Advanced practice nurses (APRNs) are highly trained and skilled professionals who deliver a wide range of care in various settings to different patient populations. A family nurse practitioner (FNP) is one type of APRN and might even be considered the most popular APRN role.
If you’re looking to take your nursing career to the next level, becoming an APRN is one way to do so. However, there are several paths you can take. Below, we look at the numerous options you can consider to become an APRN and what sets an FNP apart from other APRN roles.
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What is an APRN?
APRN is an umbrella term that covers a range of advanced nursing roles. It includes nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. APRNs play an essential role in healthcare, and each holds a minimum of a master’s degree as well as other certifications and licenses.
Types of APRNs
There are several APRN roles, each detailed below.
Nurse practitioners (NPs)
An NP is trained and licensed to provide a wide range of services to patients, including diagnosing and managing illnesses and diseases, prescribing medication, ordering and interpreting labs and medical tests, and performing some procedures. NPs can choose from several specialties, including Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and Family Nurse Practitioner, which we detail below.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)
A CRNA is an APRN who is specially trained to administer and monitor patients receiving anesthesia. Their role includes educating patients before and after procedures, assessing how someone responds to anesthesia, identifying risks, and providing accurate dosing. CRNAs are commonly the only anesthesia providers in rural hospitals, but they can work in various settings, including operating rooms, postanesthesia recovery rooms, emergency rooms, and surgery centers.
Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs)
A CNS has expertise in a specific area of nursing and provides direct and indirect care. CNSs may give physical exams and administer treatments, provide education, shape policy, mentor and teach other nurses, and work to improve the quality of healthcare. A CNS may specialize in a variety of areas, from a particular disease (cancer, diabetes), a specific patient population (pediatrics, geriatrics), a setting (emergency room, CICU), or a type of care (rehabilitation, pain management).
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs)
CNMs provide care for women, newborns, and families. They attend specialized programs for midwifery and provide care during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period. CNMs also provide family planning education, prescribe birth control, deliver gynecological care, order diagnostic tests, perform wellness checkups, and administer vaccinations.
How to become an APRN
Becoming an APRN varies depending on the path you wish to pursue.
NPs start as RNs and pursue MSN or DNP programs to complete a program in their area of interest, similar to what is described for FNPs below.
CRNAs have extensive training and education. This APRN pathway requires a bachelor’s degree, RN licensure, and at least one year of experience working in an ICU, though some programs may require as many as three years of experience. As of 2025, CRNAs must have a doctorate. Upon completion of a doctorate program, graduates must pass the National Certification Examination for Nurse Anesthetists, at which point they can apply for state licensure. Due to the clinical requirements and the length of a doctoral education, it can take as many as 10 years to become a CRNA.
To become a CNS, RNs must pursue an MSN or DNP program. They choose their specialty at this point and sit for the appropriate exam after completing their programs. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses offers certifications in Adult-Gerontology, Pediatric, and Neonatal populations, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center offers certifications in Adult-Gerontology. CNSs can specialize in a particular area of care within these population areas.
To become a CNM, RNs must enroll in and complete a midwifery MSN or DNP program and pass the certification exam administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).
What is an FNP?
An FNP is a type of nurse practitioner who is trained to provide a range of services to individuals and families across the lifespan. An FNP has extensive education and training and can provide care to infants, children, teens, adults, and seniors. They can practice in a wide range of settings, from clinics to doctors’ offices to hospitals, assessing patients, developing and managing treatment plans, ordering and interpreting labs and tests, and prescribing medication.
How to become an FNP
To become an FNP, you must first become a registered nurse (RN). There are various ways to do so, but one of the most popular is to complete a BSN program.
To practice as an RN in any state, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which tests nursing knowledge and critical thinking skills. After passing the NCLEX, you can apply for a nursing license in the state where you plan to practice. You will also need a nursing license to be qualified to complete clinical requirements in your NP program.
The next step is to apply to and complete an FNP program. Most FNP programs are designed for nurses with a BSN degree, but some colleges and universities offer programs for ADN or diploma-prepared nurses, RNs with bachelor’s degrees in other fields, or nurses with an MSN in a different specialty.
While many FNP MSN programs are available, it is essential to know that there is currently a push for all entry-level NPs to have a doctorate. The AACN has endorsed this position, and many schools have stopped offering MSN-level NP programs. Currently, no state requires a DNP to practice as an NP, but this is a change that may be coming in the future.
After completing your FNP degree, the next step is to pass either the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) board certification exam from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the FNP certification examination from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board. Then, you can apply for state licensure.
What APRN role is right for you?
When choosing an APRN role, there are several factors to consider. For some nurses, this may be an easy choice. For example, if you are passionate about mother-baby care, then becoming a CNM is a logical next step.
CRNAs generally have the highest salaries, but it can take a decade to become one, and they don’t interact with their patients in the same way that an FNP might. If you like to develop long-term relationships with your patients, a role as an NP might be a better fit, but if you like being in an OR and helping people through procedures and surgeries, then a CRNA career makes sense.
CNSs and NPs are similar roles, but the most significant distinction between the two is that a CNS is more specialized. While an NP may focus on a specific population, a CNS may concentrate on a particular condition affecting that population. NPs are also often more involved in direct patient care, while a CNS may be focused on education, policy, consultations, and leadership.
There are so many paths to take, and ultimately, the choice is up to you. Consider the information above when choosing which APRN specialty to pursue.