Utah NP Programs at a Glance
| State practice authority | Full Practice Authority – NPs evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe independently |
| Utah Board of Nursing | Utah Board of Nursing |
| Utah median NP wage | ~$110,000 (Payscale/BLS, 2024). See Utah 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. Utah licensure information is verified against the Utah Board of Nursing. Salary and growth figures come directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Utah data. Read our full editorial standards.
2026 Updates for Utah NP Programs
- Utah practice authority. Utah is a Full Practice Authority state. Licensed nurse practitioners can evaluate, diagnose, order tests, and prescribe medications independently of physician supervision. Utah 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; Utah-specific data is published in the Utah 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 Utah.
- 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.
Despite having several medical schools, the state of Utah is facing a physician shortage, one that disproportionately affects its rural communities. Generally, rural communities in Utah have less than one doctor for 1,000 people; some have none. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are qualified to step into these gaps and help the people in the Beehive State who need it most.
NPs in Utah have full practice authority, giving them a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in providing care for people in the state. If you’re interested in pursuing a career as an NP, consider one of the following programs at these Utah colleges and universities.
Program Overview:
Nightingale College is a for-profit nursing school with 18 locations across the country. The college was formed in 2010, offering an associate-level nursing program; since then, it has expanded to offer BSN and MSN programs.
The FNP track at Nightingale College is a 55-credit program that includes core classes, electives, direct care classes, specialty courses, and practicum. Students can create the program in only six semesters or 96 weeks. Most classwork is done via online instruction, but students must participate in one in-person seminar and clinical preceptorship experience. On-campus visits are generally held over three days near Nightingale College’s Operations Support Center in Salt Lake City. During this visit, students will complete competency checks and participate in learning activities.
Program Overview:
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions was established in 1998 and focuses exclusively on graduate-level healthcare programs, including master’s degrees, doctorate degrees, and post-graduate certificates.
RMU offers a unique array of NP courses, more than any other school in the state. BSN-prepared nurses can complete the 50-credit MSN program in five semesters. This program also requires 540 clinical hours and offers asynchronous online instruction with occasional visits to campus for intensives. There’s also a DNP program for BSN-prepared nurses that is primarily online and can be completed in as little as eight semesters. It’s 71 credits in all with 540 clinical hours in all.
MSN-prepared nurses also have options if they are seeking to advance their careers. RMU offers post-graduate certificates for those interested in pursuing an FNP, FNP/Emergency Nurse Practitioner, or FNP/Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The dual specialties of FNP/ENPC and FNP/PMHNP are unique to Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in this state. These programs offer students unique opportunities to expand their skills and make themselves more marketable in their future careers. They are also the only post-master’s programs available in Utah for nurse practitioners.
Program Overview:
The Department of Nursing at the College of Health Sciences at Southern Utah University offers a range of on-campus learning opportunities. The school offers a nursing lab designed to mimic hospital rooms with equipment to replicate various real-life scenarios. Students get hands-on experience with medical equipment, access to skills practice areas, and simulation stations with high-fidelity manikins representing various medical scenarios.
The BSN to FNP program at SUU is 52 credits with 680 in-person clinical hours that can be completed over 14 months with coursework that is completed almost entirely online. Students are required to come to campus for one week during the program to practice skills to prepare for clinical rotations, including physical assessments with standardized patients, simulated scenarios, and primary care office procedures.
Program Overview:
The College of Nursing at the University of Utah Health offers a range of educational opportunities, including multiple centers and programs designed to provide innovative education to its students. NP students learn hands-on skills in the school’s Advanced Preparation Studio in the Simulation Center using high-fidelity manikins that represent a variety of patients, and the school’s Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence puts a special emphasis on caring for the unique needs of this patient population.
The University of Utah Health has four DNP tracks to choose from. Nurses who have already completed a BSN can enroll in the 83-credit FNP program, the 81-credit AGNP Primary Care program, the 82-credit AGNP Acute Care program, or the 79-credit PNP Primary Care program. All DNP programs require a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours. The University of Utah Health is one of only two schools in the state that offers terminal degrees for NPs and the only one that offers DNPs for those wishing to specialize in adult gerontology or pediatrics.
Program Overview:
Western Governors University was founded in 1997 when a group of governors saw the possibilities for education offered by the Internet. Its distance learning programs allow students from across the country to secure an affordable advanced practice degree in nursing from the comfort of their homes.
WGU offers one NP program for nurses who wish to pursue a career as an FNP. This program consists of 48 credits with 650 clinical hours. All courses are taught online, and clinical hours are completed in the students’ local communities. Students are required to attend one on-campus Skills Workshop before beginning their clinical internships. This workshop is designed to give students practice multiple hands-on skills.
Program Overview:
Founded by the First Presbyterian Church in 1875, Westminster University began as a preparatory school. It began offering college-level courses in 1897 as Sheldon Jackson College. Gradually, the school grew, with its first bachelors-prepared nurses graduating in 1968. Today, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers students an opportunity to learn in a state-of-the-art skills center.
Westminster University offers one FNP program that takes five semesters to complete full-time. It consists of 42 credits with 720 hours of in-person clinical. The program offers course schedules that accommodate students’ work schedules and offers students opportunities to work in rural and underserved communities in Utah to gain experience while learning about the unique health challenges of these areas.
Educational Routes to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Utah
Five distinct routes appear across the NP schools listed on this page. Each suits a different starting credential and timeline. All five satisfy the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (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. Utah MSN-NP options are anchored by the University of Utah Health and Westminster University in Salt Lake City. Western Governors University (WGU) and Nightingale College run online-forward MSN-FNP programs for working RNs across the Wasatch Front and rural Utah.
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 Utah, Nightingale College, Western Governors University, and Southern Utah University all 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. 4 Utah schools offer a DNP program — see the full Utah 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. Utah post-master’s certificate options are concentrated at the University of Utah and Westminster. 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. Utah’s flagship direct-entry option is the University of Utah’s Master of Science in Nursing entry track for non-nursing bachelor’s holders. Total time-to-NP-licensure: typically 4 to 5 years from start of accelerated BSN.
Fast & Affordable Utah 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 Utah residents.
Fastest Utah NP Programs
- Western Governors University — Online MSN-FNP: Competency-based delivery with year-round enrollment; one of the fastest completion paths for self-paced learners.
- Nightingale College — MSN-FNP: Hybrid Salt Lake City delivery with multiple cohort starts each year.
- Westminster University — MSN-FNP: 5-semester accelerated full-time option; small Salt Lake City cohorts.
- Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions — Post-Master’s NP Certificate: 12 to 18 months for current MSN holders adding a Utah specialty.
Most Affordable Utah NP Programs (In-State Tuition)
- Southern Utah University — MSN-FNP: Public Utah tuition at one of the lowest per-credit rates in the state; Cedar City rural-Utah clinical placements.
- Weber State University — DNP: Public Utah tuition in Ogden; competitive in-state rate among DNP options.
- University of Utah — MSN-NP: Public flagship tuition; nationally-ranked nursing school with broad specialty footprint.
- Western Governors University — Online MSN-FNP: Flat-rate competency-based tuition; one of the lowest total costs nationally.
Utah Schools Offering Popular NP Specialties
The matrix below maps Utah NP-track schools to the two most-published specialty paths in the state — FNP and DNP entry. Most Utah schools lead with FNP at the master’s level; 4 schools offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice option. Each H3 links to the relevant child page.
Family NP (FNP)
The most common specialty in Utah. All 6 schools listed on this page offer an FNP track in some format — MSN, BSN-to-DNP, or post-master’s certificate.
- Nightingale College
- Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
- Southern Utah University
- University of Utah
- Western Governors University
- Westminster University
BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s DNP Programs in Utah
Aligned with the AACN 2025 DNP position statement. The 4 Utah schools below offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. See the dedicated Utah DNP programs guide for admissions detail.
- Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
- University of Utah Health
- Weber State University
- Westminster University
Nurse Practitioner Programs in Utah by City & Region
Utah’s 6 featured NP schools cluster around the Wasatch Front (Salt Lake to Provo), with Southern Utah University in Cedar City serving rural southern Utah. Nightingale College and WGU operate online-forward programs from Utah headquarters serving students statewide.
Salt Lake City Metro
- University of Utah — Salt Lake City
- Westminster University — Salt Lake City
- Nightingale College — Salt Lake City
- Western Governors University — Millcreek HQ / online
- Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions — Provo
Ogden / Northern Utah
- Weber State University — Ogden (DNP only)
Cedar City / Southern Utah
- Southern Utah University — Cedar City
