How to Become a Nurse Practitioner

If you're thinking about going solo as a nurse practitioner, consider these 10 steps to see if it's the right career move.

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

Is it time to climb the nursing career ladder? Becoming a nurse practitioner can increase your salary and your responsibilities. Nurse practitioner is one of the most advanced nursing titles where you’ll still be directly involved in patient care. It’s also one of the fastest-growing professions at a projected job growth of 40% over the next few years.

What is a nurse practitioner? We have the details on how to become a nurse practitioner, including nurse practitioner education requirements and different nurse practitioner specialties.

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is a specialized nurse with advanced training and education. NPs have completed a master’s or doctoral program and hold an NP license, both focused on the same patient population.

Most NPs hold a license in primary care. Others focus on specific patient populations or health care settings, for example:

What Does a Nurse Practitioner Do?

NPs provide patient care in a variety of healthcare settings. You can work as an NP in your specialty, but you can also do everything that an RN is qualified to do. The exact scope of what an NP can do varies from state to state. There are three different levels of authority for NPs:

  • Restricted practice: NPs in states that require restricted practice must work under the same oversight of physicians as other nurses. In these states, becoming an NP can still qualify you for more responsibilities and a higher salary, but it doesn’t change the nurse-physician relationship.
  • Reduced practice: In reduced-practice states, NPs can conduct one or more responsibilities without physician oversight, such as diagnosing and treating patients.
  • Full practice: In about half of all U.S. states, NPs can work independently of physicians. They can conduct patient exams, prescribe medications, manage treatment, and in some cases, open their own practice, without physician oversight.

Learn more about what NPs do in our job description for nurse practitioners.

Can Nurse Practitioners Open Their Own Practice?

In states where NPs have full practice status, you can open your own office. You’ll be able to do some of the things that physicians do, such as prescribing medication without supervision and admitting patients to the hospital. However, once you know how to become a nurse practitioner, you’ll also need to take extra steps to obtain these privileges, for example:

  • Apply for a furnishing license if you want to prescribe medications. In some states you can request this with your NP license application.
  • Apply for a DEA number if you want to prescribe controlled medications.
  • Apply for hospital privileges to be affiliated with a local hospital.
  • Get malpractice insurance.
  • Sign up with insurance plans to get reimbursed for your services.

You’ll also need to comply with all city, county, state, and federal laws regarding nursing licensing and certifications, as well as general laws regulating business practices. Consult an attorney, as well as your state’s Nurse Practice Act, and the state Board of Nursing, for more details on how to become a nurse practitioner with your own clinic.

NP vs. APRN

NPs are part of a category of nurses called advanced practice registered nurses (APRN). In some states this is called advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP). This category also includes certified nurse midwives (CNM), clinical nurse specialist (CNS)), and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). The path to becoming one of these specialties is similar to that for an NP, but the difference is the master’s programs you choose and the certification you receive afterwards.

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner: Requirements & Career Path

Nurse practitioners must have excellent clinical knowledge and bedside manners. You’ll need to work well in a team, be responsible, and detail-oriented. Due to the multitude of responsibilities, you’ll need to be a skilled multitasker and manage stress well.

Nurse Practitioner Education Requirements

The first step in how to become a nurse practitioner is to become a registered nurse (RN). This includes obtaining a nursing degree, passing the NCLEX exam, and applying for an RN license. You can learn more about these steps in our guide to how to become an RN.

What Degree Do You Need to Be a Nurse Practitioner?

Before you even start your nursing education, consider how to become a nurse practitioner. While an RN license doesn’t require a 4-year degree, an NP does, so it’s wise to get a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the beginning. You can also complete an RN to BSN program later if you get an associate degree in nursing first.

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner When You Have a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

Once you have a BSN degree, you’ll need to follow these nurse practitioner requirements to practice as an NP:

  • Get 1-2 years of work experience as a nurse. This is required for many but not all graduate programs.
  • Complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with a focus on a specific population group. Master’s programs are more competitive than bachelor’s programs for nursing. View our tips for how to get into nursing school for tips on how to make your application stand out. How long is nurse practitioner school? It takes about two or three years to complete a master’s degree. A doctoral degree is optional but can help you advance in the job market.
  • Pass the certification board exam for your nursing specialty. The exam will cover what you learned during your nurse practitioner schooling.
  • Apply for an NP license from your state Board of Nursing. Each state sets their own nurse practitioner requirements, but you’ll typically have to complete fingerprinting and a background check, as well as submit copies of transcripts and identification.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner?

It takes about 6-8 years to become an NP after high school. This includes:

  • About 4 years to earn a bachelor’s degree
  • 1-2 years of nursing experience (required for some master’s programs)
  • About 2-3 years of nurse practitioner schooling to earn a master’s degree
  • A few weeks after graduation to apply for your certification and license

To maintain your nurse practitioner status, you’ll need to renew your certification and license on a regular basis. One of the requirements for this is to complete a certain number of continuing education (CE hours).

Below are some examples of how to become specialized as an NP.

How to Become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

To become a psychiatric mental health NP (PMHNP), you’ll first become an RN. You’ll then take the following steps:

  • Complete a master’s PMHNP program. Make sure to choose nurse practitioner education accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
  • Complete 500 hours of faculty-supervised clinical hours.
  • Pass the exam by the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC).
  • Apply for a PMHNP certification in your state.

How to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner

After becoming an RN, you can become a family nurse practitioner (FNP) through the following career path:

  • Complete an FNP program accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
  • Complete at least 500 clinical hours.
  • Apply for FNP certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
  • Apply for a state license as an FNP.

How to Become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

If you want to become a pediatric nurse practitioner after getting your RN degree, follow these steps:

  • Gain nursing experience, preferably in pediatrics.
  • Complete an accredited pediatric NP program.
  • Apply for certification through the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

How to Become a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner

Not all medical specialties have a corresponding nurse practitioner master’s program. For example, this is how to become a dermatology nurse practitioner after you get your RN degree:

  • Complete a master’s degree program in Science of Nursing.
  • Acquire a license as an advanced practice nurse.
  • Get board-certified through the AANP or the ANCC.
  • Acquire training in dermatology through work experience or workshops and courses from the Dermatology Nurses’ Association.

How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make?

The median salary for a nurse practitioner is $103,991.

How much do nurse practitioners make in different specialties? These are some examples of a nurse practitioner salary across different specialties:

  • Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Salary: $120,090 (average)
  • Travel Nurse Practitioner Salary: $117,490 (average)
  • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Salary: $115,007 (median)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner Salary: $107,000 (median)
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Salary: $105,494 (median)
  • Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Salary: $103,160 (average)
  • Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner Salary: $102,310 (average)

To compare more salaries, as well as NP salaries in different locations, browse Monster’s Salary Tools.

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner: Finding Jobs

Once you have the degree, license, and certification, get your new grad NP resume ready. Add a well-written cover letter for a nurse.

Then find nurse practitioner jobs right here on Monster.

We have jobs listed by the top locations for NP jobs to make your search easier. These are the most popular states for nursing jobs:

These are the cities with highest demand:

Find a Treatment Plan for Your Job Search on Monster

Give your job search a check-up and a treatment plan when you sign up for a free Monster account. Now that you know how to become a nurse practitioner, get more career advice for each step in your job search and beyond straight in your inbox. Upload your resume to respond to job ads and add your profile to our database where healthcare recruiters search for new nursing candidates.