Projections show worsening gaps in supply and demand for family medicine and general internal medicine doctors between now and 2036, with the demand for nurse practitioners skyrocketing. Research shows that, in Alabama, 41 population centers have a shortage of primary care physicians; 36 are rural. Nurse practitioners are specially qualified to step in and fill these gaps, helping the people of Alabama get the care they need.
Alabama offers nurses many opportunities for networking and has multiple professional organizations in which nurse practitioners can get involved, including the Alabama State Nurses Association, the Alabama Organization for Nursing Leadership, the Alabama Nurses Foundation, and the Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama.
The largest hospital system in the state is UAB Hospital, which is affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham. UAB has hospitals and clinics in and around Birmingham with affiliates all across the state. Other major hospital systems in the state include Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, USA Health in the south, and DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, serving the western part of the state.
If you’re considering traveling to Alabama to get your nurse practitioner’s degree or thinking about staying there after graduation, there are plenty of things to see and do. Science buffs will enjoy the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville or the McWane Science Center in Birmingham. You can stroll through the Huntsville Botanical Garden, visit Mobile’s Battleship Memorial Park, or relax on the white sands of the Gulf Shore along the southern coast.
Here are some of the top universities where you can pursue nurse practitioner degrees in the state of Alabama. We have also provided helpful articles for Alabama FNP programs, AGNP programs, and PNP programs.
Program Overview:
Auburn University is located in Auburn, Alabama, about 60 miles northeast of Montgomery. It opened in 1859 as a privately owned Methodist institution and went through many changes through the years, becoming a state-owned school and expanding and growing over the years. In 1960, it was officially named Auburn University. The School of Nursing was founded in 1979 and started with a small class of only 27. Today, the school offers baccalaureate programs as well as master’s programs, doctorate programs, and more. Its online Family Nurse Practitioner Program was ranked number 10 in the country by U.S. News & World Report in 2022. The School of Nursing at Auburn University offers the following nurse practitioner programs:
Program Overview:
Not to be confused with Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery was established as a separately accredited university in 1967. The campus is 10 minutes from downtown Montgomery, the capital city. The AUM School of Nursing was established in 1978 and admitted its first class in 1979. Today, it is a part of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and offers a variety of nursing programs, including the following NP option:
Program Overview:
Jacksonville State University is midway between Birmingham and Atlanta in Jacksonville, Alabama. It was founded in 1883 and evolved from a small two-story brick building into the sprawling campus it is today. It took the name Jacksonville State College in 1957 when it established its first master’s degree program and was elevated to university status in 1966. Its Doctor of Nursing Practice degree was the second doctoral degree offered by the university. Today, it offers a range of programs, including the following NP options:
Program Overview:
Samford is a leading Christian university and the 87th oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S. Its Homewood campus is just outside Birmingham. It sits on 247 beautiful acres and is known for its stunning Georgian-Colonial architecture. The Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing was established in 1922 and has been voted one of the country’s best private Christian nursing schools. In 2020, school alums had a 100 percent passing rate for the national certification exam. FNP programs offered at Samford include:
Program Overview:
With a history that dates back to 1887, Troy University has grown significantly over the decades. What started as a small teaching college is now a university system with three campuses offering 90 undergraduate programs and dozens of graduate-level degrees. The Troy University School of Nursing offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. In 2022, the pass rate for national certification exams for MSN students was 80 percent; for doctoral students, it was 100 percent. The FNP programs available here include:
Program Overview:
Founded in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest public university. When it first opened in 1831, the university had seven buildings and 52 enrolled students. Today, the University of Alabama is thriving, with more than 38,000 students and 12 colleges and schools. The Capstone College of Nursing was founded in 1975 and partners with various well-respected facilities to help students transition to clinical challenges after graduation.
Program Overview:
The University of Alabama at Birmingham was originally an extension of the University of Alabama, but in 1969 it became an independent institution. Today, it is the only public four-year degree-granting institution in the Birmingham metropolitan area and the largest research institution in Alabama. The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing opened in 1950, moving from the Tuscaloosa campus to the Birmingham campus in 1967, where in 1968 it became an integral component of the newly autonomous university. Today, it offers a range of nursing programs, including the following FNP pathways:
Program Overview:
One of the nation’s premier research universities. The University of Alabama in Huntsville offers high-tech research centers and labs. The UAH College of Nursing is dedicated to providing a diverse, healthy learning environment, giving students access to a 10,615 square-foot Simulation & Learning Innovation Center with a 16-bed hospital lab, 16 assessment roos, advanced practice provider clinical examination rooms, collaboration stations, a Pyxis medication room, and a telehealth room. Students get mock hospital experiences in the seven high-fidelity simulation labs and specialty suites. UAH offers two options for those wishing to pursue an FNP:
Program Overview:
The University of Mobile is a Christian school that started in 1952 when the Mobile Baptist Association began studying the idea of opening a Baptist-affiliated college in Mobile, Alabama. The Alabama Baptist State Convention agreed in 1959, and only one year later, the community of Mobile raised more than $2 million to put toward establishing the school. The College of Health Professions School of Nursing boasts small class sizes where students get individual attention and learn to administer Christ-driven, compassionate nursing care. The Center for Excellence in Healthcare Practice is one of the school’s key assets, providing students with cutting-edge augmented reality and simulation experiences that mirror real-life scenarios to prepare them for clinical practice. FNP programs offered at UM include:
Program Overview:
The Anderson College of Nursing at the University of North Alabama has been a leader in nursing education since 1973. It’s rated one of the top 10 most up-and-coming nursing programs in the South and offers flexible programs with affordable schedules. The college offers a variety of nursing tracks for undergraduates and graduate students, including the following FNP programs:
Program Overview:
Founded in 1963, the University of South Alabama now sits on a 1,200-acre campus on the Gulf Coast. The university and the region benefit from the USA Health System, whose facilities are key to training future healthcare professionals. The College of Nursing was established in 1973. The first class has an initial enrollment of 60 students, and the college has continued to grow and thrive. Today, it has about 14,000 students across its various programs, including the FNP pathways below:
NP Programs in Other States
South Carolina
Mississippi
Georgia
Florida
Tennessee
Louisiana