Are you considering earning your doctoral degree in nursing? If your career goals include becoming a family nurse practitioner (FNP) or nurse executive (NE) or providing leadership at an institutional policy level, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree may be the right path for you.
Let’s walk through how to become a DNP, the time it typically takes to earn a DNP and what makes this advanced nursing practice program worth it.
What Does a DNP Do?
Earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice boosts your credentials, potentially opening doors in your chosen field. A DNP prepares clinical nurses to lead nursing and interprofessional teams.
A DNP degree is also for those pursuing management and executive leadership roles. Depending on the nursing practice program you enter, you may need to choose from:
- A clinical role such as family nurse practitioner (FNP)
- A non-clinical specialty such as nurse executive
- Curriculum that elaborates on the research, policy and practice of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
How to Become a DNP: Steps to Obtaining the Degree
Although we’re presenting the steps for how to become a DNP as a linear progression, they’re not set in stone; there are different levels of nursing and your timeline may be flexible depending on your chosen university and program.
Let’s look at how to get a DNP through several traditional steps.
#1: Start Early
If you’re among those with a clear life plan at an early age, high school can serve as a solid launching pad. Taking advantage of biology and other science courses and looking at government and history through the lenses of public health policy and medical history can help prepare you for a graduate nursing education.
While there are no direct DNP requirements for those with a high school diploma, completing high school or obtaining a GED is typically the first step in the educational journey toward a DNP. After high school, aspiring DNP students can pursue several pathways, including:1
- RN-to-DNP programs: For registered nurses without a master’s degree
- BSN-to-DNP programs: For those with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- MSN-to-DNP programs: For those with a Master of Science in Nursing
#2: Get Your BSN
A four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree provides the necessary education for entry-level nurses to work directly in patient care. It includes foundational liberal arts courses, general electives and science classes.
A BSN is one of two educational options for becoming a registered nurse (RN); you can also earn a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), take the licensing exam and become an RN.
However, a BSN tends to be a more successful building block for a career that includes nursing leadership roles or advanced practice nursing—and it may provide a smoother transition when enrolling in an MSN program or a DNP program. Many programs require a BSN.
#3: Pass the NCLEX
In the process of how to become a DNP, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) after completing your BSN (or ADN) – the timeline to pass the exam after earning your BSN or ADN may vary by state.2
In 2024, more than 78% of test-takers passed the multi-format NCLEX.3 If you need to try again, almost all states allow you to retake the exam after 45 days.4 You can typically expect to receive your results within about six weeks of your exam date.4
#4: Get Your RN License
Next up in the journey of how to become a DNP, register for an RN license in your state. Since nursing—like law, accounting and other registered professions—is licensed at the state level, requirements vary slightly, but you’ll need to:5
- Show evidence of a nursing degree from an accredited school
- Submit your record of passing the NCLEX exam
- Fill out and submit any additional paperwork required by your state
- Pay a fee, usually an average of $1506
- Pass a criminal background check
#5: Gain Work Experience
When weighing how to get a DNP, you may prefer to commit to long-term employment in a single role. Instead, you may choose to boost your resume with a diverse mix of work environments and roles that allow you to:
- Be at home in multiple clinical settings
- Build skills over time
- Show career progression based on growth in responsibility, title or skill set
The hands-on aspect of your nursing education will involve different levels of study. When you begin your DNP degree, you will likely be a seasoned nurse with several years of on-the-job experience.
#6: Complete an MSN degree
A Master of Science in Nursing is a post-graduate advanced nursing program that builds toward a leadership role in practical nursing or non-clinical work. Nurses choose their role specialty at the master’s level, so MSN programs typically have a wide range of specializations. For example:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)*
- Nurse Executive
- Nurse Educator*
You don’t have to earn a master’s in a separate program from your DNP. Some universities offer BSN-entry DNP tracks as well as MSN-entry paths. For students entering with a BSN, the process for how to become a DNP will be significantly longer, as these students earn their master’s degree before moving on to the doctoral phase of the program.
What if you have your ADN, not your BSN, and want to work toward an advanced nursing career? What about career changers who aspire to advanced nursing practice after previous roles in healthcare or management?
You can return to school to complete a BSN–or you can bypass the BSN requirement through:
- An RN-to-MSN bridge program for RNs without a bachelor’s degree7
- Foundational BSN courses are part of the curricula and students typically have nursing experience.
- Direct-entry or an accelerated MSN program for non-nursing Bachelor of Science (BS)/Bachelor of Arts (BA) graduates
Learn more about the differences and similarities between an MSN vs. DNP degree to see which path you want to pursue.
#7: Complete a DNP Program
Similar to the MSN, Doctor of Nursing Practice programs typically allow for flexible entry, timing and focus areas. It’s the highest clinical nursing degree compared to the research-focused Ph.D. in Nursing. A DNP prepares nurses for advanced roles in direct patient care as APRNs and in non-clinical areas such as leadership, administration and health policy.8
After completing DNP requirements, you will need to meet continuing education requirements in order to maintain your RN license. You may choose to obtain different specialty certifications, but there’s no higher degree level to pursue.
Learning how to become a DNP could help you:
- Influence all aspects of healthcare using evidence-based practices
- Provide top-level leadership to nursing associations and healthcare networks
- Consult on public health policy connected to nursing practices
- Train and set educational policies for nursing degrees and specializations
- Gain a higher salary in the nursing field of your choice
With a DNP degree, a nurse executive, nurse practitioner (NP) and family nurse practitioner salary could increase.9
How Long Does It Take to Get a DNP Degree?
How long is DNP school? Earning your degree is usually done over the course of two to four years, depending on your entry point (BSN or MSN) and area of specialization.
On average, BSN-DNP programs typically take three to four years when enrolled full-time. Most DNP programs also require completion of MSN requirements.10
The duration of how to become a DNP will vary depending on several factors, including:
- University-specific program requirements, in-person courses, clinics or practicum requirements
- University program acceleration or extension options
- Full-time or part-time study options, for example, if you plan to work during the program
What’s the Difference Between a DNP and a Nurse Practitioner?
A Doctor of Nursing Practice is a degree, while a nurse practitioner is a profession. Earning a DNP may qualify you to work as an NP, or it can provide the background for:
- Advancing to a leadership role in nursing management
- Leading nursing and interprofessional clinical teams
- Exploring a career related to public and institutional health policymaking
- Remaining in your current role, such as nurse anesthetist, but with updated credentials and knowledge
Can You Get a Doctorate in Nursing?
If you’ve made it this far, you know that the answer is yes. The next question to ask yourself is if fulfilling all of the DNP requirements is the path for you.
A doctoral degree is a challenge that requires time and money but can provide you with increased knowledge and expertise, as well as the potential for career and income growth. Depending on your background and goals, there are multiple ways to apply for and complete a DNP.
USAHS Nursing Programs
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates designed for working nurses. Our nursing degrees are offered online, with hands-on elements depending on the program and role specialty. The MSN and DNP have options to accelerate your time to degree completion. Earn your advanced nursing degree while keeping your work and life in balance.
*Call for availability.
Sources:
- Sherry Christiansen, “Doctor Of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree Overview,” Nurse Journal, April 1, 2024, https://nursejournal.org/degrees/dnp/.
- Simple Nursing, “How Many Times Can You Take the NCLEX?,” Simple Nursing, March 4, 2024, https://simplenursing.com/how-many-times-can-you-take-the-nclex/.
- Kaplan, “NCLEX Pass Rates 2024: What You Need to Know,” Kaplan, 2024, https://www.kaptest.com/study/nclex/nclex-pass-rates-what-you-need-to-know/.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Exam Results: How to Receive Results & Retake Details,” NCSBN, 2024, https://www.ncsbn.org/exams/after-the-exam.page.
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “Licensure,” NCSBN, 2024, https://www.ncsbn.org/nursing-regulation/licensure.page.
- Angelina Walker, “RN Licensing Requirements by State,” Nurse.org, July 20, 2022, https://nurse.org/articles/guide-to-registered-nurse-licensure-by-state/.
- Anna Giorgi, “Earning a Master’s of Nursing Degree,” All Nursing Schools, https://www.allnursingschools.com/msn/.
- Danielle LeVeck, “What Is a DNP and Is It Worth It?” Nurse.org, June 5, 2024, https://nurse.org/articles/how-to-get-a-dnp-is-it-worth-it/.
- Editorial Staff, “Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Salary for 2024,” Nursingprocess.org, 2024, https://www.nursingprocess.org/dnp-salary/.
- Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP, “BSN-DNP Programs for BSN-Prepared Nurses,” Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP, 2024, https://www.doctorofnursingpracticednp.org/post-bachelors-bsn-to-dnp-programs/.
