educators who are ready to deliver the highest quality of education and training essential for our communities."

The Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certificate program, only the second such program in the state, is designed for family nurse practitioners who already hold a Master's of Science in Nursing.

The DNP program officially was approved July 15 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Priority application deadline is July 31 for fall 2026 admission. Applications received after July 31 may be reviewed based on program capacity.

DNP students will elevate their skills in systems leadership, quality improvement and population health, preparing them to shape local and national policy. The program can be completed within two years.

Students enrolling in WT's DNP program will receive personalized faculty mentorship and hands-on, practice-based learning. In their studies, they will solve actual challenges facing underserved communities across the Panhandle and beyond, then graduate ready to deliver care and work as a transformational leader.

In lieu of a dissertation, students will design and implement a rigorous research project that will focus on quality improvement, systems leadership and policy development.

DNP applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree and a master's degree in nursing from a regionally accredited institution. They also must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Scholarships are available.

To apply, visit wtamu.edu/dnp.

The ENP program will combine classroom instruction with simulation, EMS operations, disaster preparedness, and direct clinical experience to help students build advanced, real-world skills.

"This program represents more than a new academic offering," Jeffreys said. "It is a commitment to the people of the Texas Panhandle. Our region deserves highly trained emergency providers who understand the unique challenges of rural healthcare and who are prepared to deliver lifesaving care when every second matters. By educating and retaining emergency nurse practitioners in our communities, we are strengthening the emergency care workforce, expanding access to high-quality care, and ensuring that patients across the Panhandle receive expert treatment close to home."

Each course includes a separate clinical component, giving students hands-on training needed to strengthen competency and apply what they learn in practice. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to take for the national Emergency Nurse Practitioner certificate examination.

The 15-credit-hour program is a hybrid program which students can begin in either the fall or spring. All courses will be taught by full-time faculty with experience in the field. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Scholarships are available.

To apply, visit wtamu.edu/enp.

Both the DNP and ENP programs were made possible, in part, through a $5 million gift from the High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation in March.

The gift, the largest single gift in the foundation's history, established the High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation Health Institute, which will encompass four focus areas:

• The DNP program
• The ENP certification
• Community and Research, through rural health partnerships, community outreach and seed grants;
• And Nutrition Integration, through curriculum, partnerships, and nutrition and wellness initiatives

The DNP program joins WT's doctoral programs in agriculture and educational leadership. It advances WT's progress toward earning a Research 2 classification from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

In 2025, WT was classified as a Research College and University, or RCU, the new Carnegie designation that identifies research happening at colleges and universities that historically have not been recognized for their research activity.

According to the Carnegie Foundation, the RCU designation encompasses institutions that spend more than $2.5 million annually on research, regardless of whether they offer doctoral degrees.

R2 schools, meanwhile, spend at least $5 million annually on research and development and award at least 20 research doctorates.

Expanding WT's reach and impact as a Regional Research University is the primary goal of the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million dollars, the largest such campaign in Texas Panhandle history.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

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