Choose the Best Online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Program for You | 2020

Similar to the nurse practitioner program, a family nurse practitioner (FNP) program may be categorized as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) program. As such, they are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Some things to consider in searching for your FNP program include:

Ensure the university offers training in family nurse practice.
Does the online program mirror the on-campus version?
What are the prerequisites?
Is the program accredited? What’s their certification rate for graduates?

To prepare for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) , look for programs that offer APRN coursework in physiology/pathophysiology, health assessments across human systems, pharmacology, health promotion, and differential diagnosis and disease management.

Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

For working nurses who would prefer not to put their profession on delay an online program may be a better alternative to growing their career. Online FNP programs can be both an adaptable and an excellent alternative.

When searching for an online FNP program, you may want to ensure that it has interactive features, for example, live classes, opportunities to network with classmates, career services, and support in securing clinical hours. A few colleges offer online programs that are indistinguishable from what their on-campus programs, enabling students to procure a degree from a college they know and whose notoriety they trust. FNP online programs are developing in fame and are an extraordinary approach to becoming a family nurse practitioner.

FNP Programs
School	Location	Length	Clinical Hours	Credits	Enrollment Options
Angelo State University	San Angelo, TX	24-36 Months	600 Hours	49 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Ball State University	Muncie, IN	20-30 Months	690 Hours	47 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Bradley University	Peoria, IL	36 Months	750 Hours	65 Credits	Part-Time
Chamberlain University	Downers Grove, IL	30 Months (Full-Time)	650 Hours	45 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Clarkson College	Omaha, NE	48-72 Months	650 Hours	47 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Duke University	Durham, NC	28-40 Months	728 Hours	49 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Frontier Nursing University	Hyden, KY	24 Months (Full-Time)	675 Hours	61 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Georgetown University Sponsored Program	Washington, D.C.	19-27 Months	650 Hours	44 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Graceland University	Lamoni, Iowa	24-36 Months	600 Hours	47 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Grand Canyon University	Phoenix, AZ	34 Months	675 Hours	53 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Herzing University	Milwaukee, WI	20 Months (Full-Time)	675 Hours	48 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Loyola University New Orleans	New Orleans, LA	24-48 Months	720 Hours	48 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Maryville University	St.Louis, MO	32 Months	745 Hours	47 Credits	Part-Time
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences	Boston, MA	24 Months	630 Hours	42 Credits	Part-Time
Regis College	Weston, MA	28 Months	664 Hours	46 Credits	Full-Time
Sacred Heart University	Fairfield, CT	24 Months (Full-Time)	540 Hours	42 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Simmons University Sponsored Program	Boston, MA	24-32 Months	672 Hours	48 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi	College Station, TX	28 Months	630 Hours	49 Credits	Part-Time
University of Colorado - Colorado Springs	Colorado Springs, CO	32-44 Months	630 Hours	47 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
University of Mississippi Medical Center	Jackson, MS	18 Months (Full-Time)	630 Hours	50 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
University of South Alabama	Mobile, AL	24-36 Months	600 Hours	45 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
University of Southern California Sponsored Program	Los Angeles, CA	21-33 Months	784 Hours	49 Credits	Full-Time or Part-Time
Wilkes University	Wilkes-Barre, PA	28-36 Months	584 Hours	43 Credits	Part-Time

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The current list of online FNP programs was retrieved as of December 2019. If you have any additional information that we should consider, please reach out to us at info@nursinglicensemap.com.

Angelo State University

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 49 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 600 Hours
Length of Program: 24-36 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Must be a U.S. Citizen and Reside in Texas
Undergraduate statistics course
At least one year of clinical experience
Three References
A Personal Statement
Resume/CV

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner Master's Degree (MSN) at Angelo State University.

Ball State University

Program Name: College of Nursing & Health Sciences - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), MSN
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 47 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 690 Hours
Length of Program: 20-30 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree from a Professional Institution (NLNAC/CCNE/ACEN)
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License or APRN Certification
At least a 3.0 GPA
Three Recommendations
Criminal History Disclosure
Nursing Questionnaire
Nursing Goals and Objectives

Learn more about the Master of Science in Nursing at Ball State University.

Bradley University

Program Name: Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 65 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 750 Hours
Length of Program: 36 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Transcripts
Personal Statement
Two Letters of Recommendation
Resume

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner Online MSN-FNP at Bradley University.

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Chamberlain University

Program Name: MSN Family Nurse Practitioner
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 650 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 45 Hours
Length of Program: 30 Months (Full-Time)

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Background and Fingerprint Check

Learn more about the Master's Nurse Practitioner program at Chamberlain University.

Clarkson College

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 47 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 650 Hours
Length of Program: 48-72 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree from a Professional Institution (NLNAC/CCNE)
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Transcripts
Two Professional Recommendations
Essay
Resume
Application and application fee

Learn more about the Master of Science in Nursing at Clarkson College.

Duke University

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Transcripts
Three Professional Recommendations
Personal Statement
Resume/CV
Official GRE Scores

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Duke University.

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Frontier Nursing University

Program Name: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 61 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 675 Hours
Length of Program: 24 Months (Full-Time)

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
At least one year of clinical experience
Prerequisite: Physical Assessment (3 Credit Course)
TOEFL (International Students)

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Frontier Nursing University.

Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies

Program Name: MS in Nursing - online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 44 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 650 Hours
Length of Program: 19-27 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or CNL/entry-level MSN from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program
Hold a current U.S. registered nurse (RN) license
Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 science GPA
Have successfully completed a college level three-credit course in statistics with a grade of C or better

Learn more about Nursing@Georgetown’s MS in Nursing - online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program.

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Graceland University

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
A Grade of B or Better in any Nursing Course
Criminal Background Check
Three References
Professional Goals Statement of 150 Words or Less

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner Program - MSN Degree at Graceland University.

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Grand Canyon University

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 53 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 675 Hours
Length of Program: 34 Months (Full-Time)

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree from a Professional Institution (NLNAC/CCNE/ACEN)
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License or APRN Certification
At least a 3.0 GPA
Recent Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Letter of Intent

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner Degree at Grand Canyon University.

Herzing University

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 48 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 675 Hours
Length of Program: 20 Months (Full-Time)

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA

Learn more about the MSN-FNP Program Online at Herzing University.

Loyola University New Orleans

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
Transcripts
Two References
Statement of Purpose
At least 1800 hours of Recent Nursing Practice

Learn more about the MSN program at Loyola University New Orleans.

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Maryville University

Program Name: Online Family Nurse Practitioner
Enrollment Options: Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 47 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 745 Hours
Length of Program: 32 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Three Letters of Recommendation
Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
500 Word Essay on your interest in becoming a nurse practitioner and how you plan to use your education to affect patient outcomes
At least one year of clinical experience

Learn more about the Online Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Maryville University.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 42 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 630 Hours
Length of Program: 24 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Completed MCPHS Application
Transcripts
One Recommendation Letter
Resume

Learn more about the MS in Nursing (FNP) program at MCPHS.

Regis College

Program Name: Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time
Coursework Credits: 46 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 664 Hours
Length of Program: 28 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Two Letters of Recommendation
Completion of Application Form
Resume
Transcripts
Statement of Purpose

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Online Program at Regis College.

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Sacred Heart University

Program Name: Online MSN in Nursing — Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 42 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 540 Hours
Length of Program: 24 Months (Full-Time)

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.2 GPA
Transcripts
Professional Liability Insurance
Criminal Background Check
Completed Application
Statement of Professional Goals
Resume
Two Letters of Recommendation
Interview with Graduate Nursing Faculty
Completion of Undergraduate Statistics, Research, Health Assessment courses

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner Online program at Sacred Heart University.

Simmons University

Program Name: Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time and Extended Track Option
Coursework Credits: 48 Course Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: Minimum of 672 Hours
Length of Program: 24-32 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree awarded by a regionally accredited U.S. college or institution
Resume
Personal statement
Transcripts from all academic institutions attended
Successfully completed (with a grade of 83 or better) a three-credit course in statistics and a three-credit course in health assessment.
A current unencumbered and unrestricted U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) license
Three letters of recommendation
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, if your native language is not English.

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Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 49 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 630 Hours
Length of Program: 28 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Submit an application
Resume
Essay
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
Three References
Transcripts

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN program at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi.

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University of Colorado - Colorado Springs

Program Name: MS Nursing - Nurse Practitioner - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 47 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 630 Hours
Length of Program: 32-44 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree from a Professional Institution (CCNE/ACEN)
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License or APRN Certification
At least a 3.0 GPA
Recent Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Three Letters of Recommendation
TOEFL (International Students)

Learn more about the MS Nursing - Nurse Practitioner program at University of Colorado.

University of Mississippi

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Masters Tracks - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 50 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 630 Hours
Length of Program: 18 Months (Full-Time)

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree from a professional institution (NLNAC/CCNE)
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Undergraduate or graduate-level statistics course;
Satisfactory score on the GRE, including a score of 3.5 or higher on the analytical section
One year of clinical experience as a registered nurse
TOEFL (International Students)

Learn more about the MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Mississippi.

University of South Alabama

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 45 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 600 Hours
Length of Program: 24-36 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Admissions Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License
At least a 3.0 GPA
Citizen of the United States of America
Completion of Primary and Supplemental Applications.
At least two years of clinical experience
Transcripts

Online Information: Some courses are offered online, but students may be required to attend exams and orientations on-campus.

Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioner program at the University of South Alabama.

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University of Southern California

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program from the USC Suzanne
Enrollment Options: Full-Time or Part-Time
Coursework Credits: Traditional - 49 credits or Bridge Program - 51 credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 784 Hours
Length of Program: 21-33 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited college or university
Minimum 3.0 grade point average in your BSN program
Completion of a 3-credit course in statistics, with a grade of C or better
Must be a U.S.-licensed registered nurse (RN) and reside within the United States upon application and throughout the duration of the program
One year of clinical experience

Learn more about Nursing@USC’s FNP Program.

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Wilkes University

Program Name: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Enrollment Options: Part-Time
Coursework Credits: 43 Credits
Clinical Practice Hours: 584 Hours
Length of Program: 28-36 Months

Admissions Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree from a Professional Institution (NLNAC/CCNE/ACEN)
Current U.S. Registered Nurse (RN) License or APRN Certification
At least a 3.0 GPA
Transcripts
Completed Online Application
Resume
At least one year of clinical experience

Learn more about the Learn more about the Family Nurse Practitioners program at Wilkes University.

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What to Expect in Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

Admissions for FNP Programs

The admission requirements of online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs typically consist of an acquired bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA in nursing at an institution that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

In order to study as a FNP, students need to have an unencumbered RN License. In addition, transcripts, a resume, a letter of recommendation, and at least one year of clinical experience are required during admission. A background check and essay may be required depending on the institution. Some institutions may require students to take prerequisites such as Statistics, Health Assessment Courses, etc. prior to starting the FNP program.

Curriculum in FNP Programs

The master of science in nursing - family nurse practitioner program specializes in primary-clinical care from infants to the elderly. Courses may include primary health care, behavioral health care, pharmacology, physiology/pathophysiology, health assessments, and more.

An average of 50 credits and 600 clinical hours need to be completed prior to graduating. Depending on the institution, students may travel to access clinical locations to achieve the required clinical hours. FNP program may be completed within two years depending on a student’s schedule. By the end of the program, students should be able to think critically using concluded evidence, offering care for patients, communicate effectively, and interpret as well as analyze medical information.

Career Pathways for FNPs

Family nurse practitioners serve as primary care providers by assessing patients’ health and finding solutions to improve their health. Categorized as a nurse practitioner, the Bureau of Labor Statistics - Nurse Practitioner page, the median pay in 2018 for a nurse practitioner was $113,930 per year ($58.78 per hour).

The top states with the highest employment in nurse practitioners are New York, California, Texas, Florida, and Ohio. In order to contribute to demand, there has been a 26% increase in employment growth in 2018. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) are projected to be in high demand in inner cities and rural areas. Some states are also changing their laws, so APRNs can perform more services.

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