2021’s Family Nurse Practitioner Online FNP Programs

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

When searching for an online FNP program, you may want to ensure it has interactive features such as 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 their on-campus programs, enabling students to procure a degree from a college they know and trust. FNP online programs are an increasingly popular approach to becoming a family nurse practitioner.

Accredited Family Nurse Practitioner Online (FNP) Programs

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

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 – Sponsored Program

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

Sponsored Nursing Program

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: Part-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 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – 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 – Sponsored Program

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.

Sponsored Nursing Program

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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Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

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 – Sponsored Program

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.

Sponsored Nursing Program

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 When Choosing an Online FNP School

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:

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.

Admissions for FNP Programs

The admission requirements of online family nurse practitioner programs typically consist of a 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) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

For admission into a FNP program, universities may require you to have an unencumbered RN license to complete your clinical hour experiences. In addition, some common requirements may include 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 have prerequisites such as Statistics, Health Assessment courses, etc. before 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 to graduate. Depending on the institution, students may travel to access clinical locations to achieve the required clinical hours. Be sure to check with your preferred institution for more details on requirements. FNP programs 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, care for patients, communicate effectively, and interpret as well as analyze medical information.

Potential Earnings

Family nurse practitioners serve as primary care providers by assessing patients’ health and finding solutions to improve their health. The median pay for a nurse practitioner was $109,820 per year in 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The states with the most nurse practitioners are New York, California, Texas, Florida and Ohio. And the job outlook is expected to increase, with nurse practitioner positions expected to increase 52% from 2019 to 2029. Learn more about nurse salaries.

Certifications and Licenses

There are at least two certifications for family nurse practitioners: the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification (FNP-BC) from the ANCC and the FNP certification from the AANP. Both of these certifications require:

A master’s or higher degree with a focus on family nurse practitioner curriculum, accredited by the ACEN
A current and active RN license
Faculty-supervised clinical hours in direct patient care

You must pursue FNP licensure in the state where you wish to practice. To pursue state licensure, you may be required to submit proof of earned certification. Nursing licensure varies by state, so be sure to check with your state’s nursing board.

Program Accreditation

Both the ANCC and the AANP require a master’s degree accredited by one of two accrediting agencies in nursing: the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. These agencies set standards and requirements for all nursing programs seeking accreditation, which may include program quality and effectiveness, sufficient and qualified staffing, clear program outcomes aligned with safe practice in health care environments, and clear curriculum aligned with real-life practice.

Additional Nursing Programs

FNP programs come in all formats and pathways. Some are on-campus degrees and others may be online nurse programs. Apart from earning your master’s in nursing with a focus on family nurse practitioner work, you may also consider the following based on your experience and education:

Accelerated FNP Programs: There are some accelerated nursing programs with an FNP focus offered by universities. These may involve earning a BSN by way of a master’s degree program.
Dual Degree FNP Programs: FNP dual degree MSN programs are available with several options: Nurse-Midwifery and FNP, PMHNP and FNP, FNP and Adult-Gerontological Acute Care, and more.
Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) FNP Programs: DNP programs are sometimes offered with admission requiring just a BSN for BSN-to-DNP programs or with an MSN to extend a nurse’s practice and work toward becoming a leader in the field.
RN-to-MSN FNP Programs: An RN-to-MSN program is a bridge program for ADN or BSN educated RNs. Admission requirements will vary by program, but there are available focuses for future FNPs.

There are several other APRN-level programs you may also consider:

Scholarships for FNP Students

When researching options for funding your MSN FNP degree, consider checking with your admitted university first. Often, they will offer and share scholarship and loan resources for their students. Your state board of nursing may also offer resources for nursing financial aid. Also consider graduate and APRN scholarships from the following:

American Association of College of Nursing (AACN) Scholarships and Financial Aid: The AACN shares scholarship opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate nursing students as well as several scholarship search engines.
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Scholarships: The AANP offers its own scholarship program for students with at least one completed semester of their nursing program in an MSN with an NP track, DNP program, or Ph.D. in nursing program. The AANP also offers grants, ambassador programs, and other awards for those enrolled in a nursing program.
Nurse Educational Funds Inc (NEF) Scholarships and Funds: NEF shares multiple scholarships for master’s and doctoral nursing students with varying degrees of nursing specialties.

FAQs

How do online Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) programs work?

Accredited online FNP programs will likely have the same curriculum as their on-campus counterparts. Online programs may include synchronous and asynchronous learning where future FNPs attend live virtual classes or work at their own pace to meet deadlines for coursework.

Should I enroll in an online FNP program?

If you are looking to grow your nursing career and become a family nurse practitioner, pursuing a degree from an accredited MSN program could be your next step. For many students, they can pursue an online FNP program from almost anywhere and earn a degree from the university of their choice.

Will an online FNP program help me get a job?

While the program alone will not help you get a job, an online FNP program may help you prepare for a career as a family nurse practitioner and pursue state licensure and national certification. Requirements will vary, so be sure to check with your state’s board of nursing for more information.

What is the difference between an MSN-FNP and a DNP-FNP?

Earning your MSN-FNP may help prepare you for licensure and certification as a family nurse practitioner. However, earning a DNP-FNP may help prepare you for leadership roles within the APRN career, with a focus on management, measurement, and health promotion coursework.

Information on this page was last retrieved in September 2020.