How Fast Can I Become a Nurse Practitioner?

Nurse practitioners, also called advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), are registered nurses who have completed advanced education. Various types of MSN degrees can broaden their scope of practice, and depending on the state, their jobs may include diagnosing patients, developing treatment plans, and acting as primary care providers.

Because nurse practitioners need a higher level of education than RNs, it can take several years to become a nurse practitioner or other type of APRN, like a nurse anesthetist or nurse midwife. Keep reading as we explore how fast you can become a nurse practitioner.

Tips for Quickly Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

To become a nurse practitioner, you must be a registered nurse. This requires you to earn either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and complete all nursing prerequisites; it also requires you to earn state licensure through your state board of nursing.

Once you do this, you can move on to a nurse practitioner program, either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). MSN programs only take about two years, while DNP programs take four on average.

The amount of time it takes to get a master's degree in nursing will depend on the program. However, there are some ways to speed this process up. Below, we've offered some tips for quickly becoming a nurse practitioner.

1. Find an Accelerated MSN Program

MSN programs normally take about two years, but accelerated degrees get you through the program more quickly. These typically require you to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited nursing program. We've listed a few accelerated BSN to MSN programs below.

Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. It offers an accelerated Master of Science in nursing program for students with valid RN licensure and a BSN degree.

Most specialties in this degree program can be completed within a year. This program offers multiple APRN specialties, including adult gerontology, nurse-midwifery, psychiatric mental health, and family nurse practitioner.

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its nursing school offers a Master of Science in Nursing for RNs with BSNs.

Depending on the specialty, you may be able to complete your program within a year of full-time study. Quick programs include adult gerontology, pediatric acute care, pediatric, psychiatric mental health, and women's health primary care.

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University is a public research university in Boca Raton, Florida. It offers a Master of Science in Nursing program for those with an RN license and a BSN degree.

Most specializations at FAU can be completed in a year and a half. These include adult gerontology, family practice, and psychiatric mental health.

2. Complete Clinical Hours Efficiently

All nurse practitioner programs require students to complete clinical hours. Like the clinical hours required for ADN and BSN programs, these are meant to give students hands-on clinical experience in a care setting.

Most students in nursing graduate programs are attending school while working as registered nurses. The most efficient way to complete your clinical hours for your nurse practitioner program is to earn those hours while working as an RN. Not all programs allow you to do this, but many will.

3. Enroll in a Bridge Program

If you have an associate degree instead of a bachelor's degree but still want to become a nurse practitioner quickly, look for a bridge program. These programs that allow you to go from an ADN to an MSN without completing a bachelor's degree. Below, we've highlighted a few nursing bridge programs.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is a public research university in Corpus Christi, Texas. It offers an RN to MSN bridge program for family nurse practitioners (FNPs).

This is an online, part-time program that allows students to work while they study. The program requires 49 total credit hours, including clinical hours.

National University

National University is a private university headquartered in San Diego, California. It offers an accelerated online RN to MSN program.

Students can complete this program in as few as 20 months. National University offers nine specialties for this program, including adult gerontology, pediatrics, family practice, public health, and women's health.

DePaul University RN to MSN Program

DePaul University is a private Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois. It offers an RN to MSN program with completely online coursework, outside of clinical hours.

Students who do not have a BSN will need to take six additional courses. This online program offers specializations in adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education.

4. Create a Disciplined Study Routine

The best way you can complete your degree in the least amount of time is to ensure that you pass your classes the first time around. To do that, you'll need to create a disciplined study routine.

A disciplined study routine can look different for everyone, so find what works for you. For many, it may be setting aside a specific block of time to study, or meeting up with a study group a few times a week.

5. Network With Healthcare Professionals

Whether you're still an undergrad, working as a registered nurse, or studying an NP program, one of the best ways to further your nursing career path is to network with other healthcare professionals.

If you're working as a nurse, this isn't too tricky. However, if you have specific career goals in mind, it helps to network with people in the same department you want to work in. For example, if you want to become a mental health nurse practitioner, network with psychiatrists and psychologists.

6. Get Relevant Experience as an RN

Some MSN programs require students to have worked a certain amount of time as an RN before applying, especially those looking to become acute care nurse practitioners. Spending time in the nursing field can also provide you with solid patient care experience, a necessity to be a nurse practitioner.

If you know what field of nursing practice you want to go into, try to get a nursing job working in that department. For example, those becoming neonatal nurse practitioners can work in neonatology, labor and delivery, or pediatrics. This work experience will familiarize you with what's required to be a nurse practitioner in that specialization.

FAQs About Quickly Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about quickly becoming a nurse practitioner.

How Long Does It Take To Be a Nurse Practitioner?

The time it takes to become a nurse practitioner depends on what type of nursing degree you opt to earn. For example, earning a BSN takes four years, while earning an MSN usually takes an extra two years, after the BSN.

However, there are ways to speed this up. For example, you can earn an ADN and obtain your state license, then return to school while working as an RN through an RN-to-BSN program, which usually takes a year. If you choose an accelerated MSN that only takes one year, it will take four years of schooling to become a nurse practitioner.

Can You Become a Nurse Practitioner Without a Nursing Degree?

You cannot become a nurse practitioner without a valid, unencumbered registered nurse license. To obtain this license, you'll need to complete an accredited nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Additionally, to work as a nurse practitioner, you must earn national certification, which requires completing an accredited graduate program and passing a certification exam. As a result, you cannot become a nurse practitioner without a nursing degree.

How Quickly Can I Go From an RN to NP In an Accelerated Program?

The fastest RN to NP programs take three years to complete, but some take as many as four years to complete.