Top Nurse Practitioner Programs in Arizona
If you want to become a nurse practitioner in Arizona, you're in the right place. You can join this rewarding and lucrative career in Arizona by attending one of seven excellent, accredited programs. This guide explores the best nurse practitioner programs in Arizona, including accreditation, tuition, requirements, and more.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Arizona
You can become a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Arizona by completing the following steps:
- Attend and graduate from an accredited BSN program
- Pass the NCLEX-RN
- Gain relevant experience by working as a nurse, or in some cases, enroll directly into a nurse practitioner program right from your BSN program
- Choose an NP specialty
- Graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner program within 2-3 years and with relevant clinical hours and experience
- Become board-certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Get a job as a nurse practitioner
If you already have an NP degree, you can attend a post-graduate nurse practitioner certificate program instead of earning a separate degree. Some schools may also let you earn an NP with a bachelor's degree in a different subject by enrolling in an accelerated BSN-NP program.
Top Nurse Practitioner Programs in Arizona
The best nurse practitioner programs are organized based on our ranking methodology, which considers tuition, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and accreditation. We also evaluate programs based on the latest and most robust U.S. government data sets, specifically the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Scorecard.
1. University of Arizona Tucson
The University of Arizona Tucson is a robust NP program offering five different post-graduate certification specialities: geriatric, psychiatric mental health, pediatric, family, and nurse midwifery. The program offers post-grad certificates only, so anyone applying for the program must already hold an NP certification. Applicants must submit both the NursingCAS and University of Arizona Graduate College online application, and applications open the previous August before enrollment starts the following year.
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available: Yes
- Website
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
2. Arizona State University
RNs looking to become NPs can choose a post-master's graduate certificate or a doctoral degree pathway. The programs will differ, but both are hybrid programs with online coursework and up to four on-campus learning experiences—one for a week-long orientation at the start of the semester and an additional 2-3 on-campus sessions throughout the semester. Students in the NP programs who live outside of Maricopa County have to arrange their own clinical preceptorship, which must be approved in advance by the school. If the school determines a student requires more clinical hours or supervision, those hours must be completed in the Phoenix area.
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available: Yes
- Website
3. GCU - Phoenix
GCU has a strong 35-year history of preparing nurses for a future in healthcare, and they offer NP degrees in acute care with a focus on geriatrics and family practice. Their NP programs are available in AZ, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, NV, NM, NC, and TX, and the FNP can also be earned in California. The courses are completed online, with students responsible for local clinical hours.
- School Type: Private
- Online Options Available: Yes
- Website*
4. University of Phoenix
After 29 months and an intensive 5-day in-person residency, you will be granted clearance to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BC) credential or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified (FNP-C) credential. The University of Phoenix's FNP program is available on campus or online. The school also offers a bridge RN-NP program for nurses with a bachelor's in another field outside of nursing.
- School Type: Private
- Online Options Available: Yes
- Website
5. Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the MS in Nursing program at Northern Arizona grants students a FNP or psychiatric and mental health NP certification. Students do have some time flexibility with the NP program and can take up to 6 years (consecutively) to finish their degree. You must also finish all your courses with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available: Yes
- Website
Arizona Nurse Practitioner Program Admission Requirements
Admission requirements to Arizona nurse practitioner programs vary depending on the school and degree path. General admission requirements for all nurse practitioner programs include the following:
- A BSN from an accredited program
- A BSN GPA of at least 3.0
- Unencumbered RN license
- A basic statistics grade of 2.0 or better
- One year of relevant bedside nursing experience
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Personal statement
- CV/Resume
- Official application and fee
- Personal interview
- GRE scores, if applicable
- TOEFL score, if applicable
How Hard Are Nurse Practitioner Programs in Arizona?
Nurse practitioner programs, in Arizona or elsewhere, are challenging and require a significant amount of time and money. Coursework is intense and often involves a lot of time to prepare, study, and complete clinicals.
Full-time nurse practitioner students won't have enough time for a job, and their family and social time may become more restricted. Considering these factors will help you understand whether a nurse practitioner program in Arizona is right for your nursing career.
How Long Are Nurse Practitioner Programs in Arizona?
The length of a nurse practitioner program depends on the degree. Most students can earn an MSN in just two years, while DNP programs take three to four years.
Some schools also offer part-time options, allowing students up to six years to complete all requirements. Part-time attendance is ideal for students who must work while attending the program or those with family obligations.
No matter the length, you can expect an Arizona nurse practitioner program to first consist of in-person or online didactic coursework. Clinicals correspond directly with the classwork, and students generally complete them toward the end of the program.
What to Expect Working as a Nurse Practitioner in Arizona
Nurse Practitioner Salary in Arizona
The average annual salary for a nurse practitioner in Arizona is $121,420 or $58 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the career outlook for NPs is excellent. Over the next decade, the BLS predicts employment for NPs will grow by 40% (Much faster than average).
Where can you work? Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Arizona
Nurse practitioners can work in a variety of locations throughout Arizona. These include:
- Academia
- Community Mental Health Centers (urban and rural)
- Consulting with businesses and communities
- Correctional Facilities
- Domestic Violence Shelters
- Government Agency
- Home Health Agencies
- Hospitals
- Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities
- Primary Healthcare Clinics
- Private Psychiatric Practices
- Psychopharmacology Clinic
- Psychiatric Consult Services
- Public health agencies
- Residential Substance Abuse Facilities
- Schools
- State Psychiatric Facilities
- Student Health Clinics
- Urban Nurse-Managed Clinic
- Veterans Administration Psychiatric Facilities
Next Steps for Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Arizona
Becoming an NP is rewarding because you can make a significant difference in your patients' lives.
The first step for becoming a nurse practitioner in Arizona is finding a program that suits your needs. The programs on this list are all excellent options. To choose one, you should consider several factors. Ask yourself:
- Do I want an MSN or a DNP degree?
- Will I attend full or part-time?
- Do I need online options?
- What is my tuition budget? Am I eligible for financial aid? What about tuition reimbursement through my current employer?
- Is the program nearby? Am I willing to relocate?
- Do I meet the admission requirements? Can I complete them by the application deadline?
You'll also want to consider what specialty (if any) NP you would like to choose and if the school offers clinical placement or if you will need to locate your own clinical hours. Depending on your local availability, you may need to do some additional legwork to set up clinical hours in your chosen specialty, so take that into consideration when choosing schools to apply for.
If you have more questions, try contacting the program representative. Talking to a point of contact could help your application become noticed while addressing your concerns.
Depending on the program, you may also have to acquire a preceptor and clinical site. If your school doesn’t assign these, you should begin the search early, as the process can take time.
Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs
Chamberlain University is the #1 largest school of nursing with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. Chamberlain offers BSN, MSN, and DNP programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Earn your nursing degree from one of the largest nursing education providers in the U.S. Walden University’s BSN, MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Get enhanced practicum support with our Practicum Pledge.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
GCU's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
Whether you’re taking the first steps toward a nursing degree, seeking to advance as a nurse or want to hone your craft with specialized study, there’s a path for you at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing. Our programs were designed so that you can easily balance your lives at home and work with school - without sacrificing the rigor and cutting-edge curriculum of a quality nursing education.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
