Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Prior education, certification and clinical practice are among the requirements for acceptance into a nurse practitioner program.
Master of Science in Nursing
The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program is designed to prepare registered nurses to provide primary care to women throughout the life span, offer reproductive care during the childbearing years, and manage the care of newborns up to one month. The 49-credit curriculum can be completed in 27 months.
- CCNE Accredited
- Complete the 44 credit program in as few as 23 months
- Clinical Placement Support
Here are some common steps to becoming a women’s health nurse practitioner:
Steps to Become a WHNP | Roles and Responsibilities | Certification | Salary
How to Become a WHNP
- Become a Registered Nurse
- Apply for a WHNP Program
- Apply for the WHNP Exam from the National Certification Corporation (NCC)
- Apply for WHNP Certification in your state of practice
- Become a Registered Nurse In order to apply to a women’s health nurse practitioner program, you must have completed a degree in registered nursing and be certified as a registered nurse in a US state or territory. Passing the NCLEX-RN examination is required for certification as a registered nurse. Working one to two years before applying for a nurse practitioner program is highly recommended.
- Apply to a WHNP Program WHNP programs are accredited under the standards of any nurse practitioner program, as set forth by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
WHNP programs will vary depending upon the type of enrollment and student availability. Online WHNP programs offer students the ability to learn on flexible schedules, participate in discussions with classmates and are held to the same accreditation standards as their on-campus counterparts. - Apply for the WHNP Exam From the National Certification Corporation (NCC) The exam tests comprehension of physical assessment, primary care, gynecology, obstetrics, pharmacology and professional issues. A copy of your diploma and your official transcript documenting completion of a women’s health nurse practitioner program are required.
- Apply for WHNP Certification in Your State of Practice Typically certification and/or registration as a women’s health nurse practitioner could resemble or be a recognition as a nurse practitioner in your state with women’s health as a specialty area. Be sure to check your state’s nursing requirements.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Earn an MSN online from Simmons University. The programs combine live classes, engaging coursework, and hands-on clinical experiences to help you advance your career as an NP. Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP — and prepare to raise the standard of patient care. Explore Nursing@Simmons programs for RNs who hold a BSN or bachelor’s degree.
- Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP
- Complete in as few as 24 months
- Full-time and part-time tracks available
Master of Science in Nursing
Nursing@Georgetown enables RNs to earn their MS in Nursing online from Georgetown University. Through a research-based curriculum and hands-on clinical experiences, the program prepares students to pursue certification in an APRN specialty area and provide specialized care for patients in their communities. BSN required.
- Earn your MS in Nursing in as few as 23 months
- Choose from one of four APRN specialty areas: AG-ACNP, FNP, NM/WHNP, or WHNP
- Gain hands-on clinical experience in evidence-based practice
Master of Science in Nursing
Earn an M.S. in Nursing online at the Wegmans School of Nursing. Bachelor’s in nursing and RN license-required. The online pathway combines live classes, 600 hours of clinical rotations, and on-campus immersions to prepare you to pursue NP licensure in one of four specialties: PCFNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, or AGPCNP.
- Part-time and accelerated tracks available
- Four program options: PCFNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Role and Responsibilities
A women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP) provides primary health care services to women of all ages, generally beginning at adolescence and continuing through pregnancy and menopause.
The WHNP has a specialization in obstetrics and gynecology but also engages in well-woman care, health education, prenatal care and contraceptive counseling as well as providing care for episodic or chronic illnesses, eating disorders and sexually transmitted diseases.
Some women’s health nurse practitioners are heavily involved in diagnosis and treatment, while others serve as advisers to women planning a healthy pregnancy, offering guidance from pre-conception through the postpartum period. In short, the WHNP is not defined by any single role and may provide essential health care to women throughout their lifespan.
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
The WHNP has the opportunity to provide care in a variety of clinical settings. Women’s health nurse practitioners work in hospitals, OB-GYN clinics, family planning clinics, Planned Parenthood centers, women’s health clinics, prenatal clinics, women’s prisons, and private practices.
These nurse practitioners who specialize in women’s health provide services to women, including: well-woman exams, pregnancy testing, fertility evaluation, STD screening, urinary tract problems, menopause health promotion, and more.
Steps to Become a WHNP | Roles and Responsibilities | Certification | Salary
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Certification
Name of Certification: NCC Certification – Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP – BC)
Eligibility Requirements:
- Current U.S. Nursing License
- Completion of an accredited graduate nursing program meeting NCC program requirements in preparation for WHNPs.
- Master’s, DNP, or post-master’s accepted
- Complete the exam within 8 years of graduation form above program
- Diploma copy provided to NCC
- Official transcript, issued by the school registrar, provided to NCC
- For post-master’s applicants, a certificate of completion will be provided to NCC
Fees: $325, which includes a $50 non-refundable application fee and a $275 testing fee
Steps to Become a WHNP | Roles and Responsibilities | Certification | Salary
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Salary
Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t offer a salary summary for WHNP’s, these types of nurses are first and foremost nurse practitioners. The BLS reports that the median nurse practitioner salary in 2024 was $129,210. With an increased emphasis on preventative care and demand for healthcare services from the aging population, employment of nurse practitioners, midwives, and anesthetists is expected to grow 35% from 2024 to 2034.
According to the BLS’s nurse practitioner occupational employment and wages statistics, most nurse practitioners are employed in Florida, Texas, California, New York, and Ohio. Nurse practitioners were also reported to have the highest average annual salary in metropolitan areas such as San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; and Napa, CA.
FAQs
A WHNP, or women’s health nurse practitioner, is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) trained to specialize in the healthcare and treatment of women, focusing on reproductive, obstetric and gynecological health.
Information last updated: October 2025