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 40% by 2033.¹

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 Continue reading to learn more about this growing profession. We’ll answer questions about the journey to become an NP, including:

How long does it take to become a nurse practitioner?
How long is NP school?

What qualifies as a nurse practitioner degree?

Table of Contents:

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What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is a nurse whose clinical education and training exceeds that of a registered nurse.³ Nurse practitioner requirements vary by state. In some states, they may have the same authority level as a doctor, while other states 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:⁴^,³

Taking medical histories
Conducting physical examinations
Ordering diagnostic tests and interpreting them
Prescribing medication and treatment
Referring patients to specialists
Counseling patients and their families about illnesses or injury
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. By 2034, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts the U.S. will be short 124,000 physicians, and nurse practitioners are helping to fill the gap.⁵^,⁴ Nurse practitioners also help patients minimize their medical costs by reducing emergency room visits and using preventive treatment to lower overall medication costs.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)*: Nurse practitioners specializing in adult gerontology work with patients 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 and treat and monitor 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.⁶^,³
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 immunization 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 people 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, but they are not at the same level of nursing.

Responsibilities of Each Role

Nurse practitioners have more authority 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 need to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Nurse practitioners must have at least a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a specialty certification to practice.

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, although the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) is pushing to require the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) as the entry-level nurse practitioner degree by 2025.⁸

The specifics of nurse practitioner schooling will vary based on how you become a registered nurse and which advanced nurse practitioner degree you select, most candidates follow the path below.

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 nurse practitioner degrees:

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) 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 practitioner 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-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 full-time year of experience as an RN
MSN with BSN-entry: One full-time year of experience as an RN by the time you intend to take your first practicum course.
DNP: One full-time year of experience before the start of your first practicum course.

4. Graduate from a Nursing Graduate Program

Currently, you can either earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to work as a nurse practitioner, but by 2025, you may need a DNP.³^,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 as long as you are a registered nurse and have at least one year of work experience, while the BSN entry is for people who have already earned their BSN.

How Long is NP School?

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

The MSN curriculum at USAHS includes a blend of coursework and practicum hours, although the exact course material will vary based on your specialty. Most students at USAHS complete their MSN in 2-3.7 years*, depending on their entry path and role specialty.

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A DNP 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 program typically takes 2.3-4 years*, depending on your entry path and role specialty.

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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

FAQs

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

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 six-seven years.¹⁴ This includes:

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

At USAHS, our graduate nurse practitioner degree program can take anywhere from two-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 $129,480.¹⁵ In comparison, a registered nurse earns a median annual salary of $86,070.¹⁶

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 can be 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 schooling 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 to 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.

Sources:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners: Job Outlook,” BLS, April 17,2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-6.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners: How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife or Nurse Practitioner,” BLS, April 17, 2024, 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, May 29, 2024, 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/.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners: Pay,” BLS, April 17, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm#tab-5.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses: Pay,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, April 17, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-5.

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner: A Practical Guide

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