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Licensed nurse practitioner education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a licensed nurse practitioner. Licensed nurse practitioners usually study nursing, family practice nursing, or electrical engineering. 57% of licensed nurse practitioners hold a bachelor's degree, and 27% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 59 real licensed nurse practitioner resumes to see exactly what licensed nurse practitioner education sections show.

The most common colleges for licensed nurse practitioners are the University of Massachusetts Boston and the University of Massachusetts Boston.

There are also many online licensed nurse practitioner courses to help get the education required to be a licensed nurse practitioner.

What education do you need to become a licensed nurse practitioner?

What degree do you need to be a licensed nurse practitioner?

The most common degree for licensed nurse practitioners is bachelor's degree, with 57% of licensed nurse practitioners earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 27% and master's degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 57%
  • Master's, 27%
  • Diploma, 11%
  • Associate, 5%

What should I major in to become a licensed nurse practitioner?

You should major in nursing to become a licensed nurse practitioner. 71% of licensed nurse practitioners major in nursing. Other common majors for a licensed nurse practitioner include family practice nursing and electrical engineering.

Most common colleges for licensed nurse practitioners

Licensed nurse practitioners often get their degrees at University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Middle Tennessee State University. Here are the most common colleges for licensed nurse practitioners in the US based on their resumes.
Licensed nurse practitioner common collegePercentages
University of Massachusetts Boston8.70%
University of Illinois at Chicago8.70%
Middle Tennessee State University8.70%
Eastern Michigan University4.35%
Purdue University4.35%

Best majors for licensed nurse practitioners

Best colleges for licensed nurse practitioners

The best colleges for licensed nurse practitioners are Emory University, New York University, and Vanderbilt University.

A licensed nurse practitioner with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for licensed nurse practitioners. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become licensed nurse practitioners.

1. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,306

Enrollment

6,975

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Enrollment

9,394

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

4. Maria College of Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$15,140

Enrollment

876

5. Clarkson College

Omaha, NE • Private

In-state tuition

$13,392

Enrollment

646

6. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,914

Enrollment

4,155

7. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,872

Enrollment

3,553

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Enrollment

4,169

10. Vermont Technical College

Randolph, VT • Private

In-state tuition

$15,108

Enrollment

1,350

20 best online courses for licensed nurse practitioners

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1. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

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Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

2. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

3. Home Health Aide, Nurse Aide, Caregiver Certification Course

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Become A Certified Home Health Aide, Personal Care Aide, Nurse Aide/ Caregiver At The End Of This Course. Enroll Now!!...

4. Coping Skills and Self-Care for Mental Health

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Essential skills to manage intense emotions and develop a self-care practice to promote mental health...

5. Introduction to Integrative Nursing

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This course is designed for nurses who are drawn to practice in a different way – nurses who value whole-person care and know that the essence of nursing practice is truly caring and healing. You will learn about the principles and practices of Integrative Nursing and how you can be a healing presence to all you serve. Then, you will do an integrative assessment and apply the principles of Integrative Nursing to improve symptom management and overall patient outcomes. Finally, you will explore...

6. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

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COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

7. Providing Trauma-Informed Care

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Exploring psychological trauma and how to provide care and compassion to trauma survivors...

8. Medical Device Regulation (MDR): Intro for Device Designers

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An introduction to the EU's Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for those involved in developing medical devices...

9. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

10. Palliative Care Always Capstone Course

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The Palliative Care Always Capstone course is designed to let you test your knowledge about palliative and help others understand the value of palliative care, while showing your creative side. In this course, you will impact community awareness about palliative care, promote self-care and wellness, show-off your communication skills in a virtual environment, and finish the course off by proving your thoughts on ways to offer psychosocial support to a patient and family...

11. ISO 13485 - IQOQPQ - Process Validation for Medical Devices

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Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) & Performance Qualification (PQ) Medical Devices...

12. Medical Devices Quality Management System - ISO 13485:2016

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Awareness and Application for the requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...

13. Trauma Emergencies and Care

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Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...

14. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative

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Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...

15. EU Medical Device Regulatory Affairs explained Simply

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How to get approval to sell Medical Devices within the European Union. Understand regulatory affairs & ISO 13485 2016...

16. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

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This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...

17. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations

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18. Pain Management: Easing Pain in Palliative Care

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19. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children

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Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...

20. Nursing Informatics Leadership Theory and Practice

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“By the end of this Course, you will be able to…” • Evaluate effective leadership styles for leadership in nursing informatics in clinical or academic contexts to improve leadership success. • Discover core values that support effective nursing informatics leadership in academic and clinical contexts to inform development of a personal leadership mission statement. • Discover competing values and polarities related to knowledge leadership and management to promote successful leadership...

Top 10 most affordable universities for licensed nurse practitioners

The most affordable schools for licensed nurse practitioners are SUNY Farmingdale, dickinson state university, and maine college of health professions.

If the best universities for licensed nurse practitioners are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for licensed nurse practitioners.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

2. Dickinson State University

Dickinson, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$6,768

Cost of attendance

15,506

3. Maine College of Health Professions

Lewiston, ME • Private

In-state tuition

$12,245

Cost of attendance

18,826

4. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,872

Cost of attendance

13,476

7. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,914

Cost of attendance

13,564

8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas

Barranquitas, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Cost of attendance

13,479

10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla

Aguadilla, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Cost of attendance

13,284

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for licensed nurse practitioners

The hardest universities for licensed nurse practitioners to get into are Emory University, New York University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for licensed nurse practitioners are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for licensed nurse practitioners based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,449

2. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

3. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

4. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

5. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

6. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

56%

SAT average

1,250

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

9. Clemson University

Clemson, SC • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,337

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for licensed nurse practitioners

The easiest schools for licensed nurse practitioners to get into are Barry University, adventhealth university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a licensed nurse practitioner without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for licensed nurse practitioners.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Pennsylvania State University - Shenango

Sharon, PA • Private

Admissions rate

75%

SAT average

989

5. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

6. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

7. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

8. Washington Adventist Hospital

Takoma Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

52%

SAT average

958

9. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

10. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

Average licensed nurse practitioner salary by education level

According to our data, licensed nurse practitioners with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $61,075 annually. Licensed nurse practitioners with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $60,548.
Licensed nurse practitioner education levelLicensed nurse practitioner salary
High School Diploma or Less$59,105
Bachelor's Degree$61,075
Some College/ Associate Degree$60,548

Licensed nurse practitioner education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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