A Master of Science in Nursing, or MSN, offers the next logical step in the ladder of nursing education. As a graduate program, nurses may choose their specialty and design their schedule to fit their needs.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
A Doctor of Nursing Practice, or DNP, earns a degree of the same name. Graduating with a DNP can take up to four years for nurses with a BSN who can commit to their studies full-time. Nurses who already have an MSN can complete the program faster. The AACN has stated they want to encourage and possibly require future APRNs to hold a doctorate-level degree, and so this degree may become the norm for nurse practitioners in the future.
Time to Complete
3 to 4 years
Pros
- May offer more leadership opportunities
- As a terminal degree, DNPs cannot be asked to return to school for higher education
Cons
- Can take longer to complete than an MSN
- Requires more clinical hours
*Varies depending on institution
Sources: Maryville University, University of California Davis, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (PDF)
Nurse Practitioner Specialties
Once a nurse practitioner completes their studies and graduates with their degree, they must take an exam in their specialty. All NP exams test for advanced nursing practice knowledge and skills in addition to knowledge of their specific patient population.
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP)
Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners treat adolescents, adults, and older adults in acute care settings.
|
| Exam cost |
$395 |
| Exam contents |
- Core Competencies
- Clinical Practice
- Professional Role
|
| Average annual salary |
$118,644 |
| Average hourly rate |
$57.04 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGPCNP)
Adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners treat adolescents, adults, and older adults in primary health care settings.
|
| Exam cost |
$395 |
| Exam contents |
- Patient Assessment Process
- Plan of Care
- Professional Practice
|
| Average annual salary |
$118,644 |
| Average hourly rate |
$57.04 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Family NP (FNP)
Family nurse practitioners care for patients of all ages in a primary care setting.
|
| Exam cost |
$395 |
| Exam contents |
- Assessment
- Diagnosis
- Planning
- Implementation
- Evaluation
|
| Average annual salary |
$135,161 |
| Average hourly rate |
$64.98 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Neonatal NP (NNP)
Neonatal nurse practitioners treat babies born prematurely in a critical care setting.
|
| Exam cost |
$325 |
| Exam contents |
- General Assessment
- General Management
- Pharmacology
- Embryology, Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Systems
- Management
- Professional Issues
|
| Average annual salary |
$136,649 |
| Average hourly rate |
$65.70 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, National Certification Corporation
Pediatric NP (PNP)
Pediatric nurse practitioners treat newborns, infants, children, and adolescents in a primary or acute care setting.
|
| Exam cost |
$395 |
| Exam contents |
- Health Maintenance and Promotion
- Assessment and Diagnosis
- Management of Health Conditions
- Leadership, Ethics, and Practice Management
|
| Average annual salary |
$135,161 |
| Average hourly rate |
$64.98 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP)
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners treat patients with mental health diagnoses in an outpatient or acute care environment.
|
| Exam cost |
$395 |
| Exam contents |
- Scientific Foundation
- Advanced Practice Skills
- Diagnosis and Treatment
- Psychotherapy and Related Theories
- Ethics, Legal Principles, and Cultural Care
|
| Average annual salary |
$141,112 |
| Average hourly rate |
$67.84 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Women’s Health NP (WHNP)
Women’s health nurse practitioners treat female patients’ obstetric and gynecological (ob/gyn) health needs.
|
| Exam cost |
$325 |
| Exam contents |
- Assessment, Diagnostic Testing and Interpretation
- Primary Care
- Gynecologic and Reproductive Health
- Obstetrics
- Pharmacology
- Professional Issues
|
| Average annual salary |
$130,295 |
| Average hourly rate |
$62.64 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, National Certification Corporation
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Certified registered nurse anesthetists treat patients in need of pain relief or sedation for a surgical procedure.
|
| Exam cost |
$1,045 |
| Exam contents |
- Basic Sciences
- Equipment, Instrumentation, and Technology
- General Principles of Anesthesia
- Anesthesia for Surgical Procedures and Special Populations
|
| Average annual salary |
$259,707 |
| Average hourly rate |
$124.86 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, The National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
Certified nurse-midwives provide prenatal care to pregnant women and assist in births.
|
| Exam cost |
$500 |
| Exam contents |
- Antepartum
- Intrapartum
- Postpartum
- Newborn
- Well Woman/Gyn
- Women’s Health/Primary care
|
| Average annual salary |
$116,247 |
| Average hourly rate |
$55.89 |
Source: ZipRecruiter, American Midwifery Certification Board
Nurse Practitioner Licensing and Credentials
To practice as nurse practitioners, NPs must acquire both an advanced practice nurse license from the state in which they wish to work and one of the mandatory specialty certifications listed above. Each state in the U.S. may have differing requirements for NP licensure. For example, some states require NPs to have a DNP, while others accept an MSN. New NPs may check their state’s licensing information through the AANP.
Nurse Practitioners’ Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for nurse practitioners is much higher than average at 38%. The vast majority of nurse practitioners work as primary care providers, while neonatal medicine is the smallest NP specialty, according to the AANP.
| Certification |
Percent of NPs |
| Family |
70.3 |
| Adult–Gerontology Primary Care |
8.9 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health |
6.5 |
| Adult–Gerontology Acute Care |
6.1 |
| Adult |
5.7 |
| Acute Care |
2.9 |
| Pediatrics–Primary Care |
2.4 |
| Women’s Health |
2.2 |
| Gerontology |
0.9 |
| Pediatrics–Acute Care |
0.6 |
| Neonatal |
0.5 |
Source: AANP
Not all NPs work at the bedside: some choose to become educators or researchers. Others work as legal or political consultants or hospital administrators.
FAQs: How to Become a Nurse Practitioner
1. What education is needed to become a nurse practitioner?
Aspiring nurse practitioners must first graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and pass their state licensing boards: the NCLEX-RN. After a few years of experience, they may apply to a graduate program to earn a Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
2. How can I become a nurse practitioner the fastest?
The fastest path to a nurse practitioner credential is to earn a Master of Science in Nursing, which takes two to three years. The other route, earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice, can take up to four years (full-time).
3. How many years does it take to become a nurse practitioner?
If a candidate is starting with no prior education, it may take anywhere from seven to 10 years to become a nurse practitioner. The time it takes, however, depends on a lot of factors, including prior education and full-time vs. part-time status.
4. How well are nurse practitioners paid?
Nurse practitioners can earn a higher salary than RNs, at a median of $128,490 annually ($61.77 an hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% of NPs earn an average of $94,530, while the highest 10% earn $168,030.
