To become a nurse practitioner (NP), one generally follows these key steps:
- Become a Registered Nurse (RN) by earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
- Gain clinical nursing experience, often 1-2 years, to build foundational skills.
- Earn a graduate degree specific for nurse practitioners, either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The DNP is increasingly becoming the preferred or required degree.
- Complete a nurse practitioner program accredited by relevant nursing education bodies. These include didactic and clinical rotations in your chosen NP specialty.
- Pass the national board certification exam for nurse practitioners, which is specialty-specific.
- Obtain advanced practice licensure as an NP according to the requirements in the state or country where you will practice.
- Seek employment in an NP role, which may require networking and use of specialized job boards.
The entire process, including undergraduate and graduate education, typically takes six to eight years. The DNP path can extend this to about four years for the NP program alone. This pathway applies across various regions including the U.S., U.K., and Australia, although exact educational and certification requirements vary slightly by country and state. For example, in the U.K., after becoming an RN, nurses pursue a Master's in Advanced Clinical Practice and often an independent prescribing course.
