How to Become a Nurse Practitioner: A Practical Guide

Nurse practitioners (NPs) perform many of the same services as physicians without attending medical school, and they are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the field to grow 35% over the next decade, between 2024 and 2034.¹

If you’ve wondered how to become a nurse practitioner, you’ll need to earn a graduate-level nursing degree and become certified in your specialty.² Learn more about this growing profession and the journey to become an NP, including how long it takes to earn a graduate nursing degree.

Table of Contents:

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in 6 Steps
FAQs
Prepare to Become a Nurse Practitioner with the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS)

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a nurse with advanced clinical education and training who can perform duties beyond those of a registered nurse.³ Nurse practitioner requirements vary by state, as does the role of a nurse practitioner vs. doctor. In some states, they may have the same authority level as a doctor, while in other states, they may require nurse practitioners to work under the supervision of a physician.³

A nurse practitioner delivers patient-centered care and may serve as a person’s primary care provider or a specialty care provider.³ Depending on your state, your day-to-day responsibilities as a nurse practitioner may include:^{3, 4}

Taking medical histories
Performing physical examinations
Ordering diagnostic tests and interpreting them
Prescribing medication and treatment
Referring patients to specialists
Counseling patients and their families about illnesses or injuries
Educating patients on disease prevention and healthy choices
Collaborating with other members of a patient’s healthcare team

Nurse practitioners are essential to the U.S. healthcare landscape. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts the U.S. will be short 124,000 physicians by 2034, and nurse practitioners are helping to fill the gap.^{4, 5} Nurse practitioners also help patients minimize their medical costs by reducing emergency room visits and utilizing preventive treatments to lower overall medication expenses.⁴

Nurse Practitioner Specialties

Nurse practitioners specialize in a particular area. Nurse practitioner specialties include:

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP): These nurse practitioners provide short-term care to patients after they’ve experienced a severe illness or injury or immediately after surgery in an acute care setting.³
Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner: Aesthetic nurse practitioners specialize in cosmetic procedures.³ They examine and counsel patients, conduct procedures and provide recovery care.
Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)*: AGNP nurse practitioners work with adults from young adulthood to old age. Demand for this type of nurse practitioner continues to grow as the population ages. Some AGNPs may also work in home health.⁶
Emergency Nurse Practitioner: Emergency Nurse Practitioners work in emergency rooms, treating and monitoring patients with urgent injuries or illnesses.³
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): An FNP promotes health and wellness in people of all ages.³ They are often a person’s primary care provider.
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP): NNPs work with babies from birth through age two.⁶ They often work in neonatal intensive care units (ICUs), but some NNPs may also assist in delivering babies.^{3, 6}
Oncology Nurse Practitioner: These nurse practitioners work with cancer patients and collaborate with oncologists and other healthcare providers to develop treatment plans and manage patient care.³
Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner: Patients with musculoskeletal issues may see an orthopedic nurse practitioner who specializes in diseases and injuries related to bones, joints, muscles and connective tissue.³
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP): PNPs specialize in treating children from infancy to young adulthood.³ They conduct wellness checks, administer immunizations and treat acute and chronic illnesses.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): This specialty focuses on providing mental health care to people of all ages experiencing mental health conditions or substance use disorders.³ They often collaborate with psychiatrists.⁶
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP): WHNPs provide reproductive, gynecological and obstetric services for women and individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB).³

Nurse Practitioner vs. Registered Nurse: What’s the Difference?

Registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) are both nurses at different levels of nursing.

Responsibilities of Each Role

Nurse practitioners have a broader scope of clinical authority and responsibilities than registered nurses.³ While registered nurses implement care plans, nurse practitioners can design them, although some states may require a physician’s signoff.⁷

Registered Nurse vs Nurse Practitioner Schooling

Nurse practitioners earn a higher education than registered nurses.⁷ Registered nurses must earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Nurse practitioners must earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or complete a post-graduate certificate following an MSN or DNP, along with a specialty certification, to practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

Salary Differences

Finally, nurse practitioners have unique career advancement opportunities and higher earning potential than registered nurses.⁷ Salaries vary widely based on factors such as location and specialty, but nurse practitioners make more on average.⁷ Nurse practitioners can also hold administrative and leadership roles in medicine.⁷

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in 6 Steps

You’ll need at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to practice as a nurse practitioner. There is a proposal to shift the required preparation for advanced nursing practice from a master’s degree to a doctoral-level degree.⁸

The details of nurse practitioner education vary depending on how you become a registered nurse and which advanced degree you pursue, but most candidates follow a similar pathway outlined below.

Education Requirements & Prerequisites for Nurse Practitioners

Becoming a nurse practitioner requires a strong educational foundation and careful planning before applying to graduate school. While NP school requirements can vary by program and specialty, all NP tracks build on registered nurse experience and advanced clinical training. Understanding these requirements early can help you choose the right path and strengthen your application.

Are you wondering, ‘What degree is required to become a nurse practitioner?’ A graduate-level nursing credential is required, either an MSN, a DNP or a post-graduate certificate. Many programs now encourage doctoral preparation, particularly for leadership-focused roles. Specialty tracks, such as Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) education requirements, include coursework in advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment and population-focused care, along with clinical practicum hours.

Common nurse practitioner program prerequisites and admission requirements include:

An active, unrestricted RN license
An ADN or BSN degree from an accredited program with minimum GPA requirements (some universities, like USAHS, offer RN-to-MSN or BSN-to-DNP entry options)
Official transcripts from all prior institutions
Completion of prerequisite coursework
At least one year of registered nursing experience (specific requirements vary by program)

Nurse practitioner certification requirements include:

Passing a national board certification exam in your specialty (such as FNP, Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)).
Meeting state-specific licensure and practice requirements (see the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) site for state-specific requirements for nursing)

1. Earn a Degree in Nursing

In the process of how to become a nurse practitioner, you must be a registered nurse first. To do that, you’ll need to earn one of the following nursing degrees from an accredited institution:

Registered Nurse Diploma or Certificate: A certificate earned through a hospital nursing school that prepares you for an entry-level registered nurse position.⁹ However, credits earned in a diploma or certificate program typically do not transfer to a degree program, and career advancement is limited.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): An ADN typically takes two years to complete.¹⁰ Credits earned in an ADN program can often be applied toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or MSN degree if you wish to continue your nurse practitioner schooling.⁹
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): A BSN typically takes four years to complete.¹¹ This degree for nurses offers the most comprehensive nurse schooling of the three and comes with higher starting salaries than the other two options.⁹

All three options will prepare you for the NCLEX-RN exam, but BSN graduates have the highest pass rate.¹²

2. Pass the NCLEX-RN

All states require registered nurses to pass the NCLEX-RN, an up to 145-question exam that evaluates your readiness to practice nursing.^{11, 12}

To sign up for the NCLEX-RN, apply for licensure through your state’s regulatory board and then register for the exam.¹²

3. Gain Nursing Experience

Once you become a registered nurse, you’ll need some nursing experience since most graduate programs require at least one to two years of clinical experience.¹¹ You can also use this time to work in different specialty areas.

USAHS requires the following experience for its nursing programs:

MSN with RN-entry: One year of experience as a full-time RN within past 5 years before starting the program.
MSN with BSN-entry: One year of full-time RN experience before the start of your first practicum course.
DNP: One year of full-time RN experience before the start of your first practicum course.

4. Graduate from a Nursing Graduate Program

Currently, you can either earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a post-graduate certificate to work as a nurse practitioner. However, based on a proposal from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), a DNP may be required.^{3, 8, 11} No matter which nurse practitioner degree you choose, you’ll have to select a specialty area.¹¹

An MSN is a graduate nursing degree that allows you to expand your nursing career.

There are usually two entry pathways: RN to MSN or BSN to MSN. At USAHS, the RN to MSN program allows you to enter the program with an ADN from an accredited program as long as you are a registered nurse and have at least one year of full-time RN work experience, while the BSN entry is for people who have already earned their BSN.

5. Earn a Specialty Certification

After completing your nurse practitioner schooling, you’ll need to pass the national certification exam required by your specialty area.¹¹ These exams assess advanced knowledge and skills related to your chosen specialty. The relevant national nursing organization administers the exam.

6. Get a Nurse Practitioner License

Finally, you’ll need to get your state’s nurse practitioner license. The process varies by state, so you’ll need to consult your state’s licensing board.³

How Long is NP School?

That answer depends on whether you pursue an MSN or DNP path.

The MSN curriculum (FNP or PMHNP role specialties) includes a blend of coursework and practicum hours, although the exact course material will vary based on your specialty. USAHS’ MSN (FNP or PMHNP role specialties) program is designed to be completed in 2.7 to 3.7 years**, depending on entry path and role specialty.

NP Career Pathways

For many nurses, the nurse practitioner career path begins with a simple question: What kind of impact do I want to have? As an NP, that answer can take you in several directions, from primary care clinics and hospitals to specialty practices, telehealth, education and leadership roles. It’s a career built on flexibility, autonomy and the ability to grow as your interests evolve and advance in nursing practice.

Most nurse practitioner job requirements include earning an MSN or DNP from an accredited program, securing national board certification in your specialty and obtaining state licensure. Once in practice, NPs assess patients, diagnose conditions, prescribe medications and manage ongoing care, often serving as a patient’s primary healthcare provider, depending on state scope-of-practice laws.

Career opportunities for NPs are broad and continue to expand. FNP, AGNP, PMHNP and women’s health nurse practitioners are in demand. The job outlook for nurse practitioner roles remains strong, driven by physician provider shortages, expanded access to care and an aging population.^{5, 6} New graduate and entry-level NPs can expect competitive starting salaries that are significantly higher than those in RN roles, with earnings increasing as experience, specialty focus and responsibility grow. Nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $129,210.¹⁵

So, is nurse practitioner a good career? For many, the answer is yes. It’s a path that rewards lifelong learning and offers the chance to shape your career around the kind of nurse you want to be.

A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program covers everything an MSN does while preparing you for a leadership role at the clinical or administrative level. This terminal degree in nursing is a promising option for those interested in becoming a nurse practitioner and those wanting to work in leadership and administration.¹³

The DNP curriculum typically includes a blend of coursework and practicum hours, although the total time spent in each area may vary based on your specialty and entry level. The USAHS DNP (FNP and PMHNP role specialties) program is designed to be completed in 4 years**.

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FAQs

Learn more about how to become a nurse practitioner by reviewing these common questions.

Do Nurse Practitioners Have to Work Under a Doctor?

Whether an NP must work under the supervision of a physician depends on state-specific laws. Some states grant NPs full practice authority, allowing them to practice independently, while others require physician collaboration or supervision.⁷

How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner?

Becoming a nurse is not easy, but it can be worthwhile. If you’ve wondered how to become a nurse practitioner after graduating high school, the entire process takes approximately eight to nine years.¹⁴ This includes:

Four years to earn a BSN
At least one year of registered nurse experience
Three to four years to earn your MSN or DNP

At USAHS, our graduate nurse practitioner degree program can take anywhere from 2.7 to four years to complete**, depending on your program, entry pathway and specialization.

How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Make?

Nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $129,210.¹⁵ In comparison, a registered nurse earns a median annual salary of $93,600.¹⁶

Where Do Nurse Practitioners Work?

Nurse practitioners work in several settings depending on their specialty areas, including:⁴

Hospitals
Emergency rooms
Clinics
Urgent care centers
Private practices
Nursing facilities
Schools and colleges
Public health departments

What Skills Do You Need as a Nurse Practitioner?

Successful nurse practitioners often have the following skills:²

Communication
Critical-thinking
Compassion
Detail-oriented
Interpersonal
Leadership
Resourcefulness

Prepare to Become a Nurse Practitioner with USAHS

USAHS is a great place to start your journey to becoming a nurse practitioner.

Our MSN and DNP programs feature dedicated support from day one to help you stay on track and graduate on time. We integrate interprofessional nurse practitioner education to prepare you for real-world healthcare team collaboration, and our expert faculty-practitioners support you every step of the way. Our flexible entry points and individual study plans help you select the right track.

Learn more about our nursing programs and apply today.

*Call for availability.

**Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, traditional vs. accelerated pathway, credits transferred and other factors.

Salary data may not reflect starting pay for recent graduates.

Sources:

S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners: Job Outlook,” BLS, August 28, 2025, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-6.
S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners: How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife or Nurse Practitioner,” BLS, August 28, 2025, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-4.
Cleveland Clinic, “Nurse Practitioner,” Cleveland Clinic, January 26, 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24651-nurse-practitioner.
American Association of Nurse Practitioners, “What’s a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?,” AANP, 2024, https://www.aanp.org/about/all-about-nps/whats-a-nurse-practitioner.
Stuart Heiser, “AAMC Supports Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023,” Association of American Medical Colleges, March 29, 2023, https://www.aamc.org/news/press-releases/aamc-supports-resident-physician-shortage-reduction-act-2023.
American Nurses Association, “Types of Nurse Practitioner Specialties,” ANA Nursing Resources Hub, April 25, 2023, https://www.nursingworld.org/content-hub/resources/nursing-resources/types-of-nurse-practitioner-specialties/.
Chaunie Brusie, “Registered Nurse (RN) vs. Nurse Practitioner (NP): What’s the Difference?,” Nurse.org, August 22, 2024, https://nurse.org/education/rn-vs-np/.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, “AACN Fact Sheet – DNP,” AACN, June 2024, https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/dnp-fact-sheet.
Charmaine Robinson, “RN Diploma vs ADN vs. BSN Degree: What’s the Difference?,” NurseJournal, May 2, 2024, https://nursejournal.org/degrees/bsn/rn-and-bsn-degree-differences/.
Ayana Dunn, “Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Overview,” NurseJournal, May 29, 2024, https://nursejournal.org/degrees/adn/.
Jody Dugan, “How to Become a Nurse Practitioner,” NurseJournal, September 30, 2025, https://nursejournal.org/nurse-practitioner/how-to-become-a-np/.
Sarah Jividen, “What Is the NCLEX? Everything You Need to Know & How to Prepare,” Nurse.org, May 8, 2023, https://nurse.org/resources/what-is-the-nclex/.
Danielle LeVeck, “What Is a DNP and Is It Worth It?,” Nurse.org, June 5, 2024, https://nurse.org/articles/how-to-get-a-dnp-is-it-worth-it/.
Leona Werezak, “How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner?,” Nurse.org, January 12, 2023, https://nurse.org/education/length-to-become-nurse-practitioner/.
S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners: Pay,” BLS, August 28, 2025, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-5.
S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses: Pay,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, August 28, 2025, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-5.

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