Curious about how to become a nurse practitioner? An NP, which is a type of advanced practice registered nurse, has advanced education requirements. The nurse practitioner requirements include earning a BSN, obtaining an RN license, gaining clinical experience, earning a graduate nursing degree, and obtaining board certification.
Working as a registered nurse offers many great benefits, like professional autonomy within the scope of practice and a strong earning potential. You can further advance your career by becoming a nurse practitioner and experience even greater autonomy and higher earning potential.
While you’re planning your nursing career pathway, it’s worth looking at how to become a nurse practitioner, even if you don’t yet have a nursing degree.
The first step toward meeting the nurse practitioner requirements is to earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing, which you can do at Harding University. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 64 college credits, you can earn a BSN in as few as 16 months with Harding’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program.Our faith-based University in Rogers, Arkansas, focuses on graduating compassionate and competent future nurses.
Before you start planning your career pathway, you should take a closer look at what NPs do and how they are different from RNs. Then, dive into the process of becoming a nurse practitioner and get the answers to some common questions, such as “How long does it take to become a nurse practitioner?”
Learn what to expect in an ABSN program.
What Is a Nurse Practitioner?
An NP is a type of advanced practice registered nurse. APRNs are at the top level of nursing. These professionals serve as nurse leaders, mentors and organizational change-makers, and are capable of practicing with considerable autonomy.
Within the NP category of nurses, there are multiple specializations:
- Adult-gerontology
- Family nurse practitioner
- Neonatal nurse practitioner
- Pediatric nurse practitioner
- Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
- Women’s health nurse practitioner
What Are the Differences Between an NP and RN?
Both NPs and RNs are nurses who provide direct patient care. An NP can do everything an RN can do and more. Thanks to their advanced education and training, an NP can conduct physical exams, diagnose medical conditions and prescribe medications. In contrast, an RN can handle patient assessments, form nursing diagnoses and administer medications.
NPs are vitally important in the health care landscape, particularly in areas that lack access to health care resources, such as primary care physicians. Since an NP can work with a significant amount of autonomy, they can serve as a primary care provider.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner?
There isn’t one universal pathway toward becoming an NP, so the length of time differs from person to person. In general, you can break down the timeline as follows:
- Earn a BSN: Either four years or as few as 16 months through Harding’s ABSN after completing prerequisites
- Obtain an RN license: Usually a couple of months after graduation from nursing school, provided you pass the NCLEX-RN on the first try
- Gain clinical experience: At least one to three years
- Obtain a Master of Science in nursing: Two to three years, depending on whether you’re a part-time or full-time student
- Obtain a Doctor of Nursing Practice: Optional, but usually takes three to five years, depending on whether you’re a part-time or full-time student
- Obtain an APRN license: Variable, depending on how soon you can schedule the board certification test after obtaining a graduate degree
What Are the Nurse Practitioner Requirements?
To become a nurse practitioner, you’ll first need to become a registered nurse, which requires a nursing degree, such as a BSN, and an RN license, which you obtain by a passing the NCLEX and registering with your state’s board of nursing.
Then, you’ll need to gain some clinical nursing experience, followed by graduate-level nursing education. After completing all those nurse practitioner requirements, you’ll need to pass the board-certification exam for future NPs and obtain an APRN license from your state.
6 Steps to Become an NP
Not everyone takes the same path toward a nursing career, but there are six basic steps to follow:
1. Research Nursing School Options
Your journey will begin with earning a BSN. It’s possible to become a nurse with an Associate Degree in nursing; however, you will not be able to apply to graduate-level nursing programs or become an NP until you first earn a BSN.
If you do have prior non-nursing college credits and you meet the other admissions requirements, then you can apply to Harding’s ABSN program. You might also need to complete some prerequisites before starting the program to ensure you have the right foundation for nursing school.
At Harding, you’ll enjoy a Christ-centered nursing curriculum from an accredited school that prepares graduates to pursue leadership positions in nursing.
2. Earn a BSN
The ABSN program at Harding is a blend of online coursework and hands-on learning. It consists of three main components:
- Online coursework that teaches nursing theory
- Hands-on nursing skills and simulation labs that teach nursing skills and how to develop appropriate nursing responses to various patient care scenarios
- Clinical rotations at nearby health care facilities, during which you’ll gain hands-on experience providing actual patient care
3. Obtain an RN License
After graduating with your BSN, you can apply for authorization to test from the state board of nursing. This allows you to schedule your NCLEX test date. Usually, students take the NCLEX within a couple of months of graduating. Plan to spend that time studying and taking practice tests.
4. Gain Clinical Experience
Your next step is to apply for your first nursing job. You’ll need at least one to two years of clinical experience to apply for graduate school. Of course, if you don’t feel that you’re quite ready, you can gain more than two years of experience before applying.
Try tips for success to help you prepare for nursing school.
5. Earn a Graduate Degree
When you’re ready to apply to grad school, research your options carefully. To become an NP, you must earn either a Master of Science in nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice. While you can start working as an NP with an MSN, a DNP is a terminal degree and may allow you to command a higher salary. Additionally, some employers might prefer hiring NPs with a DNP.
Some schools offer a BSN to DNP program, while others require you to first earn an MSN before enrolling in the DNP program. Regardless of your preferred degree, look for a graduate program that allows you to focus on your preferred specialty, such as family nurse practitioner or adult-gerontology.
6. Obtain Board Certification and an APRN License
After obtaining a graduate degree and completing the clinical practicums, you’ll be ready to take the board certification test. You can take an NP test for your intended nursing specialty, administered by either the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board. Either choice will allow you to obtain an APRN license from your state and begin practicing as an NP.
Take the First Step at Harding University
At Harding University, you can take the first step toward pursuing an exciting career as a nurse practitioner. By earning your BSN in as few as 16 months, you’ll be able to enter the nursing workforce sooner and gain the clinical experience you need to apply to graduate school.
At Harding, you can expect a values-based education that prepares you to become a competent, practice-ready nurse, poised to pursue any nursing specialty. We strive to make nursing education accessible with plenty of student support and a hybrid learning approach that combines online learning with hands-on experiences.
Contact an admissions counselor today and get ready for your future career in nursing.