How To Become a Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are advanced-level nurses many of the same responsibilities that doctors have, including the ability to write prescriptions and order tests.

To become a nurse practitioner, you'll need to first become a licensed registered nurse, then continue your nursing education and training to obtain a nurse practitioner license.

Keep reading to learn more about what nurse practitioners do and what steps you need to take to become one.

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner, also called an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), is a nurse who has additional education, training, and licensure above that of a registered nurse (RN).

As a result, nurse practitioners are allowed to do things that standard RNs cannot do. While this depends on the state, these things often include:

• acting as a primary care physician (PCP)
• conducting physical exams
• diagnosing patients
• monitoring and managing chronic illnesses
• ordering tests and analyzing test results
• performing minor procedures like stitches or setting bones
• prescribing medication

It's important to note that the scope of practice and job duties of a nurse practitioner depends heavily on the state they work in, as regulations vary between states, and their specialty.

Like doctors, nurse practitioners have specialties. Some of the common specialties for nurse practitioners include:

• adult/gerontology acute and primary care
• emergency care
• mental health care
• neonatal care
• pediatric acute and primary care
• women's health/gender-affirming care

Nurse practitioners most commonly work in clinics and physicians' offices, but they also work in hospitals and outpatient care centers.

Steps To Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

To become a nurse practitioner, you'll need to first become a registered nurse, then continue your education to earn a graduate degree in nursing.

We've broken down all the steps below.

Step 1: Earn an Undergraduate Degree in Nursing

Before you can become licensed to work as a registered nurse, you must first graduate from an undergraduate nursing program.

These programs are available as two-year associate degrees and four-year nursing bachelor's degrees. An associate degree is the minimum required to become an RN.

Most nurse practitioner programs require a bachelor's degree, but some offer pathways for RNs with associate degrees.

Because you can obtain your RN license with an associate degree, some students earn their associate degree, obtain their license, then complete their studies with an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

Undergraduate nursing programs usually combine classwork, labs, and clinical experiences to teach students the ins and outs of nursing.

You can find accredited nursing programs through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX and Obtain Your Registered Nursing License

Graduating with a nursing degree is only the first step to obtaining an RN license. You may also need to pass a background check, and you'll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

The content of this exam is broken into four categories based on patient needs. These are:

• safe and effective care environment, broken into two subcategories: management of care and safety and infection control
• health promotion and maintenance
• psychosocial integrity
• physiological adaptation, broken into four subcategories: basic care and comfort, pharmacological and parenteral therapies, reduction of risk potential, and physiological adaptation

This is a computer-based, adaptive test, meaning the types of questions you're asked and the number of questions you're asked depends on your previous answers.

You can learn more about the NCLEX and view a list of state requirements for RN licensure through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

Step 3: Complete a Graduate Nursing Program

There are two options for graduate-level programs for nurse practitioners: a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Master's degrees are the minimum needed to work as a nurse practitioner, but some states and employers require a doctoral degree.

In your graduate nursing program, you'll receive advanced nursing education as well as training in your chosen specialty.

As with an undergraduate nursing program, graduate nursing programs typically include classwork, labs, and clinical experience.

The length of your nurse practitioner program will depend on the program you choose and your specialization.

Most master's degree program length is between two and three years, while DNP programs take between three and five years.

Some of these programs allow you to take the bulk of your courses online, while labs and clinical experiences must be done in-person.

You can find accredited nurse practitioner programs through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Step 4: Obtain Your APRN License

Advanced practice registered nurses need to obtain a license from their state before they can practice as nurse practitioners.

While requirements vary by state, most states require nurse practitioners to have a national certification in their specialty. Credentials are available through several boards, such as:

• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB): Offers certifications for family nurse practitioners, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners, and emergency nurse practitioners.
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): Offers certifications for family nurse practitioners, adult-gerontology nurse practitioners, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners.
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB): Offers certifications for primary and acute care pediatric nurse practitioners.

You can learn more about the requirements to earn your APRN license by visiting your state's board of nursing.

Become a Nurse Practitioner

To work as a licensed nurse practitioner, you'll first need to obtain your RN license, then continue your education with a graduate degree in nursing.

With the steps above, you can start your path toward a career as a nurse practitioner today!