Mari Estefani Carvajal
Content Writer At Gradehacker
- 5 min read
- March, 2024
Where can I study to become a Nurse Practitioner?
There are many types of NP programs. If you don’t know where to begin, here are five great online colleges:
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As primary care providers, nurse practitioners cannot only meet the basic needs of their patients but also have the knowledge and ability to treat special care patients, such as those with chronic conditions.
Also, they have more authority and responsibilities, similar to a doctor.
If you want to become one to enhance your career, we have made this guide to help you since here at Gradehacker, the non-traditional student #1 resource, we have helped and assisted many students over the years to become the nurse they always aspired to be and become a nurse practitioner.
What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Nurse Practitioner?
According to Nurse.org, a Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who has completed the required nurse practitioner schooling or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a doctoral degree such as the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
Keep in mind that even if you have a graduate-level education, the process is still long and very competitive so there are many steps you need to follow to become a nurse practitioner, especially if you are not a registered nurse yet.
1. Being a Registered Nurse
The first step to becoming an NP is to become a registered nurse.
You can do this in two ways: whether enrolling in an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or in a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN).
However, you will have fewer limitations if you go for the BSN.
2. Having nurse experience
Having nurse experience will make you more eligible to become a nurse practitioner; however, it is not essential.
Some nurses skip this step and enroll immediately in a graduate program.
3. Enrolling in an NP program
The NP program is a Master’s Degree program with two years of clinical practice.
There are many different options for nurse practitioner programs depending on your educational status and preferences. For example:
- Nurse Practitioner Programs
- RN to NP Programs
- BSN to NP Programs
4. Earning an Advance Practice Nursing Licensure in Practical Nursing
To be able to work, you will have to earn the NP licensure.
The requirements to get it are set depending on the boards of nursing of each state, and they can vary.
After you get it, you will be ready to start your NP career!
Be the nurse who graduates faster gets to live their life sees their family has a six-figure job
Studying with Gradehacker
Becoming a nurse practitioner with Gradehacker takes:
- 2 years (with a BSN and full time)
- 4 to 6 years (full program)
You would start earning $120,000 in:
- 2026 if you already have your BSN
- 2028 if you are starting
Studying on your own
Becoming a nurse practitioner on your own takes:
- 4 years (BSN and full-time)
- 6 to 8 years (full program)
You would start earning $120,000 in:
- 2028 if you already have your BSN
- 2032 if you are starting
Earn your degree, reclaim your time, and get a faster return on your investment
Where Can You Study to Become a Nurse Practitioner?
As we mentioned, there are many advanced nursing options to become an NP, depending on whether you are an RN or BSN or which type of program you prefer.
The NP programs are advanced degrees for health professionals who have a level of education, such as a graduate degree, master’s degree, or doctorate degree.
After you complete your NP medical training and pass the national certification, you will be ready to work in
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
and more.
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
And more!
Online NP Programs
We will give you five top online NP programs ideal for non-traditional students since you can adapt them to your schedule better:
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this College of Nursing and Health Professions has great technologies and is one of the best out there.
They have a part-time and an online NP program, and the tuition cost per credit is $1,037. Also, it’s accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The requirements are to have a BSN from an accredited program, a GPA of 3.0 or above from BSN, and two years of nursing experience. Also, having an RN license.
To have more information, you can contact them through this email: duonline@drexel.com
The University of Alabama NP program offers a program that combines both online courses with in-person clinical training.
The tuition cost per credit hour is $440 and is accredited by the CCNE.
The admission requires an RN licensure and a BSN with a GPA of at least 3.0.
You can contact them through this email: online@ua.edu
The NP program at George Washington University offers the following specialties:
- Adult-Gerontology
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
- Family NP
- Psychiatric Mental Health NP
They are all available part-time and full-time. The tuition cost is $1,395 per credit hour and is accredited by the CCNE.
The requirements are one or two years of professional nursing experience and having a BSN from an accredited nursing program.
To contact them, you can send an email to nursing@gwu.ed.
The NP program of Seton Hall University has an online program that offers the following specialties:
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care
- Pediatric Primary Care
- Psychiatric-Mental Health
The tuition cost per credit hour is $1,383, accredited by the CCNE.
The requirements are having a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a GPA of 3.0 at least, having an RN license, professional liability insurance, letters of reference, and completion of prerequisites.
To have more information about the enrollment process, you can contact them through Gabriele.zengewald@shu.edu.
The NP program of Duke University offers online classes that require on-campus attendance sometimes and offers many specialties such as:
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (Acute and Primary Care)
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
The tuition cost per semester is $12,896 and is accredited by the CCNE.
The educational requirements are having an RN licensure, a BSN from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0, an Associate Degree in Nursing with a bachelor’s degree in any field, a resume, personal statement, recommendations, transcripts, and prerequisites.
You can contact them through this email: SonAdmissions@dm.duke.edu.
How is an NP Academic Program Like?
According to Nurse.org, in a nursing practitioner program, you will understand the importance of health promotion, management, leadership skills, authority roles, and a holistic approach to nursing.
Also, you will have extensive clinical courses and classes on several topics:
- Health assessment
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
- Patient management
Career Outlook as a Nurse Practitioner
The latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that nurse practitioners earn an annual average salary of $121,610, which is more than double the average annual salary for all other occupations.
NPs earn $39.000 more than registered nurses yearly. Compared to an LPN’s annual wage of $54.000, becoming an NP will more than double your income.
However, the annual salary can vary depending on factors like your state, experience, and specialties. But the employment growth is guaranteed.
What Are the Nurse Practitioner's Responsibilities?
Before pursuing this career, it is important to understand the role of a nurse practitioner.
Nurse practitioners are healthcare professionals who have the ability to:
- Prescribe medication
- Conduct patient examinations
- Order diagnostic tests
- Make diagnoses
- Provide treatment
Their background as practicing nurses gives them a distinctive perspective on patient care, and their advanced education enables them to assume additional responsibilities typically handled by doctors.
According to AANP, this includes responsibilities like:
- Ordering and performing diagnostic tests such as lab work and X-rays
- Treating medical conditions such as acute and chronic diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, and injuries.
- Prescribing medications and other treatments
- Managing patients' overall care
- Counseling
- Explaining patients on disease prevention and positive health and lifestyle choices
Also, there are many specialties you can choose as a Nurse Practitioner:
- Acute Care
- Adult Health
- Family Health
- Gerontology Health or Geriatric health
- Neonatal Health
- Oncology
- Pediatric/Child Health
- Psychiatric/Mental Health
- Women's Health
And also sub-specialty areas such as:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Cardiovascular
- Dermatology
- Emergency
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology and Oncology
- Neurology
- Occupational Health
- Orthopedics
- Pulmonology and Respiratory
- Sports Medicine
- Urology
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Elevate Your Nursing Career Becoming an NP
Becoming a nurse practitioner is a rewarding and fulfilling career choice that allows you to take on more responsibilities, provide advanced patient care, and earn a higher salary.
Don’t miss the opportunity to improve your career and open the doors to job growth and management roles.
If you need any help with your college degree, book a free 30-minute call with us, and we can talk about providing you with the most personalized service so you can graduate faster or alleviate your responsibilities.
And if you want to keep exploring your possibilities as a nurse, we encourage you to read these blogs:
Mari Estefani Carvajal
Mari Estefani Carvajal is a journalist passionate about writing, cinema, podcast, and multimedia production. She is a Content Writer at Gradehacker and helps non-traditional students life’s by creating creative content. You can find her on LinkedIn.
