If you have no experience in nursing, you have a long way to go before practicing as a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioner represents a type of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) demanding extensive education and experience. You cannot become a nurse practitioner without a nursing degree.
To become a nurse practitioner you will need to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
Some nursing schools offer a “direct entry” MSN pathway for those with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to fast track their progress towards becoming a nurse practitioner. If you choose this path you may not need to earn an undergraduate nursing degree.
However, a direct entry MSN curriculum can be very demanding and isn’t right for everyone. Many students choose to first earn their Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ASN/BSN), become a registered nurse, then enroll in an MSN nurse practitioner program.
Learn more about our NP program options
