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How to Go From Registered Nurse to Nurse Practitioner (RN to NP)

BSN, RN

16 Min Read Published June 27, 2024

What Are RN to NP Programs?
4 Ways to Go From an RN to an NP
Top RN to NP Programs
Top BSN to NP Programs
Online RN to NP Programs
RN to NP Benefits
Is a Doctorate Required to Become an NP?
FAQs
Resources

If you're a registered nurse, you've likely considered advancing your career, and one of the most popular options to do that is becoming a nurse practitioner.

Increased autonomy, career opportunities, and higher salaries are just some of the reasons RNs choose to pursue their NP. But how do you go about becoming a nurse practitioner as a registered nurse? Through RN-to-NP programs! Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about RN-to-NP programs.

Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

What Are RN to NP Programs?

RN-to NP programs are for registered nurses looking to become nurse practitioners. They let you utilize all of your existing RN education and experience so that you're not starting from scratch in your NP education.

There are full-time, part-time, and online options, as well as options based on the level of education you're starting with—ADN vs BSN vs MSN.

One of the most important things to consider if you want to become a nurse practitioner is the patient population you want to work with. The specialty you choose will determine the type of coursework you study in your program. Some of the most common nurse practitioner specialties include:

>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

4 Ways to Go From an RN to an NP

In general, NP programs take around two to three years to complete when you're starting from an RN. Here are some of the pathways available to becoming a nurse practitioner:

RN to NP Programs

Associate degree in nursing (ADN) to nurse practitioner (NP) programs are bridge programs for ADN-trained nurses to become an NP faster and more efficiently than traditional programs.

ADN to NP programs are designed to be a fast track for nurses to earn a master's degree as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and obtain certification and licensure as an NP.

These are intensive and accelerated programs that can be completed full-time in about three years. Upon graduation, students earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an APRN degree as an NP.
Diploma RN to NP Programs

RNs who have completed a diploma program can also enter into bridge direct entry NP programs but may need to meet with a school counselor to guide their program, and/or take additional prerequisites before enrolling. These programs are not as popular as other RN to NP style programs, so if you only hold a diploma degree, this might be a harder path then some of the others.
BSN to NP Programs

One of the most common options, a BSN to NP program, takes you from a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) directly into a master’s NP program. Some students choose to enroll directly upon completion of their BSN undergraduate program or work in a clinical setting before advancing their education.

BSN to NP programs can be achieved through an MSN. However, many schools offer BSN to Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. At this time, NPs must have a minimum of an MSN.

BSN to NP programs can usually be completed in 24-26 months for an MSN or 36-48 months for a DNP if attending school full-time.
Direct Entry Nurse Practitioner Programs

If you’re not a nurse but have a degree in another field, you can enroll in a direct-entry nurse practitioner program. Essentially, you take an accelerated nursing program in about one year for the first portion of the program to be eligible for the NCLEX, and then you continue on to the NP coursework for the second half of the program. Many schools also recommend that with this option, course participants take at least a year between the first and second sections to gain hands-on clinical experience.

Depending on where you choose to do your coursework to become a nurse practitioner, the options are varied. Programs across the country offer full-time, part-time, and online choices. Some take one year full-time, and others can go for years with part-time classes and clinic work.

Keep in mind that there are significantly more BSN and direct-entry NP programs than ADN or diploma RN programs. If you are considering nursing school and think you may want to become an NP sometime in the future, your options may be significantly limited if you don’t achieve a BSN first.

Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

Top RN to NP Programs

Picking the right RN to NP program can be an overwhelming decision. The best program for you will depend on many factors and how important each is to you during your educational journey. We've ranked the best RN to NP programs to help you choose the right program for you. For more details on these programs and to see the full list, check our our guide to the Top 10 RN to NP Programs.

1. Regis College

Regis College offers a flexible, online RN to NP program. Applicants who have earned their ADN from a regionally accredited institution and accredited program must complete a college-level statistics course before the start of classes and must have an active, unencumbered RN license.

Tuition: $990/credit hour
Program Length: 36 months
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission on Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Application Deadline: July 17th
Contact Information:
- Phone: (781) 768-7000
- Email Information: graduatedepartment@regiscollege.edu
Online Options Available? Yes

2. University of Alabama at Birmingham

The RN to MSN pathway at the University of Alabama provides applicants with an ADN degree and a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field the opportunity to become Nurse Practitioners via a distance-accessible format combining online coursework and on-campus intensives.

Tuition: $682/credit hour
Program Length: Three years
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Application Deadline: February 18th
Contact Information:
- Phone: (205) 975-9035
- Email Information: kell7297@uab.edu
Online Options Available? Yes

3. Clarkson College

Clarkson College’s online RN-to-MSN program is designed for RNs with a diploma or Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Students earn graduate credits while completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN). After completing undergraduate requirements, students transition to a custom RN-to-MSN degree plan that includes minimal campus visits.

Tuition: $5,460 full time/$2,751 part-time
Program Length: Three years (full-time)
Accreditation: ACEN
Application Deadline: 
- Fall: July 18th
- Spring/Summer: Rolling
Contact Information:
- Phone: (402) 552-3100
- Email Information: admissions@clarksoncollege.edu
Online Options Available? Yes

4. University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida’s Doctor of Nurse Practitioner program is available for RNs with an associate degree in nursing who have also earned a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. This full-time graduate program is offered at the school’s Orlando, Florida location.

Tuition: $288.16/credit hour
Program Length: 9 semesters
Accreditation: CCNE
Application Deadline: 
- Fall: February 1st
Contact Information:
- Phone: (407) 823-2744
- Email Information: UCFNurse@ucf.edu
Online Options Available? Yes

>> Related: Nurse Practitioner Schools in Florida

5. University of Rochester

University of Rochester’s School of Nursing offers an RN to BS to MS program that blends online and evening in-class sessions, allowing ADN-prepared registered nurses to earn their bachelor’s degree and then pursue one of three master’s degree programs.

Tuition: $1,200 per credit hour for the RN to BS portion; $1,740 per credit hour for the master’s portion
Program Length: 16 months for the bachelor’s program and two to three years for the master’s program
Accreditation: CCNE
Application Deadline: 
- Spring: September 15th
Contact Information:
- Phone: (585) 275-2375
- Email Information: SON_Admissions@urmc.rochester.edu
Online Options Available? No

>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

Top BSN to NP Programs

There are many BSN to NP programs to choose from, we've ranked the top ones to help you choose. For more details on these programs and to see the full list, check out our guide to the Top 10 BSN to NP Programs.

1. John Hopkins University

John Hopkins offers BSN to NP programs specializing in adult-geriatric, family practice, pediatric, and psychiatric care. Each program results in the student earning a DNP credential. Most programs can be completed remotely with onsite clinical rotations in the student's location.

Tuition: $51,669
Program Length: Three to four years
Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Application Deadline:
- Fall: January 15th
Contact Info: (410) 955-4766
Online Options Available? Yes

2. Duke University

The Duke University School of Nursing offers an MSN program for bachelor-prepared RNs looking to become an NP. This program is entirely online and distance-based. However, students may have required on-campus activities for a few of their courses.

Students may complete clinical work in healthcare facilities close to home. Students also have the option to obtain specialty certificates upon graduation.

Tuition: $13,488 per semester
Program Length: Two-to-three years
Accreditation: CCNE
Application Deadline:
- Fall: December 1st
- Spring: May 1st
Program Contact: Brandon Holmes, Admissions Officer
Phone Number: (919) 668-6274
Email: bgh7@duke.edu
Online Options Available? Yes

3. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania offers BSN to NP programs through its MSN pathway. The specialty programs students can choose from include adult gerontology, family practice, neonatal, pediatrics,psychiatric-mental health, and women’s health.

The university also offers a Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program for NPs with an MSN or DNP and certificate programs for nurses with an MSN.

Tuition: Program costs depend on the number of course units taken per semester.
- 12-month program: $81,081
- 14-month program: $94,595
- 18-month program: $121,622
- 36-month program: $233,932
Program Length: One to three years
Accreditation: CCNE
Application Deadline:
- Fall full-time: November 2nd
- Fall part-time: March 15th
- Spring full-time: September 19th
- Spring part-time: October 17th
- Accelerated BSN-MSN: October 17th
Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (215) 898-4271
- Email: admissions@nursing.upenn.edu
Online Options Available? No

>> Show Me Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

4. Columbia University

Columbia’s RN to DNP program prepares BSN-educated RNs to provide comprehensive care to many patient populations. Graduates are eligible for state licensure and professional certification in their specialty areas.

Tuition: $70,194
Program Length: 3 years
Accreditation: CCNE
Application Deadline: December 15th
Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (212) 342-3920
- Email: son-ocas@cumc.columbia.edu
Online Options Available? No

5. Case Western University

Case Western University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing has earned a reputation as one of the top programs in the country. The school’s BSN-to-NP program produces advanced practice nurses with MSN degrees that allow them to blend majors or pursue joint master’s degree opportunities with other schools at the university.

Tuition: $2,263 per credit hour
Program Length: 18 months
Accreditation: CCNE
Application Deadline: March 15th
Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (216) 368-8532
- Email Address: msnasst@case.edu
Online Options Available? Yes

Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

Online RN to NP Programs

Online nurse practitioner programs are ideal for various nursing professionals with busy schedules. They allow the entirety or majority of coursework to be completed remotely. They are flexible and allow students to work around their schedules.

While online programs are inclusive to all lifestyles, nurses with the following lifestyles may especially benefit from online programs:

Working nurses
Nurses with families
Nurses with outside responsibilities
Nurses with difficult and/or set schedules

Benefits of Completing an RN to NP Program

Completing an RN to NP program allows for increased autonomy, more specialized and intense training in your field of interest, more freedom and flexibility with your career, and, usually, a higher wage.

Operate your own clinic. Because NPs are independent practitioners, they also have the ability to operate and own their own clinic, depending on their own state rules, and have enhanced clinical skills, such as the ability to prescribe medication for treatment.
Nurse practitioners can prescribe medications in all 50 states and order testing for their patients. No matter what their specialty, they will spend the majority of their time at work assessing, examining, diagnosing, and treating patients.
Nurse Practitioners can diagnose patients with diabetes or high blood pressure and then help them manage it. They can order and interpret laboratory tests and X-rays. They also educate and support patients’ families through the bad moments.
Nurse Practitioners have the authority to work independently in most states. However, in some states, nurse practitioners are required to have a supervisory contract in place with a physician.
Nurse practitioners have a chance to work in all types of settings, including hospitals, doctors’ offices, urban and rural clinics, college campuses, and corporations.
NPs have increased opportunities to advance in their fields and expand their practice beyond solely bedside nursing.

Is a Doctorate Required to Become an NP?

It is not a requirement for nurse practitioners to earn a DNP. NPs can have a masters-level education or a doctorate degree. There may also be additional educational requirements if you plan on working as an NP educator, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing is often discussing the future possibility of transitioning all NP programs into doctoral-level programs, although there is not a final decision that has been made on that switch.

FAQs

How long does it take to go from RN to NP?
- If you’re an RN with an associate’s degree, getting your NP will take approximately 3-4 years. If you already have a BSN, you can become an NP in about two years.
How long does it take to bridge from RN to NP?
- A bridge RN-NP program takes approximately 3-4 years.
How do I transfer from RN to NP?
- If you’re an RN with an associate’s degree, look for a school that offers a bridge ADN-NP program. If you’re an RN with a BSN, you can apply directly to an NP program.
How much more does an NP make than an RN?
- NPs make an average of $121,610 per year, while RNs make about $81,220 annually (BLS).
What is the fastest way to become a nurse practitioner?
- The fastest way to become an NP is to earn your BSN-RN and enroll directly into an NP program. It’s helpful to choose a school that offers both.
Can you go straight from RN to MSN?
- You can go straight from an RN to MSN with a bridge program.

How to Go From Registered Nurse to Nurse Practitioner (RN to NP)

Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

What Are RN to NP Programs?

4 Ways to Go From an RN to an NP

RN to NP Programs

Diploma RN to NP Programs

BSN to NP Programs

Direct Entry Nurse Practitioner Programs

Popular Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs