What Does It Take to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner? (FNP)

To become a family nurse practitioner, you must go through several steps (FNP). Education, certification, and clinical practice are just a few of the requirements for admission to a nurse practitioner program.

Here is a step-by-step path you can take to become a family nurse practitioner:

Steps to Become a Family Nurse Practitioner

1.Become a Registered Nurse

2.Apply and Complete an Accredited FNP Program

3.Complete Your FNP Program

4.Apply for the FNP Credential from ANCC or AANP

5.Apply to Become a State Certified FNP

6.Renew Your Certification

1. Become a registered nurse (RN). To apply to an online FNP program, you must have completed a degree in registered nursing and be certified as a registered nurse in a U.S. state or territory. Passing the NCLEX-RN examination is required for certification as a registered nurse. Working one to two years before applying for a nurse practitioner program is highly recommended.

2. Apply to accredited FNP programs. Look for programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). These must be master’s, postgraduate or doctoral programs.

3. Complete your FNP program. According to the 2016 Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs, a minimum of 500 clinical, supervised patient care hours are required for all accredited FNP programs and future FNPs. Applicants must have completed graduate courses in physiology, health assessment and pharmacology to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification exam.

4. Apply for the FNP Credential from ANCC or AANP. There are two certifications offered by different organizations, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

The AANP Family Nurse Practitioner Certification exam is 150 questions assessing knowledge of health history, clinical decision-making, patient education, evidence-informed practice, and much more.

The ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner Certification exam has 175-200 questions about assessments, pharmaco therapeutics, age-appropriate interventions, regulatory guidelines and more. Learn more about the difference between AANP and ANCC FNP exams.

5. Apply to become a state-certified FNP. Becoming a family nurse practitioner may have additional requirements depending on the state. Go to our state’s nursing requirements page to find out how to apply in your area. Many of these applications can be submitted online.

6. Renew your certification. Once you have earned your family nurse practitioner certification, it must be renewed every five years, according to the ANCC family nurse practitioner certification renewal requirements. In addition to renewing certification through the board, renewal through the state is also required and may involve additional fulfillment of continuing education contact hours.

Family Nurse Practitioner Roles and Responsibilities

Because of their high level of education, expertise and skill, family nurse practitioners (FNP) will often take on some of the roles of a physician. However, they will still generally work under the supervision of, or in close conjunction with, a physician. FNPs must be able to offer the care and support consistent with high-quality nursing to patients and families, diagnosing and treating patients across a wide variety of conditions. Here are some core responsibilities after becoming a family nurse practitioner:

Educate

FNPs are expected to educate their patients and the families of their patients. This can cover a wide variety of subjects, including childbirth and care for newborns with expectant mothers, methods for managing cholesterol or stress in aging patients, geriatric issues with the elderly, and many other topics. Education is the front line in the battle against preventable diseases.

Diagnose

A family nurse practitioner must be able to effectively diagnose patients across a wide variety of age ranges, which places them in the role of the diagnostician. FNPs often have access to the patient’s medical history and can order tests, and will combine all this information with physical symptoms to formulate an informed diagnosis.

Treatment

After diagnosing a patient, FNPs will provide treatment. These duties may vary on a state-to-state basis but mainly consist of ordering or performing diagnostic tests, prescribing medications, and treating any and all injuries or chronic illnesses that fall under primary care.

Collaborate

Becoming an FNP requires a wide range of skills and training, but they do not work completely alone. It is paramount to the successful career of a family nurse practitioner to collaborate with fellow healthcare professionals to discuss best practices, tough decisions, and the results of treatments.

With so many distinct and equally important roles to fill, the responsibilities of a family nurse practitioner are many. Highly educated and experienced family nurse practitioners are incredibly valuable healthcare professionals, especially now that the U.S. healthcare system is evolving to serve more people in need at the same, or even lower, cost.

FAQs

What Is an FNP?

An FNP, or family nurse practitioner, is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) trained to provide medical care for children and adults, sometimes as a primary care provider.

What does a family nurse practitioner do?

Family nurse practitioners perform many tasks and responsibilities, most of which primary care physicians also perform. Examples may include providing infants and children with health and wellness care, caring for patients with chronic diseases or educating patients on managing cholesterol levels.

How long does it take to become an FNP?

To earn national certification and state licensure as a nurse practitioner, you must have completed an MSN degree. Your previous education affects how long it may take to pursue certification. For instance, if you have already earned a BSN degree, you may be eligible for MSN FNP programs. If you earned a bachelor’s degree in another subject, you may qualify for admission to direct-entry MSN programs that may help prepare you for post-graduate certification. Typically, an MSN program takes two to four years to complete.

Where does an FNP work?

Because a family nurse practitioner works with a variety of patients, they have the potential to work in diverse settings. You may see an FNP working in emergency rooms, school clinics, community health centers, physicians’ offices and other settings.

What’s the difference between a family nurse practitioner (FNP) and a physician assistant (PA)?

A family nurse practitioner and physician assistant may share responsibilities, but the path to becoming one of these healthcare professionals varies. While they both may perform similar duties of a primary care physician, they are often under the supervision of a medical doctor.

How Much Does an FNP Make?

How much an FNP makes will depend on a variety of factors, including where the FNP works and their level of experience. The median salary for an FNP was $118,040 in May 2021.

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