A Doctor of Nursing Practice or DNP is a terminal degree, the highest possible practice-based degree in the field of nursing. Earning a DNP may lead to a broad range of advanced clinical nursing roles in clinical research trials as well as executive positions in patient care.

Over the years, DNP programs have evolved to better support the complex and evolving health care landscape, to ensure that professionals can execute advanced hands-on care and deliver the best patient outcomes possible.

A typical DNP program takes two to five years to complete. Program length depends on a number of factors, including your current level of education. If you are a registered nurse (RN) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, for example, you may decide to enroll in a BSN-to-DNP program. Your decision to pursue part-time or full-time study will also determine total degree length.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs Online

There are many online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs across the United States. We’ve organized them into regions:

• Pacific West: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
• Mountain West: Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
• Midwest: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
• Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.

Some of the programs found below may require campus visits, offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to DNP degree, offer hybrid options and/or may focus on leadership or advanced practice if no concentration is listed. Be sure to check with your preferred university’s website for more information on campus visits, admission requirements and program options.

Online DNP programs in other regions:

The Pacific West, for purposes of organizing the DNP programs, includes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Of the 17 DNP programs available online in the Pacific West, seven are in California, where the most nurse practitioners are employed throughout the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

This list was updated in October 2021. The program’s website is always best for the most up-to-date program information.

Online DNP programs in other regions:

The Mountain West, for purposes of organizing the DNP programs, includes Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Online DNP programs in Colorado and Texas make up more than half the programs in this region.

This list was updated in October 2021. The program’s website is always best for the most up-to-date program information.

Online DNP programs in other regions:

The Midwest, for purposes of organizing the DNP programs, includes Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. This region accounts for the most online DNP programs, with more than 26 programs in Illinois and Ohio.

This list was updated in October 2021. The program’s website is always best for the most up-to-date program information.

Online DNP programs in other regions:

The Southeast, for purposes of organizing the DNP programs, includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Florida has the most online DNP programs in this area, but none were found in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This list was updated in October 2021. The program’s website is always best for most up to date program information.

Online DNP programs in other regions:

The Northeast, for purposes of organizing the DNP programs, includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia. Pennsylvania is home to 20 online DNP programs while there were none found in Vermont and just three in New York. Metropolitan areas in NY, NJ, PA and NH include the two areas with the highest employment of nurse practitioners in the country.

This list was updated in October 2021. The program’s website is always best for the most up-to-date program information.

DNP programs have evolved to online platforms in accelerated, full-time programs as well as part-time programs that allow students to set their own pace. Distance learning opportunities may offer nurses additional access to accredited programs as well as the flexibility to incorporate study into their personal and professional schedules.

Entirely online DNP programs offer all coursework online with the opportunity to complete clinical hours in students’ local areas, while other DNP programs lean toward a hybrid program model involving mostly online coursework with occasional on-campus participation.

Types of DNP programs:

• BSN-to-DNP Programs
• MSN-to-DNP Programs
• DNP FNP Programs
• DNP WHNP Programs
• DNP AG-ACNP Programs
• DNP Midwifery Programs

• What to Expect
  • DNP Admissions Requirements
  • DNP Curriculum
• Doctor of Nursing Practice Careers
• DNP FAQs

The main DNP degree paths available are:

BSN-to-DNP Programs

These programs are designed for registered nurses or nurses who have earned an BSN degree through on-campus or online BSN programs. The advantage of this type of program is that you don’t have to spend additional time and finances earning a master’s degree before earning your DNP. BSN-to-DNP students may be awarded a master’s by way of their DNP program. These programs allow you to fast-track your DNP by way of earning an MSN to gain in-depth skills in specific fields of nursing.

MSN-to-DNP Programs

Most DNP programs are post-master’s programs. That means applicants must have a master’s degree, usually in nursing or a health-related field, such as master’s in nursing (MSN). These programs are designed for registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who already have an MSN and are ready to earn their DNP. The MSN-to-DNP curriculum builds upon the knowledge and skills you acquire as an MSN student.

Some DNP programs may offer different specializations. Specializations or concentrations require tailored plans of study and will often shape the intensity or length of the program. Some specializations include: family nurse practitioner (FNP), nurse-midwifery, acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP), pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP), and adult gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP). Each of these specialty areas requires certification before you can practice, so you may need to sit for the certification exam.

If you’re set on working with a specific patient population or want to become an expert in a particular practice area, consider some of the DNP specialties below:

Online DNP Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Programs

A DNP-FNP or DNP Family Nurse Practitioner is a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). The DNP-FNP program prepares nurses for a career in primary care. Depending on the state, DNP-FNPs are eligible to set up their own practice, diagnose patients, prescribe medication, order and analyze diagnostic tests, and develop and administer treatment plans. DNP-FNP programs are a great option for nurses interested in advancing their skills in primary, urgent, ambulatory and home care. Learn more about how to become a family practitioner.

Online DNP Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) Programs

A DNP-WHNP program is one that teaches nurses to provide comprehensive care to women across the age spectrum. A DNP-WHNP, short for DNP Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, is another type of APRN, meaning they have advanced nursing skills in a specialization. This type of DNP program focuses on gynecological and reproductive studies but also includes courses in female primary care. Nurses with a DNP-WHNP can work in OB-GYN practices, sexual health education, women’s health clinics and more. Learn more about becoming a WHNP. There are also WHNP master’s programs available.

Online DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) Programs

A Doctor of Nursing Practice program with a focus in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner is one that prepares students to provide immediate care as an advanced practice registered nurse in the field of adult care and geriatrics. A DNP AG-ACNP program may focus on training nurses in critical care, meaning restoring stability to moderately to critically ill adults and geriatric patients. This type of DNP can be optimal for nurses interested in pursuing career paths in outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals and assisted living homes.

Learn more on how to become an acute care nurse practitioner.

Online DNP Midwifery Programs

A DNP in Nurse-Midwifery program is similar to a WHNP as it focuses on providing full-spectrum gynecological care to women. However, a nurse-midwifery master’s program focuses on preparing nurses to assist in childbirth, provide prenatal counseling and conduct postpartum examinations. Nurses who earn their DNP in nurse-midwifery may pursue career paths in maternity wings of hospitals, birth centers or government health clinics.

A DNP program can be challenging so it is important for prospective students to be prepared for the educational journey, keep sight of their career goals and work hard. Start by learning about your program’s prerequisites and take time to review the course list for the program you choose to complete. Think about how your skills and professional experience set you apart from other DNP applicants and be prepared to talk about it if and when you are contacted for an interview with faculty.

Requirements and prerequisites vary widely across online DNP programs. Most DNP programs require a valid, unencumbered nursing license, plus at least a year of full-time professional nursing experience. A few programs offer slight flexibility in degree requirements for admission. For example, in lieu of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing, a candidate could hold an associate degree in nursing plus a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Most DNP programs require a minimum GPA of 3.0, and some favor applicants whose grades are 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

An admission essay and reference letters are also among the application materials DNP program administrators ask for. Contact your program or visit the website of the school you wish to attend for more information on required application materials.

DNP online programs may include 30 to 75 credits in three parts: core courses, field experience (an average of 1,000 clinical hours) and a DNP project. A Doctor of Nursing Practice curriculum typically includes courses on evidence-based practice, ethics, public policy, administrative leadership and specialization courses. As with most doctoral programs, students are also usually required to complete a DNP capstone project to demonstrate accomplishment in their area of specialization.

Nurses who earn their Doctor of Nursing Practice degree often do so because they want to pursue fruitful careers in a wide range of specialties and leadership positions and make an impact in a particular medical arena. There is a growing demand for doctoral-level nurse professionals who can teach, develop scientifically based approaches to patient care and lead the nursing field into an ever more complex future, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

DNPs with an emphasis in leadership or administration may pursue opportunities in a range of public health leadership roles or executive positions in clinics or hospitals. Other employment opportunities for DNPs include research-based roles, nurse faculty, and health advocacy.

Nurses who prefer to stay hands-on may pursue a variety of direct-care positions and APRN roles such as a certified nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, and nurse anesthetist.

The median annual wage for nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and nurse anesthetists is $117,670, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May 2020. Among this group of professionals, the highest 10% earned more than $190,900 in May 2020. The BLS projects that there will be 393,200 nurse midwife, nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist roles by 2030, up from 271,900 jobs in 2020.

Still wondering if a DNP is the best fit for your career goals? This list of basic questions and answers might help.

Information on this page last updated in October 2021.