There are several steps to becoming a family nurse practitioner (FNP). Education, certification and clinical practice are among the many requirements to be accepted to a nurse practitioner program.
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Here is a step-by-step path you can take to become a family nurse practitioner:
1. Become a registered nurse (RN). To apply to an online FNP program, you must have completed a degree in registered nursing and be certified as a registered nurse in a U.S. state or territory. Passing the NCLEX-RN examination is required for certification as a registered nurse. Working one to two years before applying for a nurse practitioner program is highly recommended.
2. Apply to accredited FNP programs. Look for programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). These must be master’s, postgraduate or doctoral programs.
3. Complete your FNP program. According to the 2016 Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs, a minimum of 500 clinical, supervised patient care hours are required for all accredited FNP programs and future FNPs. Applicants must have completed graduate courses in physiology, health assessment and pharmacology to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification exam.
4. Apply for the FNP Credential from ANCC or AANP. There are two certifications offered by different organizations, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
The AANP Family Nurse Practitioner Certification exam is 150 questions assessing knowledge of health history, clinical decision-making, patient education, evidence-informed practice, and much more.
The ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner Certification exam has 175-200 questions about assessments, pharmacotherapeutics, age-appropriate interventions, regulatory guidelines and more. Learn more about the difference between AANP and ANCC FNP exams.
5. Apply to become a state-certified FNP. Becoming a family nurse practitioner may have additional requirements depending on the state. Go to our state’s nursing requirements page to find out how to apply in your area. Many of these applications can be submitted online.
6. Renew your certification. Once you have earned your family nurse practitioner certification, it must be renewed every five years, according to the ANCC family nurse practitioner certification renewal requirements. In addition to renewing certification through the board, renewal through the state is also required and may involve additional fulfillment of continuing education contact hours.
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