Interested in becoming a nurse practitioner? Here’s everything you need to know about this profession, specialties to consider, salary expectations, common courses, and licensure information.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with a graduate-level education. NPs have specialized training that equips them with the skills and authority to perform many of the same services as doctors. NPs focus on delivering patient-centered care, and there is a wide range of specialty options available.
To become an NP, RNs must enroll in and complete an MSN or DNP program, which can take 2 to 5 years. Depending on their specialty, NPs generally make about $125,000 a year.
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner
Here is a basic step-by-step guide to becoming a nurse practitioner.
- Become an RN.
- There are a number of ways to do this. A BSN is required for most NP programs. If you choose a diploma or associate’s program, RN-to-BSN and accelerated degree programs are available to complete the required bachelor’s-level education.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN exam.
- This is the national certification exam for RNs, and passing is a licensure requirement for all state boards of nursing.
- Enroll in and complete a graduate program.
- MSN and DNP-level options are available. Most of these programs require a BSN for entry, but second-degree and accelerated programs are also available.
- Pass the National NP Certification Board Exam and obtain a state NP license.
- For NPs, the main organizations that offer these exams are the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).
Nurse Practitioner Specialties
One of the appealing things about becoming an NP is that there are so many specialties available. You can choose to focus on a type of care or a patient population, or pursue more than one specialty. Some of the most common specialities are:
Family Nurse Practitioner
FNPs provide comprehensive health care to patients of all ages, from newborns to senior citizens. They can work in a number of settings, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and doctors’ offices.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
An ACNP specializes in caring for acutely or critically ill adults, typically in a hospital setting. They can work in emergency rooms or ICUs and are qualified to manage complex conditions.
Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner
Aesthetic nurse practitioners focus on cosmetic and aesthetic medical treatments, often in a spa, clinic, or private practice. These NPs are trained to perform Botox injections, dermal fillers, and laser procedures.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
NPs who prefer caring for children can specialize in either acute or primary pediatric care. Acute care PNPs focus on caring for patients with acute or critical health challenges, while primary care PNPs generally work in clinics or doctors’ offices, providing preventative or routine care.
Emergency Nurse Practitioner
These NPs focus on emergency medicine. They can treat patients of all ages with acute and emergent illnesses and injuries, generally working in urgent care, emergency departments, and trauma centers.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
AGNPs are trained to care for patients from adolescence through old age. They have a special focus on managing the physical, mental, and social aspects of aging.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners learn to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of mental health conditions. They can prescribe medications and act as therapists.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
NNPs provide care to babies up to age two. Typically, the infants they care for were either born prematurely or with congenital health conditions.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
This specialty focuses on women’s health care across the lifespan, from reproductive to obstetric to gynecological health. They are different from midwives in that WHNPs provide more general care and cannot supervise births.
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
Orthopedic nurse practitioners specialize in musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis, fractures, and other joint, bone, and muscle injuries. They usually work in hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers.
Oncology Nurse Practitioner
This specialty focuses on the care of patients with cancer. They provide care to patients in hospitals, outpatient cancer centers, long-term care facilities, and palliative care settings.
Nurse Practitioner Salary
Nurse practitioner salaries can vary depending on numerous factors, including geographic location, state, and specialty. On average, they make about $124,680 a year.
Nurse Practitioner Salaries by Specialty
| Specialty | Salary |
| Family Nurse Practitioner | $127,731 |
| Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | $133,090 |
| Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner | $122,891 |
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioner | $136,381 |
| Emergency Nurse Practitioner | $244,631 |
| Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner | $128,444 |
| Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | $191,460 |
| Neonatal Nurse Practitioner | $127,391 |
| Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner | $124,362 |
| Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner | $139,781 |
| Oncology Nurse Practitioner | $118,390 |
Salary information obtained from Indeed.com and ZipRecruiter.com
Nurse Practitioner Salary by State
| State | Salary |
| Alabama | $118,098 |
| Alaska | $140,320 |
| Arizona | $121,420 |
| Arkansas | $107,741 |
| California | $128,589 |
| Colorado | $137,007 |
| Connecticut | $123,948 |
| Delaware | $130,407 |
| District of Columbia | $147,237 |
| Florida | $97,368 |
| Georgia | $110,019 |
| Hawaii | $135,371 |
| Idaho | $122,594 |
| Illinois | $126,259 |
| Indiana | $123,984 |
| Iowa | $122,381 |
| Kansas | $116,203 |
| Kentucky | $113,165 |
| Louisiana | $111,418 |
| Maine | $126,151 |
| Maryland | $126,456 |
| Massachusetts | $142,298 |
| Michigan | $113,564 |
| Minnesota | $127,612 |
| Mississippi | $123,398 |
| Missouri | $122,217 |
| Montana | $119,591 |
| Nebraska | $124,230 |
| Nevada | $132,680 |
| New Hampshire | $126,713 |
| New Jersey | $132,280 |
| New Mexico | $126,265 |
| New York | $142,547 |
| North Carolina | $118,412 |
| North Dakota | $137,862 |
| Ohio | $123,871 |
| Oklahoma | $120,306 |
| Oregon | $137,759 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,608 |
| Rhode Island | $127,599 |
| South Carolina | $120,908 |
| South Dakota | $130,295 |
| Tennessee | $118,258 |
| Texas | $121,390 |
| Utah | $118,617 |
| Vermont | $138,536 |
| Virginia | $129,177 |
| Washington | $147,571 |
| West Virginia | $100,870 |
| Wisconsin | $131,513 |
| Wyoming | $125,242 |
Nurse Practitioner Education
Nurse Practitioner Degrees
Those hoping to pursue a career as an NP have a few options when choosing a program, all resulting in MSN or DNP programs. MSN programs are generally shorter, and while they adequately prepare nurses to practice as NPs, they are not as robust as DNP programs.
The specifics of these programs can vary significantly by program depending on specialty, school, location, and whether programs are online or in-person. Whether a school is public or private and a student is a state resident can have a big impact, too. Many schools also offer second-degree programs, which can be more affordable, depending on how many credits transfer. Note that all DNP programs require at least 1,000 clinical hours, but hours accumulated in an MSN program count toward this total.
| MSN | DNP | |
| Entry points | RN, BSN | RN, BSN, MSN |
| Tuition range | $18,000 to $60,000+ | $10,000 to $80,000+ |
| Program length | 1.5 to 3 years | 1.5 to 5 years |
| Clinical hours | 500 to 750 | 1000+ |
| Credits | 30 to 160 | 27 to 95 |
Common Nurse Practitioner Courses
Each concentration has its own specialty courses, but there are some core classes that most NP students are required to take. These may include:
- Advanced health assessment: In this course, NP students learn to perform comprehensive physical and psychosocial assessments and apply this information to develop a diagnosis.
- Advanced pathophysiology: Topics include disease pathophysiology, the immune response, and interpreting lab data for diagnosis and treatment.
- Advanced pharmacology: This course teaches students about the detailed mechanisms of action of medications, how they work in the body, and how these medications can be applied clinically.
- Health promotion and disease prevention: This course covers how to help people prevent illness and maintain health through strategies such as preventive care, nutrition, and exercise.
- Evidence-based research in nursing practice: In this course, students learn to incorporate scientific research and other clinical evidence to provide holistic patient care.
- Professionalism in advanced practice nursing: This course centers on developing professionalism through ethics, collaboration, and accountability.
Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs
- RN to NP Programs – RN to NP programs allow nurses with an associate’s degree or diploma to complete an NP program without first having to complete a BSN.
- BSN to NP Programs – BSN-to-NP programs are a popular option, allowing BSN-prepared nurses to enter an MSN program directly.
- Direct Entry NP Programs – A direct entry NP program is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in another field but no nursing experience.
- MSN to DNP Programs – These programs are for nurses who already have an MSN in any area of nursing who wish to pursue a doctorate.
- BSN to DNP Programs – BSN to DNP programs allow BSN-prepared nurses to complete a DNP without having to enroll in a separate MSN program.
- Direct Entry DNP Programs – These programs are DNP programs designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing.
Continuing Education for Nurse Practitioners
Every NP begins as an RN and must maintain both their RN and NP licenses. While the exact procedure varies from state to state, renewal of both licenses involves completing an application, earning a specific number of continuing education units, and paying a fee. Each state has different requirements for both the RN and NP license renewal. Generally, NPs must complete a minimum of 75 CEUs with a specified skill in their specialty. How often license renewals are required varies by state as well.
Nurse Practitioner Licensure and Certification
Certifications
NPs obtain certification after passing the national board exam in their specialty. It demonstrates a high level of knowledge and is required to practice in most states.
Licensure
NP licenses are issued by the states, with each having its own licensing criteria. A license legally allows NPs to diagnose and treat patients and prescribe medications.
Nurse Practitioner Duties
NPs fill many roles and have a variety of duties, many of which depend on their special role or where they work.
In their clinical role, NPs assess, examine, and evaluate patients; order and interpret medical tests; prescribe medication; and manage overall care.
Another key role NPs play is providing emotional support to patients and their families. These duties can include counseling and educating about healthy behaviors and disease prevention, coordinating care with other healthcare professionals, and managing ongoing care.
NPs also perform several administrative duties, such as charting, maintaining patient records, and appropriately managing and delegating to other members of the healthcare team.
Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
Scope of practice defines the activities NPs are legally permitted to perform based on their professional license, education, and competence. Every state has its own scope-of-practice laws. For example, in some states, NPs are allowed to practice independently; in others, they must practice under the direct supervision of a physician.
FAQs
It varies by program and entry point, but most NP programs can be completed in two to five years.
PAs generally earn more, but salaries for both NPs and PAs can vary widely by location, workplace, and specialty.
The fastest way to become an NP is to enroll in an accelerated program. Many of these can be completed in about a year for students who already hold a BSN and are practicing RNs.
It depends on the program, but many can be completed in 2 to 5 years.
No, you cannot become an NP without an RN license. All NP programs require applicants to hold an RN license and to complete the clinical components.
For nurses who want to advance their careers and hone their skills and abilities to care for patients, yes, becoming an RN is worth it.
A CNS works in a specific area of nursing and functions as an expert in delivering patient care in that area. They can specialize in a certain area of medicine, a specific patient population, or a type of care. NPs primarily provide primary care to patients, though they may also choose a specialty focus.
Yes, but what medications they can prescribe are defined by their state’s scope of practice laws.