Best Online Nurse Practitioner Programs of 2024

Transitioning from registered nurse (RN) to nurse practitioner (NP) can enhance your career, finances, and professional expertise.

Fortunately, you don’t have to put your life on pause to pursue a nurse practitioner degree. Learn more about the benefits of online master’s degrees, what to expect, and our top-ranked nurse practitioner programs.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

NP master’s programs can unlock your career potential as a nurse. NPs are some of the most specialized and highly paid nursing professionals in healthcare. They have more autonomy and authority than registered nurses and can work as primary care providers in some states.

NPs typically specialize in a patient population, such as children, older adults, and those who need psychiatric mental health services. So, if there is a patient population you’re passionate about, becoming an NP can help you take even better care of them.

On top of that, patients tend to love NPs. A 2020 study in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners indicates that NPs perform as well or better than physicians when it comes to patient outcomes and clinical safety.

Some nursing schools charge less for online NP programs. Online program costs can vary depending on whether you attend a public or private school, travel to attend on-campus events, or pay in-state or out-of-state tuition. Despite the expense, becoming an NP helps you access advanced job opportunities and higher salaries.

NP candidates entering an online master of science in nursing (MSN) program with a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) can expect to graduate in 1-2 years. The typical timeline depends on your previous education and whether you are a full-time or part-time student.

The graduation timeline for part-time NP students or those enrolled in a direct-entry MSN program with an unrelated bachelor’s degree can be longer. However, these accelerated programs require students to attend full-time, allowing them to graduate in as little as five semesters.

An online NP program can require 35-50 credits, depending on the program. The required clinical hours vary depending on the specialty and the school, ranging from 200-600 hours with a preceptor.

The median annual salary for a nurse practitioner was $126,260, according to the BLS, offering a strong return on your investment. NP salaries vary depending on your workplace, geographical location, and specialty.

Nurse practitioners working in home healthcare services have the highest annual average wage of $146,850, reports the BLS. NPs working in offices of other health practitioners make the lowest average annual wage of $121,250.

The job outlook for NPs is, frankly, amazing. The BLS projects nurse practitioners will be one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. from 2023-2033.

With rapid growth driven by an increasing demand for preventative and aging healthcare services, NPs should have no problem finding a good job anywhere in the country.

Read More:Nursing Salary: How Much Does a Nurse Practitioner Make?

RN-to-MSN and ADN-to-MSN programs allow RNs with associate degrees in nursing to earn their MSN degrees without first earning their BSNs.

Some RN-to-MSN programs award you a BSN degree en route to the MSN. Programs for nurse practitioners typically include approximately 60 credits of coursework and clinical practice hours. You can often earn your MSN degree in 2-3 years.

BSN-to-MSN programs prepare students with BSN degrees for both clinical and non-clinical roles.

Programs for aspiring nurse practitioners typically include 30-60 credits of coursework and 600-700 hours of clinical practice. Full-time students can earn their MSN degrees in two years.

Direct-entry and accelerated MSN programs cater to college graduates who studied subjects other than nursing. Some programs allow you to earn a BSN while you work toward your MSN, while others do not.

If you enroll in a direct-entry MSN program, you can earn your RN license, MSN degree, and NP certification within three years.

Nurse practitioner certificate programs allow you to prepare for certification in a specialty other than the one you pursued while earning your degree.

NP certificate programs typically include 18-35 credits of coursework and 500-700 hours of supervised clinical practice. Many NP certificate programs take approximately 1-2 years to complete.

To become an NP, you must hold an active RN license, pass the NCLEX-RN exam, pass the national certification boards for your specialty, and meet your state’s requirements.

You can apply for licensure as an APRN once you have earned your MSN and completed other state-specific requirements.

In most states, NPs must take national certification exams to be eligible for licensure. Prospective NPs take exams to gain certification in their areas of expertise.