How To Become a Nurse Practitioner

Stan T.Career, RequirementsLeave a Comment

How Long Does It Take, What Degree Do You Need, and More

Nurse Practitioners

Nurse Practitioners diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Salary
$114510
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Master's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality



What degree do you need

Recommended degree level

Master’s Degree

We did a survey to ask other Nurse Practitioners what degree they had when they became a Nurse Practitioner. Here are the results.
Master’s Degree
83.33%


PhD
6.67%


Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
3.33%


One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Nurse Practitioners or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Nurse Practitioners what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Adult Health Nursing
Family Practice Nurse or Nursing
Maternal or Child Health and Neonatal Nursing
Pediatric Nursing
Psychiatric or Mental Health Nurse or Nursing

Nurse practitioners, also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses, must earn at least a master’s degree in one of the specialty roles. APRNs must also be licensed registered nurses in their state and pass a national certification exam.



How hard is it

Difficulty
Very Hard

You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge and experience to be a Nurse Practitioner. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, a surgeon must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Careers in this difficulty category may need some on-the-job-training, but most of these careers assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, and work-related experience and training. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, neurologists, and veterinarians.


Related work experience required
2 to 4 years

2 to 4 years
43.33%


1 to 2 years
30%


None
13.33%


Job training
3 to 6 months

3 to 6 months
30%


1 to 3 months
26.67%


Up to 1 month
20%



License and certifications

Do you need any license or certification
Required

Most states recognize all of the APRN roles. In states that recognize some or all of the roles, APRNs must have a registered nursing license, complete an approved graduate-level program, and pass a national certification exam. Each state’s board of nursing can provide details.


Skills required

We asked other Nurse Practitioners if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

1. Reading Comprehension what does this mean
2. Active Listening what does this mean
3. Speaking what does this mean
4. Critical Thinking what does this mean
5. Active Learning what does this mean

= Hot in-demand that most employers are looking for


Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Nurse Practitioners are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

1. Medicine and Dentistry what does this mean
2. Psychology what does this mean
3. Customer and Personal Service what does this mean
4. Therapy and Counseling what does this mean
5. English Language what does this mean


Learn more about Nurse Practitioners

Summary
Job Description
Salary
Requirements (You are here)
Quiz

Related to Nurse Practitioners Requirements

Nurse Practitioners requirements, how to become Nurse Practitioners, degree required to be a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Practitioners license and certifications, majors to be a Nurse Practitioner, is it hard to become a Nurse Practitioner and how long does it take


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.