Types of Nurse Practitioner Specialties
Just as there are countless specialties available for registered nurses (RNs), there are almost as many different specialties available for nurse practitioners (NPs). These can range from pediatric to trauma to family medicine.
This guide will help explain the many different nurse practitioner specialties, including what they do, their salary, and certification requirements. Read on to learn more about the diverse range of NP specialties and find out which is right for you.
Types of Nurse Practitioner Specialties
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Aesthetic/Cosmetic Nurse Practitioner
- Cardiac Nurse Practitioner
- Emergency Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Oncology Nurse Practitioner
- Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
1. Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
Acute care nurse practitioners focus on caring for adults with complex diseases. They care for ill, hospital-admitted, and post-trauma or post-surgical patients. Acute Care NPs are also responsible for ordering and interpreting tests and laboratory values, developing treatment plans, and collaborating with other healthcare providers.
Salary
Acute care nurse practitioners are among the highest-paid NP specialties. According to ZipRecruiter, they can earn an average annual salary of $117,423, or $56 an hour.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of clinical experience
- Attend an accredited acute care NP program
- Get a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree
- Pass the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses acute care NP certification exam
- Apply for APRN State Licensure
2. Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNPs) specialize in the care of adults from adolescence to geriatrics. They work with patients and their caregivers to manage chronic conditions, diseases, and other health conditions.
Salary
Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners earn an average annual salary of $118,644 or $57 an hour, according to reports from ZipRecruiter.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of clinical experience as a bedside nurse
- Attend an accredited AGNP program to earn an MSN or DNP
- Earn a national AGNP certification from one of these agencies:
- Apply for APRN state licensure
3. Aesthetic or Cosmetic Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
Aesthetic/cosmetic nurse practitioners specialize in cosmetic medical procedures that improve their patients’ appearances. Those working in these nurse practitioner specialties do a variety of tasks, including:
- Examining and evaluating patient needs
- Providing consultations for various procedures
- Performing certain procedures
- Providing recovery care for patients
Salary
Aesthetic/cosmetic nurse practitioners can earn an average annual salary of $130,295 or $63 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Work 1-3 years as a bedside nurse with cosmetic/aesthetic or plastic surgery training
- Graduate from an accredited aesthetic or cosmetic NP program
- Pass certification exam from one of the following certifying entities:
- Obtain APRN state licensure
4. Cardiac Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
Cardiac nurse practitioners perform a variety of tasks generally related to the heart, blood vessels, and cardiac system. Their tasks include conducting physical exams, prescribing medications, and counseling patients and families regarding their diseases.
Cardiac NP's responsibilities include but aren’t limited to the following:
- Assisting with cardiac catheterizations
- Conducting cardiac research
- Assisting with patients requiring ECMO and VADs
- Monitoring postoperative cardiac patients
Salary
Cardiac NPs are the highest-paid nurse practitioner specialty, at an average of $144,905 a year or $70 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of experience as a bedside nurse in cardiology
- Earn an MSN or DNP from an accredited nurse practitioner program
- Become a certified NP after passing your national examination
- Earn a post-NP certification specializing in cardiology
- Obtain APRN state licensure
5. Emergency Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
Emergency nurse practitioners (ENPs) assess, diagnose, and manage injuries and illnesses that need urgent care. ENPs can work with or without supervision and often perform the following duties:
- Determining which patients need the most immediate care
- Make decisions about treatment
- Monitor patient conditions
- Provide education and consultation
Salary
ZipRecruiter reports an average annual salary of $130,295 or $63 an hour for emergency room NPs.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of clinical experience as a bedside nurse in the emergency room
- Attend an accredited MSN or DNP program with an emergency room NP curriculum
- Earn your ENP certification by passing one of the following exams:
- AANP’s Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certification (ENP-C)
- ANCC’s Emergency Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (ENP-BC) (renewal only)
- Apply for state APRN licensure
6. Family Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are the most common types of nurse practitioners. These advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) deliver family-focused care to patients ranging from infants to the elderly.
FNPs often act as primary care providers for their patients, which can be especially rewarding if you enjoy developing long-term relationships and getting to know people over time.
What does a family nurse practitioner do? Some common FNP duties include:
- Performing physical exams
- Ordering diagnostic tests and procedures
- Diagnosing and treating illnesses
- Prescribing needed medications
- Teaching patients how to develop healthy lifestyles
Salary
FNPs earn an average annual salary of $127,976 or $62 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 2-3 years of clinical experience working as an RN
- Attend an accredited FNP program to earn an MSN or DNP degree
- Earn a national certification through the ANCC or AANP
- Apply for APRN state licensure
>> Related: FNP-C vs FNP-BC: What's the Difference?
7. Oncology Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
An oncology nurse practitioner provides comprehensive care to patients diagnosed with cancer. They collaborate with other healthcare providers, including physicians, to develop treatment plans for cancer patients.
Salary
On average, oncology nurse practitioners earn $130,295 a year or $63 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of experience as a bedside oncology nurse
- Earn an MSN or DNP from an accredited nurse practitioner program
- Become a certified NP after passing your national examination
- Earn an Advanced Oncology Certified NP (AOCNP) through the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
- Obtain APRN state licensure
8. Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
An orthopedic nurse practitioner focuses on the care and treatment of patients suffering from musculoskeletal problems. These can include disease and/or injuries to bones, muscles, joints, and supporting connective tissue.
Salary
Orthopedic NPs earn an average annual salary of $134,369 or $65 per hour, according to reports from ZipRecruiter.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of experience as a bedside nurse in a related field
- Graduate from an accredited orthopedic NP program with either an MSN or DNP
- Pass the Orthopedic Nurses Certification Board’s ONP Certification (ONP-C) exam
- Obtain APRN state licensure
9. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
Neonatal nurse practitioners (NNPs) care for premature and sick newborns. NNPs diagnose, provide treatment plans, and prescribe medication for infant patients. They can also assist in delivering patients in specific settings.
Salary
NNPs can earn an average annual salary of $136,649 or $66 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of experience as a bedside neonatal nurse
- Earn an MSN or DNP from an accredited neonatal NP program
- Get your NNP Certification from the National Certification Corporation
- Apply for APRN state licensure
10. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) focus solely on the pediatric population. They provide care and education to parents as well as to their patients.
PNPs usually focus on holistic-centered care (more so than other NP specialties), which includes:
- Education
- Assessment
- Planning
- Evaluation
They can also diagnose and treat patients, order diagnostic tests and medications, and perform many procedures.
Salary
PNPs can earn an average annual salary of $135,161 or $65 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of clinical experience working as an RN, preferably in pediatrics
- Attend an accredited acute care NP program
- Attend an accredited MSN or DNP NP program with a pediatric nursing curriculum
- Pass the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) certification exam
- Apply for state APRN licensure
11. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
Psychiatric nurse practitioners - also called psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) - specialize in caring for patient’s mental health needs. These patients can include:
- Adults
- Children
- Families
- Groups
- Communities
What does a psychiatric nurse practitioner do? Their primary duties include helping people cope with psychiatric disorders and illnesses. They can also help people with substance abuse disorders.
Salary
Psychiatric NPs can earn an average annual salary of $141,112 or $68 an hour, per ZipRecruiter reports.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of clinical experience as a bedside nurse
- Earn an MSN or DNP from an accredited psychiatric mental health NP program
- Pass the ANCC’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certification (PMHNP-BC) examination
- Apply for APRN state licensure
12. Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
What They Do
A women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP) specializes in the comprehensive care of women throughout their lives. They focus on reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological health and usually work in a primary care office rather than a hospital or delivery room.
Salary
ZipRecruiter reports an average annual salary of $124,362 or $60 an hour for women’s health NPs.
Requirements
- Be a licensed registered nurse
- Gain 1-3 years of experience as a bedside nurse in a related field
- Earn an MSN or DNP from an accredited women’s health NP program
- Earn board certification from the National Certifying Corporation by passing the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC) exam
- Obtain APRN state licensure
How to Choose the Right Nurse Practitioner Speciality for You
As you choose between the different types of NP, you should consider your nursing field. Each nurse practitioner type requires relevant experience before attending a program.
If you're already a NICU nurse, becoming a neonatal NP would be easier than becoming an oncology NP. Essentially, you would have to find a new bedside job and gain experience before applying to an oncology NP program.
You can also consider how much money you want to earn. Different types of nurse practitioners earn different amounts. To optimize your income potential, aim for NP specialties in fields like acute care, neonatology, and cardiology.
Ready to begin your dream job as a nurse practitioner? Read our guide on how to become a nurse practitioner to get started.
