Doctor of Nursing Practice
Online DNP Pathways

In October of 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) endorsed the Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing, which recommended moving the current level of preparation needed for advanced nursing practice from the master’s to doctorate level.

The AACN set an initial goal to phase out master’s level prep for APRNs and transition fully to DNP by 2015. That deadline has come and gone, and a master’s level education remains the minimum requirement to practice as an APRN (additional requirements vary per certification).

However, the transition has been discussed for many years—and not only by AACN. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) set a goal of 2025 to move all entry-level nurse practitioner education to the DNP degree.

While enrollment in DNP programs has increased continuously for 20 years running as of the AACN’s most recent Annual Survey, a DNP has not yet become required to practice as an APRN.

However, the landscape is changing and the DNP is trending towards becoming the standard for APRNs at the highest level.

Yes! There are many reasons why it’s worth pursuing a DNP, including:

1. Reach the height of the nursing profession with the terminal degree in nursing
2. Advance your skills regardless of your specialty
3. Prepare for future APRN education requirements
4. Doctorally-prepared nurses are needed to translate evidence and research
5. Earn a key role in improvement science
6. Become a better educator/teacher
7. The healthcare system needs doctorally-prepared nurses

No, you don’t need a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to begin working towards a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Current licensed registered nurses who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing may apply for our BSN to DNP program in a specialization of their choosing and begin working toward a DNP right away – without having to earn an MSN first.

There are a few considerations to keep in mind:

1. If your primary goal is to pursue a specialization such as Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), earning a DNP is not currently required. You can choose an MSN-FNP program and earn the master’s degree education you need to become an FNP.
2. It takes more time to complete a BSN to DNP curriculum compared to an MSN alternative. In the case of FNP, the MSN-FNP program takes 20 months compared to 32 months in the BSN to DNP-FNP program.¹
3. If your primary goal is to earn the terminal degree in nursing and reach the top of the field, a BSN to DNP program offers less time and lower cost than earning an MSN and DNP separately. Once again using the case of FNP, a BSN to DNP-FNP program takes less time (32 months) than earning an MSN-FNP and DNP separately (20 months each = 40 total months).

Contact our admissions team and we can help you determine what degree pathway is right for your lifestyle and overall career goals.

1. All program length estimates reflect average time to complete for full-time students and may vary. We strive to help you learn at a pace that’s right for you.

Yes, by earning a doctorate degree you can potentially be referred to as a “doctor.” However, some states may require DNP nurses to fully clarify their role if the title “Dr.” is used.

Even without formal state requirements, you should always clearly disclose your credentials with patients to avoid confusion.

The DNP represents the terminal degree in nursing, meaning it’s the highest degree you can earn in nursing. It’s one level higher than the MSN. The main differences include:

• Curriculum differences
• Certification requirements
• Enrollment trends
• Salary potential
• How long it takes to earn

Learn more about the difference between MSN vs. DNP.

Salaries vary widely across different types of jobs in advanced practice nursing, and earning a DNP can potentially apply to them all. However, earning a DNP can potentially help you compete for higher pay.*

According to the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey, registered nurses whose highest education was a DNP reported a median salary of about $100,000, 11% higher than the $90,000 median for those who had earned as much as a master’s degree.

The DNP is a practice-focused doctoral degree, while a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing is a research-focused degree. Some key differences include:

• PhD students are trained to develop new knowledge for both the science and practice of nursing, while DNP students learn the skills necessary to translate evidence from the research and put it into practice. Program curriculums vary accordingly.
• PhD students complete a dissertation, while DNP students complete a minimum number of clinical hours and/or a scholarly project
• Credit requirements can vary
• Unique employment opportunities upon graduation

How long it takes depends on the college education you’ve already earned and if you choose a full-time or part-time pathway.

The fastest path would be a situation in which you have earned an MSN and are ready to commit to the DNP program full-time. You can potentially earn your DNP in as few as 24 months (2 years).