Nurse Practitioner Career: How to Become a Nurse Practitioner

A nurse practitioner, commonly referred to as an NP, is a registered nurse with additional education and responsibilities. For example, unlike a registered nurse, an NP can prescribe medicine, conduct medical examinations, and even diagnose illnesses, much a doctor does. They can specialize in an area of care—such as dermatology or cardiovascular health—or work with a specific population, such as in a pediatric or women’s health capacity. (They can work in a primary care office, too!) Further differentiating themselves from registered nurses, NPs need at least a master’s degree and often need a doctor of nursing practice.

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, more than 26,000 new NPs completed their academic coursework in 2017—which means a lot of people are choosing to become NPs. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Here’s what it takes to become a nurse practitioner:

1. Get a bachelor’s in nursing. As we mentioned above, you need at least a master’s degree to become an NP—but the first step is getting an undergraduate degree in nursing. To qualify for qualify for RN licensure, you will need to attend an accredited university.

2. Work as a registered nurse. While you could immediately pursue a master’s program, many NPs choose to work for a year or so as an RN, choosing a specialty or area of interest.

3. Get a graduate degree. Now that you have some experience under your belt, it’s time to apply to graduate school, where you will earn a two-year MSN or four-year DNP degree.

4. Consider the proper licensure or certifications. You may need—or want—to receive licensure or certification through state agencies or nursing boards. Check out the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, which breaks down all the state requirements for NPs.

Nurse practitioners’ salaries may range depending on years of experience and the fields in which they work. But on average, nurse practitioners earn $117,292 each year, Glassdoor data shows. With seven to nine years of experience, that number jumps to $118,262 per year—and with 15-plus experience, inures practitioners’ yearly salaries reach $121,919.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates employment for nurse practitioners will grow by a whopping 36.1 percent between 2018 and 2026, which is faster than average. In fact, the growth expected for all occupations is just 7.6 percent—five times less than the estimated growth for nurse practitioners. (In other words, there’s some job security in this industry.)

Nurses can work in a variety of medical and hospital settings. Those places might include:

• Community centers
  
• Physicians’ offices
  
• Healthcare centers
  
• Patients’ homes
  
• Hospitals
  
• Long-term facilities
  
• Nursing homes
  
• Hospice centers
  
• Health departments
  
• Schools and college clinics
  
• Home healthcare agencies
  

You may not want to be a nurse practioner, but there are plenty of other nursing jobs—and jobs in the healthcare field. Here are a few other options, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Physician Assistant

Average Salary: $108,610

Degrees Required: Master’s degree

Registered Nurse

Average Salary: $71,730

Degrees Required: Bachelor’s degree

Physical Therapist

Average Salary: $87,930

Degrees Required: Doctoral degree

Occupational Therapist

Average Salary: $84,270

Degrees Required: Master’s degree

Audiologist

Average Salary: $75,920

Degrees Required: Doctoral degree

Need a bit more to make a decision on whether or not a nursing career is right for you? Here are some helpful resources on what it takes to be a nurse:

How to Ace an Interview & Get a Job as a Nurse

Highest Paying Medical Jobs

10 Companies Offering Great Maternity Benefits & Eager to Recruit Women

Why I Chose a Career in Health Tech

How to Interview at a Healthcare Company