How to Become a Nurse Practitioner | Salary & Requirements


Thinking about exploring a career as a nurse practitioner? Learn how to become a nurse practitioner, what they do, how much you can make, and more.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has completed advanced education and training beyond that required of a registered nurse (RN). Nurse practitioners are trained to provide a wide range of healthcare services, including diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, interpreting diagnostic tests, and managing overall patient care.
Degree Requirements
MSN or DNP Degree
How Long to Become
6-7 years
The main difference between being an RN and an NP is that nurse practitioners have more authority and have similar responsibilities to those of a doctor. They can serve as primary care or specialty care providers and typically focus their care on a specific population, such as families, children, or the elderly.
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.
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.
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.

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.
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner
-
Become a Registered Nurse
The first step to becoming a nurse practitioner is becoming a registered nurse. You'll do this by enrolling in either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) program. -
Get Your Bachelor's Degree
If you don’t already hold a BSN, you may want to earn one before pursuing your MSN. However, it is possible to go straight from your ADN to an MSN degree if you want to skip the step of earning your Bachelor's degree. -
Gain Nursing Experience
Most NP programs require that students have 1-2 years of bedside experience before enrolling in an accredited program. -
Enroll in a Nurse Practitioner Program
You'll need to choose between an MSN or a DNP NP program. An MSN is the minimum degree requirement for becoming an NP but a DNP is a terminal degree. -
Earn Your Advanced Practice Nursing Licensure
The specifics for NP licensure are set by the individual states. But generally, after graduating from an accredited NP program and meeting the minimum clinical hours required, you will need to apply to take the NP certification exam. This will vary depending on your specialty. You are only eligible for the board certification in the specialty you took in school. -
Get Your First Nurse Practitioner Job
Finding an NP job might be more daunting than finding an RN position. There are several ways to find a position. You might want to consider working with a nurse recruiter to find a position, or simply checking hospital job boards. NP positions can be niche, depending on your specialty, so networking can be helpful as well.
Nurse Practitioner Specialties
In addition to being general nurse practitioners, NPs can also specialize in a specific population. They often attend a nursing program that allows them to specialize in this area and obtain clinical competency. If they choose a specialization, they'll also need to become certified in the specific specialty area.
Here are some of the popular nurse practitioner specialties, but you can check out our article on nurse practitioner specialties for more details.
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.
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.
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.

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.
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
Nurse Practitioner Salary
Nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $129,210 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average nurse practitioner salary will vary based on many factors, including location, experience, and specialty.
Certain specializations earn more than others, so be sure to check our article on the highest-paying nurse practitioner specialties to find the ones with the highest earning potential.
Nurse Practitioner Salaries by Specialty
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General Nurse Practitioner | $129,210 per year |
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Family Nurse Practitioner | $158,093 |
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Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner | $106,826 |
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Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | $134,003 |
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Pediatric Nurse Practitioner | $119,000 |
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Acute Care Nurse Practitioner | $117,423 |
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Women's Health Nurse Practitioner | $124,362 |
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Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner | $125,900 |
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Emergency Nurse Practitioner | $134,121 |
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Neonatal Nurse Practitioner | $136,649 |
Nurse Practitioner Salary by State
State
NP Salary
Alabama
$109,650
Alaska
$142,340
Arizona
$132,920
Arkansas
$116,030
California
$173,190
Connecticut
$141,140
Delaware
$130,190
District of Columbia
$137,600
Florida
$128,340
Georgia
$125,490
Hawaii
$135,020
Idaho
$131,380
Illinois
$128,880
Indiana
$126,520
Iowa
$133,020
Kansas
$127,900
Kentucky
$116,930
Louisiana
$124,850
Maine
$127,750
Maryland
$127,100
Massachusetts
$145,140
Michigan
$127,200
Minnesota
$128,120
Mississippi
$122,930
Missouri
$124,600
Montana
$131,560
Nebraska
$127,950
Nevada
(8) -
New Hampshire
$133,660
New Jersey
$140,470
New Mexico
$136,620
New York
$148,410
North Carolina
$124,830
North Dakota
$121,200
Ohio
$121,250
Oklahoma
$127,120
Oregon
$148,030
Pennsylvania
$126,730
Rhode Island
$139,600
South Carolina
$113,950
South Dakota
$122,300
Tennessee
$108,180
Texas
$130,930
Utah
$131,680
Vermont
$130,580
Virginia
$122,180
Washington
$143,620
West Virginia
$122,140
Wisconsin
$130,490
Wyoming
$126,060
Source: BLS 2024 Report
Nurse Practitioner Education
As we mentioned, there's not just one way to become an NP. Nurse practitioners have several different schooling options depending on where they're starting out and what degree they want to obtain.
Nurse Practitioner Degrees
In order to become a nurse practitioner, you need to complete either an MSN or DNP degree.
MSN |
DNP |
|
Tuition |
$20,000 - $120,000 |
$50,000- $200,000 |
Program Length |
1 to 2 years |
4 to 6 years |
Admission Requirements |
|
|
Curriculum |
MSN programs focus on clinical skills and patient care. Courses include,
|
DNP courses are essentially the same as in MSN programs, except for an increased focus on leadership, administration, and research.
|
Skills Learned |
|
|
Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs
RN to NP Programs
Designed for students who have an Associate’s degree (ADN). Students take classes to earn their BSN while also earning their MSN. Some programs will award students a BSN while others don’t.
BSN to NP Programs
The most common type of NP program. This is ideal for students who hold a BSN and are interested in becoming an NP.
Direct Entry NP Programs
This program is for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. Students can save time and money if they are interested in becoming an NP.
MSN to DNP Programs
Students already have an MSN and are interested in a terminal degree (DNP). All NP programs are transitioning to DNP so this is for already practicing NPs interested in advancing their practice.
BSN to DNP Programs
Students who already hold a BSN and are interested in earning a DNP should consider these programs. Students will take MSN classes but also those needed for a DNP degree.
Direct Entry DNP Programs
If you hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field but are interested in becoming an NP, then this would be a great fit. Students earn a terminal degree and not only learn how to become a successful NP but also learn the administrative aspects of care.
Nurse Practitioner Duties
NPs are healthcare providers who can prescribe medication, examine patients, order diagnostic tests, diagnose illnesses, and provide treatment, much like physicians do.
Their experience as working nurses gives them a unique approach to patient care, while their advanced studies qualify them to take on additional duties that are usually left to physicians. In fact, as reported by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), it’s estimated that NPs can provide 80-90 percent of the care that primary care physicians offer.
Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
NP scope of practice has three levels: full, reduced, and restricted practice authority. Nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 25 states, meaning that they do not have to work under the supervision of a doctor.
In the remaining states, NPs still have more authority than RNs, but they need a medical doctor to sign off on certain patient care decisions.
Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice by State
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.
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.
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.

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.
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.

At Ohio University, we provide aspiring and current nursing professionals programs and credentials that will help them launch their careers and advance toward leadership positions.
Enrollment: Nationwide, except AL, AZ, CO, DE, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MN, ND, NE, NY, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, and WY
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$100,000+ MSN DNP Bedside NP