How to Become an Advanced Practice Nurse

How to Become an Advanced Practice Nurse

Becoming an advanced practice nurse requires a registered nursing license, a master's or doctoral degree in nursing, national certification, and state-specific APRN licensure. The path is structured but allows several specialty tracks, and each step builds on the last.

Earn Your Nursing Degree and Licensure

Start with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an accelerated BSN if you already hold a bachelor's in another field. After completing an accredited program, pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain your registered nurse license. Gaining clinical experience as an RN, often one to two years, strengthens both your application and your readiness for graduate-level work.

Choose Your APRN Specialty

Advanced practice nursing includes four main roles:

• Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Each specialty has distinct certification bodies, such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). Your choice shapes your graduate curriculum, clinical hours, and certification exam.

Complete a Graduate Nursing Program

Most APRN roles now require a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), though some master's-prepared paths remain open depending on the specialty and state. Full-time programs typically take two to four years and include advanced coursework in pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment, plus a minimum number of supervised clinical hours that varies by specialty and state board requirements.

Obtain National Certification

After graduating, you must pass a national certification exam in your specialty. Certification is typically required for state APRN licensure and must be renewed periodically through continuing education or re-examination.

Apply for State APRN Licensure

Each state board of nursing sets its own APRN practice standards, including prescriptive authority and scope of practice. Submit your certification, transcripts, and application to the state board, and maintain your license through ongoing education and practice-hour requirements.