Nurse Practitioner Schools in Texas
Texas is one of the top states for nurse practitioner (NP) programs. After completing an accredited program and passing the boards, you will be ready to diagnose, treat, and medically manage patients as an NP.
This guide will explore nurse practitioner programs in Texas, including their location, tuition costs, and online options. We'll also discuss what it's like to be an NP in Texas, such as salary expectations and job outlook. Read on to learn more about becoming an NP in the Lone Star State.
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Texas
Education
To begin your journey toward becoming an NP in Texas, you must first graduate from an accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Then, you must gain relevant bedside experience as a registered nurse (RN).
After meeting the experience requirements for graduate school admission, you may apply to your Texas NP program of interest. Remember that the Texas Board of Nursing must approve the program you select.
Certification
After graduating from an accredited NP program, you may sit for the national certification exam. Family nurse practitioners can choose from two national certifications:
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Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center
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Family Nurse Practitioner Certified (FNP-C) from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Ultimately, your career goals will steer you toward one certification or the other. Read our FNP-C vs FNP-BC guide to learn which credential suits you.
Licensure
Once certified, you will apply for an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license on the Texas Board of Nursing website. Wait times vary depending on the time of the year, but the process can take up to 6 months.
The required fee is $100 for APRN licensure only. If you request APRN licensure with prescriptive authority, the cost increases to $150.
Nurse Practitioner Schools in Texas
1. The University of Texas at Austin
UTA students complete 48 credit hours focusing on primary care and community assessment. Students must also complete 645 hours of supervised clinical practice.
Eligible students must have two years of full-time clinical experience within the past five years. The university only accepts 10-12 students per cohort, making this one of the most competitive Texas NP programs.
- Location: Austin, TX
- Cost Per Credit: Resident - $1,418 | Nonresident - $2,035
- Program Length: 5 semesters
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? No
2. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
UT Rio Grande Valley offers students a program focusing on its international, multicultural, and multilingual residents. NP students complete clinical rotations in the local area near the US-Mexico border. This experience lets them become well-versed in treating underserved populations.
- Location: Edinburg, TX
- Cost Per Credit: Resident - $741.35 | Nonresident - $1,161.35
- Program Length: 5-8 semesters
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? No
3. Texas A&M
Texas A&M is among the top nursing schools nationwide, making it attractive to out-of-state students. The university is also home to one of the best nurse practitioner programs in Texas.
Although students attend most classes online, the university does require one to two campus visits per semester. These visits include diagnostics, procedures, and four primary care courses.
Eligible students must live in Texas and hold an active RN license. Keep in mind that state regulations regarding the use of preceptors may make it impossible to complete the program if you move out of state during your enrollment.
- Location: Edinburg, TX
- Annual Cost: Resident - $27,586 | Nonresident - $35,440
- Program Length: 6-8 semesters
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
4. University of Houston
The University of Houston is home to one of the finest online FNP programs in Texas. Students enrolled in this program attend clinicals one to three times per week from the beginning of their first term. The number of clinical hours may make working, especially full-time, while attending this Texas NP program challenging.
Additionally, students can choose from multiple scholarships to help offset costs. Specifically, NP students can take advantage of up to $17,000 in scholarships.
- Location: Houston, TX
- Program Cost: $30,045.59
- Program Length: 2 years
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
5. Texas State University
TSU is home to a 48-credit-hour, lockstep, online nurse practitioner program in Texas. However, students attend on-campus learning intensives twice a semester at the St. David's School of Nursing. Additionally, they must complete 705 clinical hours in addition to didactic training.
- Location: Round Rock, TX
- Program Cost: Resident - $17,153.28 | Nonresident - $37,313.28
- Program Length: 5-7 semesters
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
6. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
NP students at Texas Tech complete core courses online while traveling to campus several times throughout the program. Due to regulation guidelines, Arizona, California, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, and Washington students are not eligible to apply to the program.
- Location: Lubbock, TX
- Program Cost: Resident - $12,720 | Nonresident - $32,880
- Program Length: 3 years
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
7. University of Texas El Paso
The NP program at El Paso offers flexible 7-week courses, making it easier to work full-time and attend classes. With two start dates per year, this is one of the more accessible programs to get into and start quickly.
Students in this program complete 49 credit hours and 775 clinical hours over seven semesters. UT El Paso offers didactic courses online for optimal flexibility. However, they may require students to travel up to 200 miles to fulfill clinical requirements.
- Location: El Paso, TX
- Cost Per Credit: Resident - $552.00 | Nonresident - $782.00
- Program Length: 7 semesters
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
8. University of Texas at Arlington
This public university offers a campus-based traditional MSN and an accelerated online MSN. Despite being online, students in the accelerated MSN must complete in-person clinicals. The university has students find their own preceptors, adding another level of responsibility and difficulty to the program.
- Location: Arlington, TX
- Program Cost: $30,084
- Program Length:
- Campus: 4 years
- Accelerated: 32-36 months
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
9. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
The FNP program at UTMB Galveston offers online coursework but requires in-person clinical hours. Depending on their classes, students must also attend three to four in-person campus visits per semester.
- Location: Galveston, TX
- Cost Per Credit: Resident - $1,452.67 | Nonresident - $1,881.54
- Program Length: 7 semesters
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
10. Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University faculty provides one-on-one clinical oversight to students during the three required NP practicums. Therefore, students don't have to worry about securing clinical sites or preceptors at this university.
Students from 30 states are eligible to attend the online program. Those interested should speak to an admissions counselor to verify their state is acceptable.
- Location: Denton, TX
- Program Cost: $25,758
- Program Length: 2-3.5 years
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
11. Baylor University
Students can earn the BSN-DNP degree at Baylor University in just three years. This program length is comparable to other NP programs granting MSN degrees in Texas. While most of Baylor's NP coursework is online, on-campus immersions are scattered throughout the program.
U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Baylor among the top 10% of DNP nursing schools. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education also awarded Baylor R1 status. This status recognizes Baylor as a top research university that provides DNP students with more resources than other schools.
- Location: Waco, TX
- Cost Per Credit: $1,150
- Program Length: 3 years
- Degree Offered: DNP
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
12. Prairie View A&M University
The Prairie View A&M nurse practitioner program requires 53 credits and 780 clinical hours. Students graduate with a Master of Science in Nursing and become eligible to take the national certification exam.
Prairie View's tuition structure is cohort-based and charges by the credit hour. Students pay this fixed fee for the duration of the program. They may also choose a variable tuition cost, which increases based on inflation. However, the initial cost of this tuition option is less than the fixed rate.
- Location: Prairie View, TX
- Cost Per Credit: Resident - $362.59 | Nonresident - $871.79
- Program Length: 3 years
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
13. West Texas A&M University
The NP program at West Texas was established in the fall of 1978. Since then, the university has built a reputation for providing quality education at a reasonable cost.
Additionally, the program continually evolves based on the medical needs of North Texas residents. This evolution ensures NP students can provide comprehensive care during their clinical rotations while receiving an education relevant to their daily practice.
- Location: Canyon, TX
- Cost Per Credit: Resident - $673.15 | Nonresident - $721.24
- Program Length: 7 semesters
- Degree Offered: MSN
- Program Offered: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- School Type: Public
- Online Options Available? Yes
Texas Nurse Practitioner Programs Overview
Being truly prepared for the journey to becoming a nurse practitioner is impossible. However, understanding what may lie ahead can help you mentally, physically, and emotionally prepare.
NP school is grueling and encompasses comprehensive and advanced didactic coursework. Additionally, clinical hours can be long and intense, depending on the specific program.
Most students in NP programs are working and may have families, and balancing work, life, and school is challenging. Your commitments outside graduate school still require your time and attention. So, Texas NP students must have careful planning and time management skills.
Tuition for Nurse Practitioner Programs in Texas
Texas nurse practitioner programs cost anywhere from $15,000 to $40,000. At such reasonable prices compared to other states, Texas may be an ideal place to start your NP career.
Differences in tuition depend on several factors, such as the type of degree and program length. You may spend more at private schools and in-person programs. However, you can save money by using financial aid or applying for nursing scholarships.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for nurse practitioner schools in Texas vary, but each program requires a BSN from an accredited university. Other general requirements include, but are not limited to:
- Current, unencumbered RN license
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- CV/Resume
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Undergraduate statistics course
- Minimum one year of bedside, relevant nursing experience
- Personal interview
- GRE scores
- Application fee
- Statement of Intent
How Hard is Nurse Practitioner Programs in Texas?
Nurse practitioner programs, regardless of the state, are challenging. The difficulty increases when you start your clinical rotations because you must juggle the most responsibilities.
In addition to didactic courses and working, you'll need to put in clinical hours to complete your degree. Many students report feeling like there aren't enough hours in the day to complete all their duties.
>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
How Long are Nurse Practitioner Programs in Texas?
It generally takes two to eight years to complete an NP program in Texas. The program length depends on whether you attend it full or part-time, the required credit hours, and the type of degree. For example, a DNP will take longer to complete than an MSN.
Remember, all NP programs have a set progression plan. So, you should speak to your academic advisor to understand how long your specific education path will take.
What to Expect Working as an NP in Texas
NP Salary in Texas
NPs earn an annual median salary of $121,610, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). NPs in Texas earn an average yearly salary of $124,660 or $59.93 an hour.
Career Outlook
The demand for NPs will grow 45% from 2022 to 2032, according to BLS estimates. This growth is significantly faster than the average for all other occupations.
Additionally, the BLS expects 118,600 new openings for NPs annually. Currently, facilities in Texas employ 18,820 nurse practitioners, which is 7% of all NPs nationwide.
Where Can You Work? NP Jobs in Texas
NPs can work in several environments. However, the BLS reports that most NPs work at private physician offices (45%). Other locations that employ NPs in Texas include:
- Hospitals
- Acute or urgent care centers
- Academia
- Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care Facilities
- Outpatient care centers
- Home care
- Hospice centers
- Correctional facilities
- Public health departments
- Nurse-managed clinics
- Homeless clinics
- Emergency rooms
- Government facilities
Next Steps
Starting the journey to becoming an NP can be taxing, especially with countless NP schools available. Finding the right fit depends on several factors, including cost, location, and online vs. in-person requirements.
Regardless of the program, all NP programs in Texas require students to complete in-person clinical hours. Most also have students travel to campus several times per semester. So, while you may complete didactic classwork online, you should plan for these in-person demands.
Finally, the Lone Star State doesn't limit where you can reside or hold an RN license. You may still attend a Texas NP school as an out-of-state resident with licensure outside Texas.
