Top Nurse Practitioner Programs in California
If you want to become a nurse practitioner in California, you're in the right place. You can join this rewarding and lucrative career in California by attending one of 36 excellent, accredited programs. This guide explores the best nurse practitioner programs in California, 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 California
You can become a psychiatric nurse practitioner in California by completing the following steps:
- Attend an accredited BSN program
- Pass the NCLEX-RN
- Gain relevant experience
- Earn specialty nursing certification
- Graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner program
- 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.
Top Nurse Practitioner Programs in California
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 California - San Francisco
$12,570 per year (in-state) and $24,815 per year (out-of-state)
Degrees/Programs Offered: Master's, PhD, DNP
Nationally recognized as one of the top programs for nurses seeking to advance their education, the NP programs at the University of California, San Francisco can be earned through a master's or doctoral pathway. The MSN-NP offers dual certifications as a Family/Adult-Gerontology NP and Pediatric/Family NP, or as a Psychiatric Mental Health NP. All programs can be completed at a full or part-time pace.
School Type: Public
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. UCLA
$68,000 - $102,000
Degrees/Programs Offered: Post-BSN DNP
The post-BSN DNP program is a new, three-year program that takes RNs directly into a doctoral role. The program's first group of cohorts will start classes in Fall 2025. Students taking the post-BSN DNP route have the choice of four NP tracks: Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Pediatric Dual Primary/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, plus the option of adding an Occupational and Environmental Health certificate to two of the tracks.
- School Type: Public
- Website
3. UC - Irvine
$64,000 - $96,000
Degrees/Programs Offered: DNP, post-grad certificate
UC-Irvine notes that the doctoral pathway is the new standard for advanced practice nursing, and offers RNs with either their BS or MS an option to earn both their Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification and their doctoral degree in only 3 years. The program is centered on flexible learning, with both online and hybrid courses. Applications open in October for a fall start time the following calendar year.
- School Type: Public
- Website
4. USC
$80,000 - $120,000
Degrees/Programs Offered: MSN, DNP
The master's level FNP program at USC is primarily online with two on-campus intensives for students to practice skills and patient simulations. Clinicals are performed with respect to the student's geographical location, with a focus on including both private practices and community-based facilities. The FNP degree can be completed either full-time or part-time.
- School Type: Private
- Website
5. Azusa Pacific University
$58,000 - $87,000
Degrees/Programs Offered: MSN, DNP
This nationally-ranked program offers four MSN-NP tracks: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner–Primary Care (PNP-PC), and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Students must apply by April for a fall program start. There is also a direct BSN-DNP pathway where students can earn Advanced Practice Registered Nursing degrees as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP).
- School Type: Private
- Website
California Nurse Practitioner Program Admission Requirements
Admission requirements to California 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 California?
Nurse practitioner programs, in California 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 California is right for your nursing career.
How Long Are Nurse Practitioner Programs in California?
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 a California 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 California
Nurse Practitioner Salary in California
The average annual salary for a nurse practitioner in California is $128,589 or $62 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 California
Nurse practitioners can work in a variety of locations throughout California. 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 California
The first step for becoming a nurse practitioner in California 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?
- Is the program nearby? Am I willing to relocate?
- Do I meet the admission requirements? Can I complete them by the application deadline?
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.
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FAQs
