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Keep Learning

Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs: A Comprehensive Guide

Unlock your career potential with an online nurse...

Best Online DNP Programs: Exploring Top Schools

Discover the best online DNP programs, get...

Top Online Post-Master's NP Certificate Programs

Find the best online post-master’s NP certificate...

Online MSN to NP Programs: Review & Compare Schools

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Author: Kyra Sutherland
A smiling woman with long, wavy hair in a bright red shirt, posing for a portrait with snowy bushes in the background.
Kyra Sutherland Arrow up right
Freelance Writer
Kyra Sutherland is a freelance writer with over 8 years of experience creating informative and engaging content for healthcare and nursing education publications. She has written or edited more than 200 articles on topics including allied health careers and online nursing degree programs, supporting students and professionals in their educational and career decisions. Kyra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Brigham Young University. She applies her skills in researching, interviewing, and writing to provide valuable information, stay current with industry trends, and continuously improve her ability to present complex topics in clear and accessible language.
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Check Healthcare Education Nursing Medical Assisting
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Editor: Kimberly Zaski
Kim Zaski
Kimberly Zaski Arrow up right
Staff Writer & Editor
Kimberly has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, specializing in writing, editing, and marketing for lifelong learning and professional studies. She served as marketing director at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she and her team earned top national honors for excellence in advertising, print publications, and logo design. Kimberly also held the position of chief membership officer for the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) in Washington, DC. She began her career as a news reporter and editor in North Lake Tahoe, covering news and political beats from northern California to Reno.
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You know the diagnosis. You’ve seen it a dozen times, but you’re not allowed to say anything because you’re not a nurse practitioner. Not yet. Explore the most affordable and most convenient ways to become a nurse practitioner by leveraging your MSN to the fullest. Use EduMed’s guide to learn how online MSN to NP bridge programs work, how much they cost, and how they can get you to where you want to go.

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Spotlighting Online MSN to NP Programs

The best way to learn how these programs work is to get inside. To read the basics and then break down the details so you understand what they offer and why. To help, we’ve showcased three top online MSN to NP programs designed to get you the training you need to become a nurse practitioner. See if one of these options has what you’re looking for.

Drexel University

Drexel University’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice is a great alternative for APRNs looking for something more practice-based than other research-related doctoral degrees. It’s one of the top online MSN-to-NP programs, accredited by CCNE.

This program prepares students to lead meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery through evidence-based practice and advanced clinical or leadership expertise. Throughout the curriculum, students develop the skills needed to evaluate healthcare systems, implement best practices, and drive better patient outcomes.

Graduates of the program learn how to:

  • Design evidence-driven healthcare delivery strategies
  • Apply established principles of evidence-based practice
  • Evaluate healthcare systems and care delivery processes
  • Develop and advocate for healthcare policy initiatives
  • Analyze complex practice challenges and make informed clinical decisions
  • Use health information systems and technology to assess patient outcomes
  • Demonstrate advanced expertise within their chosen specialty and leadership role

In addition to completing advanced coursework, students must fulfill several experiential requirements. These include 1,000 precepted clinical hours, integrated into one of two specialized tracks:

  • Advanced Clinical Expert
  • Nurse Executive/Leadership Expert

Students also complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focused on improving healthcare processes and outcomes through a carefully planned practice change initiative.

The program follows an accelerated academic calendar with four 10-week quarters per year rather than the traditional two-semester structure. This format allows motivated students to complete the degree in less than two years.

Grand Canyon University

Another high-quality online MSN-to-NP program is Grand Canyon University’s Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate, which can be completed online or through evening classes in under a year. The program helps students advance to the role of primary care provider and prepares them to earn their DNP if desired. Only two on-campus sessions are required, one that takes three days, and another that takes two.

Along with online coursework, this Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certificate program includes significant hands-on training to prepare students for advanced clinical practice. Students complete 675 hours of supervised clinical/practicum experience, typically at a local family health clinic or community-based primary care setting, allowing them to apply their skills in real-world patient care environments. The program requires 37 semester credit hours for completion.

Throughout the program, students build expertise in key areas essential to family nurse practitioner practice, including:

  • Comprehensive primary care management
  • Performing and interpreting head-to-toe health assessments
  • Core principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
  • Advanced physiology and pathophysiology
  • Conducting well visits and managing care across the lifespan
  • Building strong nurse–patient relationships to support education, counseling, and preventive screening

Together, the coursework and clinical training help prepare graduates to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care in a variety of primary care settings.

University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati’s Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate is another of the top online MSN-to-NP programs. It is CCNE-accredited and designed for students who have completed a Master of Science in Nursing and have at least 1 year of nursing experience. Students can choose to attend this online program full- or part-time and will not be required to visit campus.

Transfer credits are also an option, with the remaining courses taken asynchronously. Upon graduation, students will have met the criteria for taking both the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) and AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners) certification exams.

Students in this certificate program are not eligible for scholarships or financial aid, but payment plan options are available. Students who work are advised to reduce their hours during semesters when they complete their FNP internships, which require approximately 12 hours per week.

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Becoming a Nurse Practitioner After Your MSN

There are two ways that you can become a nurse practitioner if you already have your MSN. The first is to pursue a nurse practitioner graduate certificate, and the second is to earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice, the most advanced degree a nurse can receive.

Here’s an analysis of both options and highlights their differences.

Certificate

Those looking into online MSN-to-NP programs will find graduate certificates that teach a defined set of skills and provide in-depth knowledge of a specific topic. Certificates are less versatile than full degrees and take less time to complete. The nurse practitioner certificate from Herzing University, for example, consists of 33 semester credits and can be completed online in a year and a half or less of full-time study.

Students in the program take courses such as Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning, and others focused on specific patient populations. Students are also required to complete several hundred hours in a clinical placement with an experienced professional. The courses and clinical experience help students prepare for the FNP certification exam administered by either the ANCC or the AANPCB.

DNP

A Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal degree in nursing, or the highest degree of education a practicing nurse can earn. It is different from a Doctor of Nursing Science or a PhD in Nursing which are more focused on research and theory rather than practice. A DNP program is designed to produce leaders in nursing who have the highest level of expertise and work either in a clinical setting or a leadership role upon obtaining the required credential.

A DNP program helps students translate well-researched ideas and theories into actionable steps that can be applied in a clinic or institution, while considering stakeholders, unit culture, organizational behaviors, financials, and measurable outcomes. A post-master’s DNP program typically takes two years to complete, requiring around 45 semester credits and hundreds of hours of clinical practice. Students will also complete a DNP project that is focused on identifying a practice problem and implementing the solution.

Requirements of an Online MSN to NP Bridge Program

Now that you’ve read about some top programs and read up on the different paths to becoming a nurse practitioner, let’s dive into the individual requirements that you must complete throughout your program to qualify for the nurse practitioner certification exam. The exact number of clinical hours and specific coursework may vary depending on your chosen degree program.

Clinical Hours

Though we can’t state exactly how many clinical hours are required across the board for every program, “a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours must be included in the FNP program,” according to the ANCC. Most degrees require more than that, such as the 1,000 post-baccalaureate precepted clinical hours that Drexel University requires for its DNP students, or the 672 hours required by the University of Cincinnati.

Demonstration of Mastery

Passing the nurse practitioner certification test is a demonstration of a certain level of mastery on its own, but before that can happen, students must learn to be proficient in many areas, including, but not limited to, health assessment, research application, clinical management, and health promotion/disease prevention. Those who choose to become a nurse practitioner through a DNP program are also required to complete a multi-layered DNP project.

Required Coursework

Though courses will vary depending on the program that you choose, nurse practitioner programs must have graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology for their students to be eligible to take the nurse practitioner certification exam. Internship courses are also required across all programs to help students reach the required number of clinical hours.

Specialty Competencies

Sometimes, certificate programs only offer students the option to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP), which means students receive general education for all populations across the lifespan. However, other programs, especially those coupled with an MSN or doctoral degree, encourage students to choose a specialty based on the population they want to work with.

These specialty areas include adult/gerontology primary or acute care, pediatric primary or acute care, psychiatric mental health, emergency/crisis, neonatal, nurse-midwifery, education, informatics, and women’s health. If you choose a specialty, you’ll need to take additional courses and complete appropriate assessments that show you are competent to work with these specific populations.

Answering Your Questions About Online MSN to NP Programs

Below, we discuss the most pressing concerns you might have as you start the process of moving from a nurse to a nurse practitioner.

Are there 12-month online NP programs available online?

Yes! These are accelerated programs, meaning students must study full-time and complete 37-40 credits in a year. These programs are best suited to self-motivated, dedicated students. Typically, an accelerated schedule consists of two full days of classes and one or two full days of clinical practice each week, excluding time needed to work on projects or complete assignments.

Students will be able to find programs that offer most coursework online, and they will likely be able to complete their clinical hours locally. Research each program of interest to see if campus visits are required.

Can I complete an online BSN-to-NP program?

Yes. However, an online BSN-to-NP program doesn’t mean every component is available online. Those studying to become nurse practitioners may find that their coursework is available online, but clinical hours must be completed in person at an approved facility.

Often, those hours can be completed locally at an approved institution, but students should research the individual program they are considering to confirm. In addition, some online programs require students to visit campus once or twice throughout the year.

How long is an NP program after earning an MSN?

The length of any online MSN-to-NP program depends on whether the student is full-time or part-time. Those who can study full-time can typically earn their nurse practitioner certificate in a year and their DNP in about two years, while those who study part-time will require additional semesters. Other individual factors, such as transfer credits accepted, can also affect the length of your program.

Is it possible to become an NP without an MSN?

Yes, it’s possible to become an NP without a Master of Science in Nursing, but not without master’s-level work. Those who earn a BSN and then pursue a nurse practitioner graduate certificate can meet the eligibility requirements for the nurse practitioner certification exam through their coursework and clinical hours. Students can also skip the MSN and enroll in a BSN-to-DNP program. Be aware that there is talk of requiring nurse practitioners to have a doctorate by 2025.

What are the admission requirements for online NP programs?

Admission requirements for online NP programs depend on the student’s starting point. To be admitted to online MSN-to-NP programs, students should have completed their MSN at an accredited institution, taken statistics and research methods courses, maintained a 3.0+ GPA, have a current RN license, and have verifiable clinical hours. Additional requirements include the application, transcripts, letters of recommendation, resumes, and goal statements.

What is the shortest available online NP program?

An FNP program is considered short if it can be completed in less than 16 months. However, some online MSN-to-NP programs can be completed in as few as 12 months. These accelerated programs must be taken full-time and are considered intensive.

Best Online MSN to NP Degree Programs

About the Ranking
1
1

Purdue University Global

Best for: independent practice seekers Board Approved
Online Enrollment 100%
Avg. Tuition $9,266
2
2

Morningside University

Best for: post-licensure students Board Approved
Online Enrollment 100%
Avg. Tuition $11,516
3
3

University of Southern Indiana

Best for: academic-track scholars
Online Enrollment 97%
Avg. Tuition $10,787
4
4

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Best for: clinical scholars Board Approved
Online Enrollment 75%
Avg. Tuition $4,904
5
5

Winston-Salem State University

Best for: experienced clinicians advancing Board Approved
Online Enrollment 90%
Avg. Tuition $3,872
6
6

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Best for: licensed practitioners advancing Board Approved
Online Enrollment 86%
Avg. Tuition $11,310
7
7

University of Southern Maine

Best for: specialized practice seekers Board Approved
Online Enrollment 72%
Avg. Tuition $8,262
8
8

Post University

Best for: advanced credential seekers Board Approved
Online Enrollment 98%
Avg. Tuition $7,704
9
9

University of North Georgia

Best for: interprofessional learners Board Approved
Online Enrollment 80%
Avg. Tuition $4,248
10
10

Georgia College & State University

Best for: systems-focused practitioners Board Approved
Online Enrollment 89%
Avg. Tuition $7,226

Keep Learning

Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs: A Comprehensive Guide

Unlock your career potential with an online nurse...

Best Online DNP Programs: Exploring Top Schools

Discover the best online DNP programs, get...

Top Online Post-Master's NP Certificate Programs

Find the best online post-master’s NP certificate...

Kyra Sutherland AUTHOR

Kyra Sutherland is a freelance writer with over 8 years of experience creating informative and engaging content for healthcare and nursing education publications. She has written or edited more than 200 articles on topics including allied health careers and online nursing degree programs, supporting students and professionals in their educational and career decisions. Kyra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Brigham Young University. She applies her skills in researching, interviewing, and writing to provide valuable information, stay current with industry trends, and continuously improve her ability to present complex topics in clear and accessible language.

Read More About Kyra Sutherland

Kimberly Zaski EDITOR

Kimberly has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, specializing in writing, editing, and marketing for lifelong learning and professional studies. She served as marketing director at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she and her team earned top national honors for excellence in advertising, print publications, and logo design. Kimberly also held the position of chief membership officer for the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) in Washington, DC. She began her career as a news reporter and editor in North Lake Tahoe, covering news and political beats from northern California to Reno.

Read More About Kimberly Zaski
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