Nurse Practitioner Schools and Programs

Pursue a degree to become an advanced nurse practitioner and find a healthy, rewarding career path.

How To Become a Nurse Practitioner

What Is a Nurse Practitioner (NP)?

A nurse practitioner, also called an NP or nursing practitioner, is an advanced practice nurse, qualified to act as a primary care or specialty care provider. NPs perform both nursing and health care services. Advanced nursing practitioners can prescribe medications as well as diagnose and treat a wide range of ailments.

Career Paths for Advanced Nursing Practitioners

Nurse practitioners can choose from a variety of specialties, including:

• Family Practice
• Geriatric
• Pediatric
• Women's Health
• Neonatal
• Psychiatric

Some other advanced-practice nursing specialties are:

• Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Nurse Anesthetists
• Nurse Midwives

Some advanced nurse practitioners also choose to go into hospital administration. As you can see, there are many paths for nurse practitioners to pursue within health care.

Education Requirements for Nurse Practitioners

Advanced nursing practitioners must have a Master's degree. Most programs are two years in length and require a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) for entry. Some schools may require one to two years of practice as a registered nurse (RN).

Career Outlook and Salary Information for Nurse Practitioners

As the largest health care occupation, nursing employs 2.5 million people, and is expected to add almost 600,000 jobs over the next several years. Overall job growth for this profession is much faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nurse practitioners are likely to be in particularly high demand. Median annual salary for registered nurses: $65,130 Median annual salary for advanced nursing practitioners: $82,950 As a nursing practitioner, you can make a difference in your life and the lives of many others. Make the healthy choice and pursue this rewarding career path.