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

The current list of online FNP programs was retrieved as of December 2020. Please check the school’s website for the most up-to-date information. If you have any additional information that we should consider, please reach out to us at info@nursinglicensemap.com.

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 FNP 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.

It’s important to note that depending on when you choose to pursue FNP certification, you may need to consider a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program. On April 20, 2018, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) committed to moving the standard requirement of all entry-level nurse practitioner education to the DNP degree by 2025.

Admissions for Online FNP Programs

The admission requirements of online family nurse practitioner programs typically consist of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with at least a 3.0 GPA at an institution that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Online BSN programs are also available for students.

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. 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 online FNP program.

Curriculum in Online 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.

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. Online 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 and analyze medical information.

Potential Earnings

Family nurse practitioners serve as primary care providers by assessing patients and finding solutions to improve their health. The median annual pay for a nurse practitioner was $120,680 per year in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The states with the most nurse practitioners are New York, California, Texas, Florida and Tennessee. And the job outlook is expected to increase, with nurse practitioner positions expected to increase 40% from 2021 to 2031. 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 RNs who have their associate’s degree in nursing or bachelor’s degree in nursing. 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:

• Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Online Programs
• Online Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Programs
• Online Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) Programs
• Online Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Programs

Post-Graduate FNP Certification Options

Post-graduate nursing certificate programs are offered to nurses who already hold an advanced degree like an MSN or DNP. The purpose of these programs is to help nurses further specialize in their area of interest and ultimately receive board certification as an APRN. If an institution offers these types of programs, it may be common for them to have a post-graduate FNP certificate available as an option.

Post-graduate FNP certification programs focus on equipping nurses with knowledge and skills that may help them manage patients’ health at all stages of their lives. The exact curriculum may vary by institution, but some topics commonly covered in these programs include:

• Primary care of patients across their lifespan
• Clinical health assessment
• Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
• Advanced physiology and pathophysiology principles
• Professional issues for nurse practitioners

Additionally, these programs may require a supervised clinical or on-campus practicum to help students apply what they’ve learned in a hands-on, real-world setting.

Exact admission requirements may also vary depending on the institution, but these programs and their curriculums are designed at the post-graduate level, so an MSN or DNP is often a prerequisite to enter them. Other admission requirements that are fairly common for these programs include having a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and a current, unencumbered/unrestricted RN license. You may find that some universities have additional requirements with regards to nursing experience and grades earned in specific courses as well as overall GPA in a given area, such as science courses.

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. You can 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.