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MSN to DNP-FNP
Family Nurse Practitioner

Pursue the FNP specialty, go from MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and advance your nursing career to new heights.

Program Length

24 Mo.

Accredited by†

CCNE

Format

Online

Clinical Placement

Pledge
calendar

NEXT START May 4th

Waived Enrollment Fee

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Quick facts about the MSN to DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner program

AccreditationCCNE accredited†, Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
CurriculumComplete specialty FNP courses and core doctoral-level courses to earn the terminal degree in nursing and prepare for certification in a new specialty
Format100% online didactic classes, hands-on clinical experience, and completion of a DNP Practice Project; final DNP project work is woven throughout the program
AdmissionsEligibility requirements include successful completion of an accredited MSN program with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
Clinicals945 combined clinical/project hours—Herzing pledges clinical placement
Certification prepCurriculum designed to help you prepare for the AANP FNP-C and/or ANCC FNP-BC certification exam(s)

Learn More Today!

Classes start: May 4th

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US News Best Graduate Nursing Programs 2026

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2026

Earn a foundational FNP education and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2 years

The MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Family Nurse Practitioner degree is a 68-credit graduate program which prepares you for a career as a DNP-prepared FNP. This online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in improvement science, collaborative practice, telehealth, systems-based practice, as well as FNP specialty topics.

Begin making your impact in the lives of patients of all ages in a variety of potential settings as a family nurse practitioner. Your pathway to greater heights in the nursing field starts with your education. Take the first step with Herzing University..

Family nurse practitioner with DNP smiling with team of medical professionals

  • Career-focused curriculum

    Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

  • Flexible schedule

    We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

  • Virtual services

    Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

  • Lifelong support

    We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

  • Rolling admissions

    No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Curriculum

Your pathway: courses & curriculum details

The MSN to DNP-FNP curriculum is designed both for nurses with an MSN seeking certification in their first specialty, as well as those in an existing specialty looking to become a family NP—while completing the doctoral courses required to become a leader in the nursing profession.

All didactic courses are delivered online. The curriculum includes 945 combined clinical/project hours, comprising of hands-on FNP clinical experience and the DNP Practice Project.

ProgramMonths iSemester Credits
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Family Nurse Practitioner – MSN to DNP2459

i. Average number of months for students to complete program.

Required Core Courses

All courses, 24.00 semester credit hours, are required.

This course focuses on the integration, translation, and application of established and evolving theoretical, evidence-based, and disciplinary nursing knowledge as the basis for clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice. Students examine frameworks for knowledge and propose a practice application informed by leadership principals and ethical decision making.

The course focuses on a systems-based approach to enhance quality and minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through system effectiveness and individual performance using established and emerging principles of safety and improvement science. Students will review metrics and data driven benchmarks to analyze quality and safety initiatives, employ change theory and improvement science processes to design evidence‐based interventions, and demonstrate advocacy to promote a just institutional culture reflecting resiliency, civility, and respect.

This course focuses on the delivery of care using interprofessional teams in an environment fostering quality and safety and based on the adoption, integration, and dissemination of best practices, current practice guidelines, and evidence‐based interventions. Students will evaluate the effectiveness of interprofessional communication and the impact of team dynamics and performance on desired outcomes in practice. Using tools and techniques to support and improve the efficacy of team‐based interactions student will develop a plan to enhance collaboration.

This course will explore information, communication technologies, and informatics processes used to provide care, gather data, drive decision making, and manage and improve the delivery of safe, high‐quality, and efficient healthcare services in accordance with best practice and professional and regulatory standards. Students will perform an information technology analysis of their practice and develop strategic planning to direct the selection and implementation of new information and communication technologies for their practice setting.

This course focuses on proficient multidimensional leadership for healthcare. Leadership theory, managing change in complex environments, mentoring, and creating a workplace environment that promotes social justice and equity, self‐care, personal health, and well‐being, and lifelong learning will be emphasized. Students will examine their personal, professional, and leadership development process, and create a three-dimensional advocacy-based approach to provide leadership in for the healthcare, professional, and community arenas.

This course applies the principles of best practices, change theory, and improvement and implementation science to the development of innovative solutions for complex health systems to ensure optimal care. Course key concepts include organizational structure, including relationships among macro‐, meso‐, and microsystems across healthcare, and financial and payment models for cost management and reimbursement. Students will engage in a strategic planning initiative for a complex healthcare system which enhances value, access, quality, and cost‐effectiveness, including policy to address health equity and eliminate structural discrimination.

The course focuses on the application, evaluation, and dissemination of knowledge in practice to improve health and transform health care. The processes for the generation, critique, synthesis, and translation of knowledge will be examined. Students will complete human subject protection certification, determine best practices for a specified clinical initiative, and apply evidence to clinical decision making using a framework of evidence-based practice and improvement science.

This course examines the healthcare delivery continuum from public health prevention to disease management of populations and describes collaborative activities with both traditional and non‐traditional partnerships from affected communities, public health, industry, academia, health care, local government entities, and others for the improvement of equitable population health outcomes. For a selected population, students will analyze health priorities and the potential for collaboration and partnerships to provide a basis for interventions, policy, advocate strategy, and emergency preparedness.

Required Specialty Courses

All courses, 27.00 semester credit hours, are required.

This course is an examination of the process of holistic assessment (physical, psychosocial, and cultural) of individuals across the lifespan. Focus is critical thinking and decision-making related to the role of the advanced practice nurse in a primary care setting.

This course is an examination of the processes applicable to clinical decision making. Models for clinical decision making will be presented.  An overview of key assessments and the wide range of clinical activity categories that impact clinical decision making will be provided. Application of course concepts will be accomplished through engagement with hypothetical clinical scenarios.

The course examines scientific concepts of pathophysiology essential to diagnostic reasoning and clinical management of common disease states. The dilemma of cost and need for laboratory and radiographic evidence to support diagnosis is examined.

This course focuses on the provision of care to the adult patient, aged 18 to 64 years of age, by the family nurse practitioner. This clinical course continues to develop diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills in students. Students apply theoretical knowledge, evidence-based guidelines and contemporary practices in the assessment and management of health and disease states in the adult population.

As the population ages, care of the older adult becomes an increasing need in primary care. Family nurse practitioners in primary care focus on care of patients across the lifespan including this older adult population. This clinical course will explore the special needs of the older adult (65 and older) by synthesizing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based guidelines and contemporary practices in assessment and management of health and disease states in the geriatric population.  Since this course is reflective of the last course in the clinical sequence, APEA testing for board certification preparation will be incorporated to assist the student with preparation for the exam.

The focus of this clinical course is on integrating theoretical knowledge, evidence-based guidelines and contemporary practice in the assessment and management of health and disease states specific to women across the lifespan. Personal, family, cultural, community, and societal influences are analyzed for their impact on the physical and emotional health of women. Health risk identification, health promotion, health maintenance, and treatment alternatives are examined.

The focus of this clinical course is on synthesizing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based guidelines and contemporary practices in assessment and management of health and disease states in the pediatric population from birth through adolescence. The context of family-centered care in relation to individual child growth and development, safety, and cultural practices is explored. Health risk identification, health promotion, health maintenance, and treatment alternatives are applied to individuals, families, and populations.

This course is designed to advance the student's knowledge of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics in the management of health and disease states. Major categories of pharmacological agents are examined in the context of the life span, culture, and health and disease states. State and federal regulation related to purchase, possession, administration and patient education about controlled substances, pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic agents used as medications are examined.

Required Project Residency Core Courses

All courses, 8.00 semester credit hours, are required.

The course focuses on designing and preparing a quality improvement Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. In this course, students will review expectations for a DNP project, examine completed DNP projects, identify a practice problem, create a project prospectus, develop a project protocol, create a project timeline, estimate costs associated with the proposed project, submit Institutional Review Board (IRB) project approval application, secure a project stakeholder/liaison agreement, and complete preparations necessary to support implementation, where possible, of the project.

This course is the first of a three-course residency series which supports the implementation, management, completion, and dissemination of a DNP project focused on improving clinical practice. In this first course students will work with their Chair and Committee to initiate their project.

This course is the second of a three-course residency series which supports the implementation, management, completion, and dissemination of a DNP project focused on improving clinical practice. In this second course students will continue to work with their Chair and Committee on the implementation and evaluation of their project. 

This course is the third of a three-course series which supports the implementation, management, completion, and dissemination of a DNP project focused on improving clinical practice. In this third course students will complete the implementation and evaluation of their project, present their project results, and prepare a written deliverable of their project.

Clinical Proficiency Exam and Policy Courses

The following courses are 0.00 semester credit hours associated with the policy outlined above. Students are required to take as co-requisite courses along with NU 611, NU 642, NU 664 or NU 671 depending on the program of study. Course Number Course Name Semester Credit Hours NSG 0600 Clinical Proficiency Course 0.00 NSG 0600R Clinical Proficiency Remediation Course (if needed) 0.00  

Tuition & Cost

Tuition & Cost

The cost of tuition for the MSN to DNP-FNP program is $770 per credit.

You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.

Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.

Find My Estimate 

  • Scholarships & Financial Aid

    You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.

    Find scholarships and grants  

  • Military/Veteran Discounts

    Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount.

    VA/Military benefits  

Find My Estimate 
Requirements

Admissions requirements

Requirements to enroll in the MSN to DNP-FNP program include the following criteria:

  • Hold a current, active, and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they live. (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement.)
  • Successful completion of an MSN program with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.00 or higher
    • MSN must be an ACEN, CCNE, or NLN accredited program
  • Must not have failed from previous doctoral program
  • Completion of a background/clinical compliance check

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Clinicals

Clinical Experience: Herzing supports your search for a preceptor

Finding a preceptor or clinical location for a nurse practitioner program can be a pain point for many prospective nursing students. With Herzing University you are never on your own.

If you'd like more detail on the process, read our guide to finding a nurse practitioner preceptor, which includes information on what sites you may choose, what kinds of preceptors you can work with, and tips on how to secure a clinical.

Benefits of the Herzing MSN to DNP-FNP program clinical experience:

Strong University guidance

Herzing goes above and beyond to help you find a clinical site. Our Clinical Guidance Process backed by the Herzing APRN Clinical Placement Pledge ensures you are able to secure clinical placement as part of the MSN to DNP-FNP program.

You will be ready

Our program includes a Clinical Readiness Course to prepare you for success in the practicum your clinical experiences during your time here at Herzing University.

Interdisciplinary opportunities

Exposure to diverse patient care environments makes you a better, more prepared nurse practitioner. Our priority is your experience to build upon in your new career—the Herzing MSN to DNP-FNP program requires a minimum of 945 combined clinical/project hours to ensure you see a variety of patients. You will earn personalized, valuable clinical experience with a deeper background treating patients of many ages across the lifespan including times of wellness and illness.

Flexible scheduling

Fitting clinical hours into an already hectic life can be a challenge. In collaboration with your clinical preceptor, you will identify a schedule that works best for you.

We treat you like a professional

You are a student—but in a clinical setting you are accountable to a licensed healthcare provider and their patients. From enrollment to completion, we treat you like the nursing professional you are working so hard to become.

We Pledge Clinical Placement

Worried about clinical placement? You don't have to be.

At Herzing, clinical placement is built into your experience—because it's essential, and you deserve a program that treats it that way.

There's no guesswork. Just a proven framework backed by a promise. Our promise is your placement.

Clinical Guidance Process and Pledge Details

APRN Clinical placement pledge logo

Accreditation & Recognition

Our accredited & recognized online school

We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.

We are proud to have attained institutional and programmatic accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.

  • CCNE Accreditation

    ✝The doctor of nursing practice program at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.

  • U.S. News & World Report Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs 2026

    Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best online graduate nursing degree programs in 2026.

  • Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

    View all Herzing University Accreditations and Approvals.

Classes Start: May 4th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.

Request Info Apply Now 
Careers

Pursue an FNP specialty and earn the terminal degree in nursing

MSN-FNP Image
Image

Our program is designed to provide you the fastest path to both earn the highest degree in nursing and begin practicing as an FNP.

The current minimum degree requirement for FNP certification is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with an FNP specialization.

However, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) has favored increasing the degree requirement to the DNP level for several years. The knowledge and skills earned in a DNP degree program can potentially better prepare you for the broad and complex care demanded from nurse practitioners in the present and future.

Becoming an FNP

Job Outlook

Graduate from a DNP program with an FNP specialization and you’ll be prepared to join a career field expected to grow rapidly over the next 10 years.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of nurse practitioners is expected to rise 40% from 2024-2034.*

Locations

Program Finder

MSN to DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner Degree Programs / Showing 1 program for the Online campus

  • MSN to DNP - Family Nurse Practitioner

    Online

    To learn more about this program, click the Request Info button.

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The Student Experience at Herzing

I learned not to let anyone take away my confidence and I want students to feel the same way.
Dr. Britney Snipes
Nursing | Online Campus
As a child, I was often sick, and I quickly noticed how nurses cared for me and made me feel better. At a young age, I decided I wanted to care for and impact the lives of others during challenging times in the same way my nurses had helped me.
Dr. Paula Pitts
Nursing | Online Campus
The accelerated program is condensed but I knew if I could get through all of that, I would be able to handle anything my career threw at me. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to save lives by providing patient care right there at the bedside.
Jordan Sharon
Nursing | Orlando Campus
I’d say that the key to success at Herzing is time management!
Consuella Hargress
Nursing | Birmingham Campus
Persevering through your courses and clinicals is such a valuable experience, and I can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned in the field.
Nickolas Flotman
Nursing | Minneapolis Campus

Disclosures

* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.

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Classes Start: May 4th

Waived Enrollment Fee

Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.

Request Info Apply Now