Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse
Updated June 19, 2026
Becoming an NP is a clear, if long, path: become an RN, earn a BSN, then complete an accredited graduate program (MSN or DNP) in a chosen population focus, pass a national certification exam, get your state APRN license, and register with the DEA. Here is the full roadmap, what each step actually requires, and how long it realistically takes.
Become a registered nurse
Graduate from a nursing program (ADN or BSN) and pass the NCLEX-RN. Many graduate programs prefer one to two years of bedside RN experience first, though that varies by program.
Earn a BSN
A bachelor's in nursing is required for graduate NP admission. If you are an ADN-prepared RN, you bridge through an RN-to-BSN program (or an RN-to-MSN bridge that folds the BSN in).
Choose your population focus
NP programs train you for one population, like family across the lifespan, psychiatric-mental health, adult-gerontology, pediatrics, women's health, or neonatal. This decides your courses, clinicals, and certification exam.
Complete an accredited MSN or DNP program
Enroll in a graduate NP program at a school accredited by CCNE or ACEN. An MSN is the faster, still fully valid route; a DNP is a longer doctoral path. Expect at least 750 supervised direct-care clinical hours.
Pass your national certification exam
Sit for the board exam for your population through AANPCB, ANCC, PNCB (pediatrics), or NCC (women's health and neonatal). Certification is required before you can be licensed.
Get your state APRN license
Apply to your state board for the APRN license or authorization that lets you practice and prescribe. Scope, from full to restricted, and any collaborative-practice rule depend on your state.
Register with the DEA, then start practicing
To prescribe controlled substances, register with the DEA and complete the one-time MATE training. Then you are ready for your first NP role.
Path confirmed against the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
You can become an NP with either a master's (MSN) or a doctorate (DNP). The MSN is the faster, less expensive route and is fully valid: no U.S. state requires a DNP to license as an NP, and MSN-prepared NPs certify and practice on the same footing as DNP-prepared ones. The AACN and NONPF have recommended moving NP entry to the DNP level, but that is a professional goal, not a regulation. A DNP can add leadership, research, and a pay or role edge over a career, so it is a personal investment decision, not a gate to entry.
Pick a program accredited by CCNE or ACEN(or NLN CNEA). National certification and state licensure both require graduation from an accredited program. Attend an unaccredited one and you can be ineligible to certify or license, no matter how strong the coursework was. Verify a program's accreditation before you enroll, not after.
The national standard (the 2022 NTF Standards for Quality NP Education) is a minimum of 750 supervised direct-patient-care clinical hours per NP track, up from the older 500-hour figure you will still see quoted. Simulation does not count toward the 750. A DNP adds up to 1,000 total post-bachelor's practice hours for the degree, but that count includes the DNP project, so it is a different number from the 750 direct-care minimum. Exact hours vary by program and population.
| Starting point | Typical full-time time |
|---|---|
| BSN-prepared RN to MSN-NP | About 2 to 3 years full-time |
| BSN-prepared RN to DNP-NP | About 3 to 4 years full-time |
| ADN-prepared RN | Add about 1 to 2 years for an RN-to-BSN bridge |
| Direct-entry (non-nurse with a bachelor's) | About 3 years for an entry-level MSN that includes RN preparation |
Typical durations, not guarantees. Actual time depends on your program, enrollment status, and clinical placement availability.
General educational information, not academic or career advice. Program, certification, and licensure requirements vary by school, certifying body, and state, and change over time. Confirm current requirements with the program, the certifying board, and your state board of nursing.
NP school takes years, and your RN license has to stay current the whole way. RenewRN tracks your renewal date and CE so nothing lapses while you study, free.
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