A nurse practitioner (NP) holds either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Both are graduate-level degrees built on top of a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The MSN is currently the minimum requirement, though the profession is actively shifting toward the DNP as the new standard.
The Two Degree Options
An MSN program typically takes two years to complete and focuses on advanced clinical skills: pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and specialty-specific courses. This is the degree most nurse practitioners currently hold. Students complete a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours during the program.
A DNP program typically takes four years and covers everything in an MSN plus additional coursework in healthcare policy, systems leadership, quality improvement, informatics, and population health. DNP students complete around 1,000 total clinical practicum hours, with the 500 hours from a prior MSN counting toward that total for those who already hold a master’s degree. The program culminates in a DNP project rather than a traditional dissertation.
Both degrees qualify you to sit for national certification exams and practice as a nurse practitioner. However, NPs with a doctorate tend to have stronger career opportunities, and some employers and state licensing boards now require or prefer the DNP.
The Shift Toward Doctoral-Level Entry
The nursing profession has been moving toward making the DNP the entry-level degree for all nurse practitioners. This started in 2004, when member schools of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing voted to endorse moving advanced practice preparation from the master’s to the doctoral level. In 2018, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties called for the DNP to become the entry-level requirement by 2025 and reaffirmed that position as recently as April 2023.
Nurse anesthetists have already completed this transition. As of January 2022, every student entering an accredited nurse anesthesia program enrolls in a doctoral program. For other NP specialties, the shift is ongoing. Many programs still offer the MSN, and it remains a valid path to licensure. But if you’re planning your education now, it’s worth knowing the field is heading toward the DNP as the expected credential.
What You Need Before Starting an NP Program
Before enrolling in any NP graduate program, you need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an active registered nurse (RN) license. The BSN is a four-year undergraduate degree. If you already work as an RN with an associate degree, you can complete an RN-to-BSN bridge program in about two years.
Many NP programs also list at least one year of full-time nursing experience as a requirement or strong recommendation. Clinical bedside experience gives you the foundation that graduate coursework builds on. Some programs are flexible on this, but working as an RN before applying is common and generally advisable.
Paths for Non-Nursing Graduates
If you hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, you’re not locked out. Direct Entry MSN programs (sometimes called Entry Level MSN programs) are designed for people with non-nursing bachelor’s degrees who want to enter nursing at the graduate level. These programs combine foundational nursing coursework with advanced study in a single streamlined track, typically running about seven semesters of full-time study.
A direct entry MSN prepares you for RN licensure and can serve as a springboard to NP certification or doctoral study. It’s a longer road than for someone who already has a BSN, but it consolidates what would otherwise be two separate degrees into one program. You can also pursue a BSN-to-DNP track if you want to go straight to the doctoral level without stopping at the master’s.
Certification and Licensure After Your Degree
Earning your MSN or DNP isn’t the final step. You also need to pass a national board certification exam in your chosen specialty. The two main certifying bodies are the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). Both accept graduates of accredited master’s, post-graduate certificate, and DNP programs.
You’ll choose a specialty focus during your graduate program, such as family practice, psychiatric mental health, or adult-gerontology acute care. Your certification exam matches that specialty. Once certified, you apply for state licensure, which varies by state but universally requires both the graduate degree and the national certification.
MSN vs. DNP: Which to Choose
If your goal is to start practicing as soon as possible, the MSN gets you there in roughly two years. It’s a fully valid credential, and thousands of NPs practice with this degree. If you’re drawn to leadership roles, policy work, or want to future-proof your credentials against the profession’s doctoral shift, the DNP is the stronger long-term investment.
Cost and time matter too. A DNP takes about twice as long as an MSN, and tuition scales accordingly. Some NPs complete their MSN first, practice for several years, and then return for a post-master’s DNP, which typically takes an additional two to three years since prior clinical hours and coursework transfer in. This staggered approach lets you earn while you continue your education. Others prefer to complete a BSN-to-DNP program in one stretch, finishing all their training before entering advanced practice.