How to become a nurse practitioner: a simple roadmap

Nurses save lives. Nurse practitioners make more money doing so. What’s more, the demand for nurse practitioners is projected to skyrocket, growing by 40% in the next decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nurse practitioners (or NPs) are healthcare providers that have similar responsibilities to a doctor. They can examine patients, prescribe medication, and provide treatment. In this article, we lay out the 5 steps you need to take to become a nurse practitioner.

Why become a nurse practitioner?

There are several reasons you might want to become a nurse practitioner.

• NPs enjoy higher salaries than registered nurses.
• Some NPs can work from home thanks to advances in telemedicine.
• NPs often have more flexible schedules.
• NPs – like all nurses – have very good job security, and there are job opportunities all over the country.
• Some employers may help pay for your education.
• NPs can specialize.
• Nurses enjoy special student loan forgiveness options.

» Read: Our guide to nursing degrees

Steps to becoming a nurse practitioner

To become an NP, students should either earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), with some schools offering a specialized nurse practitioner master’s degree.

Before pursuing an MSN or DNP, most nurses get experience working as a registered nurse (RN), which – in turn – involves getting a bachelor’s or associate in nursing; however, it is possible to enroll in an MSN program directly, even without prior nursing experience.

Below is the most common route to becoming an NP – which requires working as an RN first:

1. Earn your BSN or ADN

If your ultimate goal is to become a nurse practitioner, the first step on your journey will be to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). This will allow you to become an RN.

2. Pass an exam and get your RN license

After completing the first level of your nursing education, you will need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and obtain state licensure. You can now start practicing as a registered nurse. Remember that you’ll need a license for each state you wish to practice in.

3. Obtain experience as an RN

Now that you’re a licensed RN, you can start working as a nurse. While obtaining work experience before your master’s isn’t actually mandatory, many nurses recommend it.

4. Enroll in an MSN or DNP program

You’re now ready to enroll in a Master’s of Science in Nursing or a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Most programs will only accept RNs with nursing experience; however, some programs, termed “accelerated”, or “direct entry” accept candidates with no nursing experience and a bachelor’s in another field. An MSN takes 18 months to 3 years, whereas a DNP typically takes 3 to 5 years.

5. Pass another exam and get your NP license

After you finish your master’s or doctorate program, you’ll have to take yet another exam – either the ANCC or the AANP – and obtain state licensure to practice as an NP.

Nurse practitioner specialties

Nurse practitioners have to choose a specialty. Many see this as an advantage, as it means you can focus on the aspect of healthcare that most interests you. Below are some common specialties for nurse practitioners.

• Neonatal NP
• Women’s health NP
• Pediatric NP
• Family NP
• Adult-Gerontology NP
• Psychiatric NP
• Orthopedic NP
• Acute care NP
• Surgical NP
• Hospice NP
• Cardiac NP

Is becoming an NP worth it?

From an economic perspective, becoming a nurse practitioner is certainly worth it.

Despite the need for an expensive master’s degree, nurse practitioners earn very high salaries, making the time and money commitment a worthwhile investment. The median nurse practitioner salary is $123,780 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Note that this salary figure is aggregated for several types of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNS).

These colleges provide the optimal combination of low tuition and high future earnings according to our signature formula for determining college value.

»Read: See our rankings of the best master’s in nursing programs

NP practice authority by state in 2023

How much authority you have as an NP to treat patients is referred to as practice authority or scope of practice. Your scope-of-practice as an NP may be reduced or restricted depending on which state you live in. It is important for interested students to consider how their career could be affected based on the laws in their state.

Scope of practice for nurse practitioners is divided into 3 categories:

1. Full scope-of-practice: NPs can diagnose and treat patients independent of a physician.
2. Reduced scope-of-practice: NPs are required to have a collaborative practice agreement with a physician. A collaborative practice agreement is a professional collaboration between a physician and an NP that authorizes the NP to practice. It lists what medical services and acts the NP may perform.
3. Restricted scope-of practice: NPs are required to practice under a physician. This physician supervises the NP delegates’ tasks. Diagnoses and treatments by the NP require oversight and final authorization by the physician.

Final thoughts on becoming an NP

The road to becoming an NP is a long one, but it can be a very rewarding one, both financially and in terms of personal fulfillment. Before you embark on your journey, make sure you consider the nursing programs that offer the best value for the money you’re investing in your education.