Nurse practitioners (NPs), a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), have a larger scope of practice than registered nurses. They can write prescriptions, see patients as primary care providers, and take on more responsibility in clinical settings. Below, we’ll lay out how to pursue this career path and each step involved.
To prepare for their roles as nurse practitioners, prospective NPs must first become registered nurses and gain some experience in patient care. After that, they may pursue further education and licensing.
Both a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree give graduates the title of registered nurse, or RN. However, most nurse practitioner programs require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree.
After graduation, nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination–RN (NCLEX-RN). Once a nurse passes their NCLEX, they may apply for a state license.
Every state requires different documentation for RN licensing, and new nurses may look up their state’s application requirements at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Most NP programs ask that nurses have a year or two of bedside experience before they pursue the next step. Registered nurses can work in any specialty, although it may enhance their application if they work in the specialty they’d like to pursue as an NP.
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) can take as little as two years if nurses can devote full-time hours to their studies. However, many nurses continue to work at the bedside as they earn their master’s. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees take a little longer but can have some benefits for NPs. Prospective nurse practitioners choose their specialty when they apply for a nurse practitioner program and their coursework will focus on that specialty.
Once a nurse has graduated with an MSN, they must pass a nurse practitioner certification exam. Unlike the exam for registered nurses, the NCLEX-RN, NP exams are divided into specialties. Whichever specialty an NP has chosen and focused on in their master’s program, they will need to take the corresponding exam.
Similar to RN licensing, each state has a unique process for licensing their NPs, who can look up local requirements on their state’s nursing board website.
Nurse practitioner education begins with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN, which typically takes four years. Some programs offer accelerated options when certain prerequisites have been completed.
Some NP programs will accept applicants with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) who also hold an RN license, but many prefer a BSN.
Once a nurse has their BSN and some experience under their belt, they may pursue higher education to become an NP, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). The two educational paths to become a nurse practitioner include getting a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
A Master of Science in Nursing, or MSN, offers the next logical step in the ladder of nursing education. As a graduate program, nurses may choose their specialty and design their schedule to fit their needs.
A Doctor of Nursing Practice, or DNP, earns a degree of the same name. Graduating with a DNP can take up to four years for nurses with a BSN who can commit to their studies full-time. Nurses who already have an MSN can complete the program faster. The AACN has stated they want to encourage and possibly require future APRNs to hold a doctorate-level degree, and so this degree may become the norm for nurse practitioners in the future.
Once a nurse practitioner completes their studies and graduates with their degree, they must take an exam in their specialty. All NP exams test for advanced nursing practice knowledge and skills in addition to knowledge of their specific patient population.
Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners treat adolescents, adults, and older adults in acute care settings.
Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners treat adolescents, adults, and older adults in primary health care settings.
Family nurse practitioners care for patients of all ages in a primary care setting.
Neonatal nurse practitioners treat babies born prematurely in a critical care setting.
Pediatric nurse practitioners treat newborns, infants, children, and adolescents in a primary or acute care setting.
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners treat patients with mental health diagnoses in an outpatient or acute care environment.
Women’s health nurse practitioners treat female patients’ obstetric and gynecological (ob/gyn) health needs.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists treat patients in need of pain relief or sedation for a surgical procedure.
Certified nurse-midwives provide prenatal care to pregnant women and assist in births.
To practice as nurse practitioners, NPs must acquire both an advanced practice nurse license from the state in which they wish to work and one of the mandatory specialty certifications listed above. Each state in the U.S. may have differing requirements for NP licensure. For example, some states require NPs to have a DNP, while others accept an MSN. New NPs may check their state’s licensing information through the AANP.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for nurse practitioners is much higher than average at 38%. The vast majority of nurse practitioners work as primary care providers, while neonatal medicine is the smallest NP specialty, according to the AANP.
| Certification | Percent of NPs |
|---|---|
| Family | 70.3 |
| Adult–Gerontology Primary Care | 8.9 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health | 6.5 |
| Adult–Gerontology Acute Care | 6.1 |
| Adult | 5.7 |
| Acute Care | 2.9 |
| Pediatrics–Primary Care | 2.4 |
| Women’s Health | 2.2 |
| Gerontology | 0.9 |
| Pediatrics–Acute Care | 0.6 |
| Neonatal | 0.5 |
Not all NPs work at the bedside: some choose to become educators or researchers. Others work as legal or political consultants or hospital administrators.
Aspiring nurse practitioners must first graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and pass their state licensing boards: the NCLEX-RN. After a few years of experience, they may apply to a graduate program to earn a Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
The fastest path to a nurse practitioner credential is to earn a Master of Science in Nursing, which takes two to three years. The other route, earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice, can take up to four years (full-time).
If a candidate is starting with no prior education, it may take anywhere from seven to 10 years to become a nurse practitioner. The time it takes, however, depends on a lot of factors, including prior education and full-time vs. part-time status.
Nurse practitioners can earn a higher salary than RNs, at a median of $128,490 annually ($61.77 an hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% of NPs earn an average of $94,530, while the highest 10% earn $168,030.
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