The entire process of becoming an NP takes about six or seven years, on average, including four years for a bachelor's degree and two to three for a master's degree. There are some ways to accelerate this.
The process: A prospective nurse practitioner must earn a master's degree in nursing, complete clinical requirements, and hold an APRN license before sitting for an NP certification exam.
How to accelerate the process:
Enroll in an RN-to-MSN program: RNs without bachelor's degrees may be able to accelerate the process by enrolling in an RN-to-MSN program, which combines BSN and MSN courses into one intensive pathway. Some schools offer online RN-to-MSN programs, including Clarkson College, which is a school on our most affordable NP programs list. The length of these programs varies by school. For example, the University of Arizona claims its RN-to-MSN path can take 24 months at full time, whereas Clarkson College estimates about three-and-a-half years (10 semesters, with three semesters a year including a summer term).
Take larger course loads in a traditional MSN program: Traditional online MSN programs require 40-45 credit hours of coursework, and students may be able to take an extra course each term if they want to accelerate the process. Students who are willing and able to forgo a year or two of work may be able to take more credits per term if their advisor approves. Given legal regulations about working hours for nurses, it may not be possible to accelerate the completion of clinical requirements by much.