Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner


Prepare academically to sit for the national family nurse practitioner certification exam with our online DNP-FNP program.

Prepare academically to sit for the national family nurse practitioner certification exam with our online DNP-FNP program.

Next Start Dates

  • Course Based

    Courses with a set schedule

    April 10, 2023

Accreditations

CCNE Accredited

Transfer Credits

Up to 40 Credits

1Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, SOC Code 29-1171. Retrieved September 2021. National job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee job growth, and are subject to change.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Note on licensure
The DNP nurse practitioner specializations programs are designed to prepare graduates with an active registered nurse (RN) license or APRN license to practice in the U.S. as nurse practitioners in their program specialty area. However, each state has its own academic preparation and authority to practice requirements and issues its own credential for an RN to be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner in that state. No graduate program can guarantee that graduates will be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner in their program specialty area upon graduation. We encourage students to consult the appropriate Board of Nursing or regulatory authority in the states or jurisdictions in which they reside or intend to seek licensure to determine specific requirements.  

Note on certification
The DNP nurse practitioner specializations programs are designed to academically prepare graduates to qualify to sit for national nurse practitioner certification exams, which are required for practice as a nurse practitioner in most states. Because no graduate program can guarantee that graduates will be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner upon graduation deemed eligible to take the certification exam, we encourage students to consult the appropriate Board of Nursing or state agency to determine specific certification exam requirements for licensure. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide information relating to national certification exams; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification exams for the state in which he or she intends to practice as requirements vary widely. Learn more about professional licensure. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain national certification. For more information about nurse practitioner certification exams, students should visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners at www.aanpcertification.org, American Nurses Credentialing Center at www.nursecredentialing.org, or other nurse practitioner certification exam websites. 

Enrollment Restrictions by State
Walden currently cannot enroll residents of the following states/districts into any DNP Nurse Practitioner specializations: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Note on Field Experience and Relocating
Students who are considering relocating are advised to contact their Student Success Advisor prior to any decision to relocate in order to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program. Advisors can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each Board of Nursing and Higher Education Authority governs the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. While Walden is committed to working collaboratively with students to secure field sites across the United States, it is imperative that students contact their Student Success Advisor immediately when considering relocating.

*Additional requirements for Walden's Practicum Pledge™