Idaho NP Programs at a Glance
| State practice authority | Full Practice Authority – NPs evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe independently |
| Idaho Board of Nursing | Idaho Board of Nursing |
| Idaho median NP wage | ~$110,000 (Payscale/BLS, 2024). See Idaho state OES tables for current detail. |
| National median NP wage | $129,210/year (BLS, May 2024) |
| Projected NP job growth | 46% (2023–2033) nationally – one of the fastest-growing professions |
| Primary accreditors | CCNE · ACEN |
| Common NP specialty tracks | FNP, AGNP (Primary/Acute), PMHNP, PNP, WHNP, NNP |
| Typical program length | 2–3 years (MSN-NP) or 3–4 years (BSN-to-DNP), full-time post-BSN |
Our Editorial Process
This guide is written by a credentialed nurse and reviewed against source-of-truth references at least annually. Program accreditation is verified against the CCNE program directory and ACEN directory. Idaho licensure information is verified against the Idaho Board of Nursing. Salary and growth figures come directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Idaho data. Read our full editorial standards.
2026 Updates for Idaho NP Programs
- Idaho practice authority. Idaho is a Full Practice Authority state. Licensed nurse practitioners can evaluate, diagnose, order tests, and prescribe medications independently of physician supervision. Idaho is one of 27 states + DC granting full NP autonomy under state law.
- BLS data refresh (May 2024 OES). National median NP wage is now $129,210; Idaho-specific data is published in the Idaho state OES tables.
- Projected NP job growth. 46% projected employment growth from 2023 to 2033 nationally – one of the fastest-growing occupations the BLS tracks.
- AACN 2025 Position Statement. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reaffirmed the DNP as the preferred terminal degree for advanced practice. BSN-to-DNP and post-master’s DNP pathways continue to be the dominant educational routes for new NPs in Idaho.
- Telehealth permanence. Federal and state telehealth flexibilities introduced during 2020 have largely been made permanent, expanding remote NP roles across primary care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management.
- PMHNP demand surge. Mental health workforce shortages are particularly acute nationwide; PMHNP-specific job postings have outpaced general NP postings consistently. See our PMHNP career guide.
While the physician shortage predicted for 2030 will affect every state, Idaho may be hit particularly hard. The state is expected to be short over 1,700 doctors. Currently, thirty-nine of the state’s 44 counties are designated as health professional shortage areas, areas where there are 3,500 or more patients for every provider. Idaho currently ranks 50th in physician supply and 49th in active primary care physicians, showing just how much the state needs to increase the number of care providers available in the state.
Nurse practitioners are uniquely positioned to fill these gaps. Idaho is a full-practice state, which means that they can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications independently. Because this state is primarily rural, it offers unique opportunities for nurses who wish to help patients outside a major metropolitan area.
There are a few major hospital systems across the state. Kootenai Health and Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital are in the northern panhandle, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center is just south of Moscow, and West Valley Medical Center and the St. Luke’s System are clustered around Boise. However, most of the counties are rural and may have difficulty accessing healthcare.
Idaho is a great state for outdoor lovers. You can hike at Lake Coeur d’Alene, go boating on Lake Pend Oreille, or spot wildlife at Yellowstone National Park. Adventure seekers will love sledding at Bruneau Dunes State Park or skiing at Dollar Mountain. There are also plenty of hot springs to relax in and plenty of breweries, distilleries, farmer’s markets, and fine dining across the state.
The main urban area in the state is Boise, the City of Trees. Each of the universities covered below has a campus near the city. It is an ideal college town, offering a bustling arts and culture scene as well as easy access to a variety of outdoor adventures, including rock climbing, skiing, hiking, and water sports. It is also one of the top ten cities for cyclists in the country.
If you’re interested in working as a nurse practitioner in the Gem State, there are three universities where you might consider enrolling to pursue your degree. We detail these schools as well as their NP programs below.
Program Overview:
Boise State University began as a junior college in 1932 and is today the largest university in the state of Idaho. The School of Nursing in the College of Health Sciences has been educating nurses since 1955 and offers two DNP options for students who wish to practice as NPs.
The 70-credit BSN to DNP FNP option features mostly online classes with annual on-campus summer intensives. It is structured as a cohort model where students move through the program as a group. Nurses who already have an MSN can also enter the program and will have a transcript review to determine what courses they need to complete to meet the requirements. The BSN to DNP AGNP Acute Care is also 70 credits and structured similarly.
Students get hands-on experience on campus in the school’s fully interactive Simulation Center. The center is designed to resemble a hospital floor, with a central nurse’s station surrounded by acute care rooms. Students work with mannequins and standardized patients to gain experience that will help them during their clinical hours and future careers. Standardized patients are trained actors who take on real patients’ medical history, characteristics, and symptoms. The center also has a practice lab where students can learn skills like intubation and cardiovascular resuscitation.
Program Overview:
Although Idaho State University has roots going as far back as 1901, the College of Nursing wasn’t established until 1956 and is part of the College of Health at the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences. It offers a variety of programs, including two doctorate tracks for nurses who wish to pursue careers as FNPs.
The BSN to DNP FNP track is a total of 78 credits with 1000 clinical hours, and the Post-Graduate MSN to DNP FNP option is 29 credits with 1000 clinical hours, though students entering the MSN to DNP program may have a gap analysis to determine the total number of credits and clinical hours they need to complete the program. Note that the MSN to DNP FNP option is only for nurses who already have a master’s-level FNP degree.
Courses for both of these DNP programs are offered online, but FNP students must come to the Pocatello campus in the southeast part of the state and the Meridian campus just west of Boise two to four days each semester for clinical intensives. There is also a mandatory program orientation on the Pocatello campus.
The FNP program at ISU is open to students in some other states. However, because of individual state licensure requirements, this program only admits students from Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Oregon.
Program Overview:
This Christian liberal arts institution is affiliated with The Church of the Nazarene, but about 65% of students are affiliated with different denominations or no religion at all. Located about 20 miles west of Boise, Northwest Nazarene University opened its doors in 1913 and the Idaho Holiness School in the Mennonite church. Today, it bills itself as Idaho’s premier Christian university. It’s located in Nampa, just 20 miles west of Boise.
The 48-credit BSN to FNP program at Northwest Nazarene University is designed to be flexible, making it a good option for working professionals, and it’s open to students in states outside of Idaho. All courses are taught online, but students can complete 600 required clinical hours in their home states. During required on-campus immersions, students benefit from learning in the state-of-the-art labs and patient simulators in the Thomas Family Health and Science Center. The program uses a cohort model, so students move through classes as a group.
Note that students from states outside of Idaho should verify that this program meets the licensing requirements for their home states.
Educational Routes to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Idaho
Five distinct routes appear across the NP schools listed on this page. Each suits a different starting credential and timeline. All five satisfy the Idaho Board of Nursing APRN-certification requirements when paired with national NP certification.
1. MSN-NP (Most Common Route)
The traditional Master of Science in Nursing with an NP specialty track. Designed for working RNs who already hold a BSN. Typical length: 2 to 3 years full-time or 3 to 4 years part-time, with 500 to 750 clinical hours. Idaho MSN-NP options are concentrated at Boise State University (Treasure Valley), Idaho State University (Pocatello + Meridian + Idaho Falls), and Northwest Nazarene University (Nampa). All three offer hybrid MSN-FNP delivery with statewide preceptor placement.
2. RN-to-MSN Bridge (No BSN Required)
For ADN-prepared RNs who want to skip a separate BSN program. The bridge adds 12 to 18 months of BSN-level coursework before the master’s component begins. In Idaho, Boise State and Idaho State both offer RN-to-MSN bridge pathways into NP tracks. Total time-to-degree typically lands at 3 to 4 years. See the broader top RN-to-NP programs ranking.
3. BSN-to-DNP (Doctoral-Entry NP)
Aligned with the AACN’s 2025 DNP position statement. Combines NP-specialty training with terminal-degree coursework over 3 to 4 years and roughly 1,000 clinical hours. 2 Idaho schools offer a DNP program — see the full Idaho DNP programs guide for state-specific detail, or online BSN-to-DNP programs for ranked national options.
4. Post-Master’s Certificate (Existing MSN Holders)
For nurses who already hold a master’s-level NP credential and want to add a second specialty — an FNP adding AGNP, an FNP adding PMHNP, etc. Typical length: 12 to 24 months and ~500 clinical hours. Idaho post-master’s certificate options are concentrated at Boise State and Idaho State. The NP Certifications hub covers the certificate landscape in depth.
5. Accelerated & Direct-Entry (Non-Nursing Bachelor’s)
For career changers with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The student earns an accelerated BSN first (12 to 16 months), then enters an NP master’s or DNP track. Idaho’s direct-entry options include Idaho State University’s Master of Science in Nursing entry pathway. Total time-to-NP-licensure: typically 4 to 5 years from start of accelerated BSN.
Fast & Affordable Idaho NP Programs (Editorial Picks)
These editorial picks balance time-to-degree, total program cost, and accreditation. All programs listed are CCNE or ACEN accredited and confirmed to currently enroll Idaho residents.
Fastest Idaho NP Programs
- Boise State University — Online MSN-FNP: Multiple intakes per year; accelerated track for working Idaho RNs.
- Northwest Nazarene University — MSN-FNP: Nampa-based hybrid delivery; 24-month accelerated path.
- Idaho State University — Post-Master’s NP Certificate: 12 to 18 months for current MSN holders adding an Idaho specialty.
Most Affordable Idaho NP Programs (In-State Tuition)
- Idaho State University — MSN-NP: Public Idaho tuition with the broadest specialty footprint in the state; Pocatello + Meridian + Idaho Falls campuses.
- Boise State University — MSN-FNP: Public Idaho tuition with strong Treasure Valley clinical-site network.
- Northwest Nazarene University — MSN-FNP: Private Christian university in Nampa with competitive total cost.
Idaho Schools Offering Popular NP Specialties
The matrix below maps Idaho NP-track schools to the two most-published specialty paths in the state — FNP and DNP entry. Most Idaho schools lead with FNP at the master’s level; 2 schools offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice option. Each H3 links to the relevant child page.
Family NP (FNP)
The most common specialty in Idaho. All 3 schools listed on this page offer an FNP track in some format — MSN, BSN-to-DNP, or post-master’s certificate.
- Boise State University
- Idaho State University
- Northwest Nazarene University
BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s DNP Programs in Idaho
Aligned with the AACN 2025 DNP position statement. The 2 Idaho schools below offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. See the dedicated Idaho DNP programs guide for admissions detail.
- Boise State University
- Idaho State University
Nurse Practitioner Programs in Idaho by City & Region
Idaho’s 3 featured NP schools cluster around the Treasure Valley (Boise/Nampa) and the Eastern Idaho corridor (Pocatello/Idaho Falls). Idaho State runs satellite NP clinical sites across the state.
Treasure Valley (Boise/Nampa)
- Boise State University — Boise
- Northwest Nazarene University — Nampa
Eastern Idaho
- Idaho State University — Pocatello / Meridian / Idaho Falls
