Care for your own patients throughout the life span using a holistic, evidence-based practice approach to health and wellness.
No. 1 in Master of Science in Nursing graduates in the U.S.¹
Play a bigger role in delivering equitable, high-quality healthcare with Walden’s online family nurse practitioner MSN program. Study under practicing FNPs as you learn how to assess, diagnose, and treat patients holistically through all life’s stages. Get the support and flexibility you need to stay on track, thrive in your studies, and complete your program—even when life gets busy.
An MSN-FNP program readies nurses to become advanced-practice nurses who manage disease prevention, health promotion, and restorative care in patients of all ages. As a graduate of this CCNE-accredited MSN-FNP online program, you’ll be academically prepared to sit for the national family nurse practitioner certification exam.
PERSONALIZE YOUR PATH
With this online MSN, you’ll have the choice of RN-FNP or BSN-FNP program tracks. We meet you where you are in your educational and professional journey.
Practicum AdvantageTM
Benefit from dedicated teams and support services to help you with successful nursing practicum placement and completion.
Advocate For Women’s Health
Promote wellness in female patients through compassionate education, diagnosis, and treatment. Gain the knowledge and skills to screen for common gynecological disorders.
Learn from Experienced Faculty
Learn from certified, practicing nurse practitioners who work in clinical settings on a weekly basis. 100% of our didactic NP faculty hold doctoral degrees.
Join Walden Grand Rounds
Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to critically examine real-life scenarios you’ll encounter in your specialty.
Dedicated Student Support
Get the support you need to thrive, from student success advising and practicum coordination, to our online community of nurse practitioners.
We are here to help you find your nursing practicum.
With a Degree From Walden University, You Can Make a Greater Difference
Meet Anna, a nurse who went to the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis in New York. Listen to her story of tragedy and resilience, and learn more about how she’s achieving her dream of becoming a family nurse practitioner.
With a degree From Walden University, you can make a greater difference.
Choose the BSN to FNP track if you are a registered nurse (RN) and have already earned your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Curriculum
Degree Completion Requirements
- 58 quarter credits
- Core courses (23 cr.)
- Specialization courses (35 cr. includes the required 640 practicum hours)
This sequence represents the minimum time to completion. Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-483-7820.
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN
Choose the RN to FNP track if you are a registered nurse (RN) entering the MSN program with a hospital diploma or an associate degree in nursing.
Curriculum
Degree Completion Requirements
- 84 quarter credits
- Foundations courses (26 cr.)
- Core courses (23 cr.)
- Specialization courses (35 cr. includes the required 640 practicum hours)
This sequence represents the minimum time to completion. Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-483-7820.
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN
If you are a registered nurse (RN) and have earned your bachelor's in nursing degree, you can use these tracks to get started on your doctoral nursing degree.
Personalized Practicum Support
Practicums are vital to your learning experience. That’s why we offer Practicum Advantage™—an ensemble of resources, self-help tools, and staff who understand the challenges of completing the nursing practicum. This includes the Walden Practicum Pledge™, available for BSN, MSN, and DNP programs. Once you register, a dedicated Field Placement Team partners with you to secure a site and preceptor. If you can’t identify your site and preceptor (along with additional requirements*), we’ll help find you a match.
Admission Requirements
Program Admission Considerations (RN-FNP track): Registered nurses who hold a hospital diploma, associate degree in nursing, or bachelor’s degree (other than BSN).
Program Admission Considerations (BSN-FNP track): A bachelor's degree or higher.
General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts.
- The Technical Standards Policy & Clinical Site Acknowledgement Form with:
- A statement of understanding of the MSN FNP practicum requirements.
- Identification of potential clinical sites in your local area for each of the four practicum requirements.
- Additional Walden admission criteria required. Contact an Enrollment Specialist for more details.
More information for international applicants.
Explore Real-Life Clinical Scenarios With Walden Grand Rounds
As a nurse practitioner student at Walden, you can take part in Walden Grand Rounds several times throughout the quarter. Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to review clinical patient scenarios that are focused on assessing, differentiating, and treating pathological conditions. This is a unique opportunity to connect what you’ve learned in class with real-life situations and challenges you’ll encounter in the field as an NP.
The progress you make now pays you back. You’ll receive your clinical practicum courses tuition-free.
We believe you can achieve your goals—and we’re here to support you along your journey.
Request information to learn more about scholarships and financial aid.
*Tuition and fees are subject to change. See Tuition and Fees section and Scholarship Details for more information.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 58 quarter credit hours | $750 per quarter hour | $43,500 |
| Technology Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $1,190 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $45,330** | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$6,000 $39,330* |
||
*Represents BSN-MSN track, minimum time to completion, and Believe & Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Believe & Achieve Scholarship savings based on current tuition. See Scholarship Details for more information.
**Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 25 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,000. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 26 RN Foundational quarter credit hours |
$415 per quarter hour | $10,790 |
| 58 MSN quarter credit hours |
$750 per quarter hour | $43,500 | |
| Technology Fee | Per quarter | $170 | $1,530 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $56,460* | |||
| BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP YOUR TUITION |
-$6,000 $50,460* |
||
*Represents RN-MSN track, minimum time to completion, and Believe and Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary.
*Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 40 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,000. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
Program Outcomes
Raise the Standard of Care With Our MSN to FNP Online Program
Find your voice and reach your potential as a clinician with Walden’s FNP specialization—one of our many MSN nurse practitioner specializations. Learn to use advanced practice nursing skills to diagnose and treat illness, advocate for patients, and empower them to live healthier lives. Discover Walden Grand Rounds—virtual meetings with faculty that feature real-life scenarios you will encounter in your specialty. You’ll also benefit from practice exam questions and test-taking strategies to help you prepare for certification exams.
Walden MSN to FNP online practicum coordinators are available to assist you in meeting your practicum requirements and you can view this FAQ document for answers to some of the most common questions.
What’s the Career Impact of Earning an MSN Family Nurse Practitioner?
Overall employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is projected to grow 40 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.3
Family nurse practitioner is one of several MSN NP specializations you can choose from. This path can give you the skills and confidence to improve patient outcomes and make a real impact for the communities you serve. Gain greater clinical autonomy—and the reward of guiding patients through the continuum of care. Become a next-generation nursing leader and a catalyst for positive social change.
A family nurse practitioner MSN can prepare you to work in settings such as:
- Office of Physicians
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Outpatient Care Centers
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners
- Home Health Care Services
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this online MSN-FNP program, graduates will be prepared to:
- Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.
- Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist nursing practice in a global society.
- Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
- Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.
- Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.
- Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations.
Meet Your MSN-FNP Program Academic Team
Testimonials
I chose Walden to earn my advanced degree because I was pleased with the design and presentation of the curriculum, its flexibility, and the very encouraging reviews of the experiences of current students and alumni.
I was very surprised about how well-prepared I felt for my certification boards after graduation. The program prepared me for entry to practice.
Choosing to specialize as a family nurse practitioner has opened many doors. ... I can explore many areas in nursing and still be a nurse practitioner.
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FAQ About Walden’s Online Family Nurse Practitioner
Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) are advanced practice nurses with a master’s degree in nursing. They are educated, licensed, and certified to treat the whole family. Family nurse practitioners have the knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat common illnesses and diseases, make referrals, order and interpret lab results, assist in minor surgeries, and write prescriptions—depending on state regulations, which vary. Although FNPs often work under the supervision of a physician, a number of states allow them to work independently.
Family nurse practitioners have broad primary care skills and can work in many settings. Oftentimes, the setting an FNP chooses depends on his or her career goals. Some of the most common settings for FNPs may include ambulatory or outpatient care, home healthcare, clinics, women’s care centers, schools, and pediatric offices.
After you successfully complete your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program with a specialization in Family Nurse Practitioner, you will need to pursue licensure and certification. Family nurse practitioner licensure requirements are set at the state level, meaning each state’s nursing board has the authority to determine the requirements for licensure. It’s best for individuals to check with their state board of nursing for licensure and certification requirements; however, the vast majority of states require individuals to be certified by a national certification board.
Each national certification exam is a competency-based examination that tests clinical knowledge in specific focus areas. Each autonomous national nursing certification board assesses entry-level nurse practitioner knowledge and practice competencies required to provide safe and quality healthcare. There are two primary national certification boards that offer the exams necessary for credentialing FNPs: the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) and American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
An FNP who is certified has fulfilled the requirements of a national certification board. Certification boards do not license individuals as FNPs. In order for an individual to be licensed as an FNP, individuals must meet the requirements as set forth by their state nursing board.
Yes, Walden’s online MSN-FNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In fact, three of Walden’s nursing degree programs are CCNE accredited: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. The Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing NP specializations are also accredited by CCNE. Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public’s health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing.
No other university in the U.S. graduates more nurses with MSN degrees than Walden.* Didactic coursework in Walden’s MSN FNP program is 100% online, allowing you to fit education into your schedule. Walden does not require travel for health assessments like other universities often do, and students can attend on a part-time or full-time basis. In addition, class sizes are small and students have a great deal of support throughout their program.
Walden offers exceptional support services that include a robust online library, Student Success Advisors, practicum support staff, career planning and development, and more. Walden is also committed to positive social change, which is emphasized throughout the curriculum.
*Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) IPEDS database. Based on the most recent year of completions survey data available, using CIP code family 51.38 “Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing” for Master’s degrees (Award level 7). Available at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data (Retrieved February 2020; may consist of or include provisional release data).
A nursing practicum gives you valuable practical experience by allowing you to apply your new knowledge and skills in real-life situations and settings. Although you’re responsible for initiating your search for a field site based on your location preferences, Walden offers Practicum Advantage™ that provides Student Success Advisor coaching, resources, and self-help tools you need to identify a practicum site and nursing preceptor that fit with your education and career goals.
For the nurse practitioner (NP) specializations in our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs, we are excited to announce the new Walden University Practicum Pledge™. You will benefit from our large network of field sites and preceptors, an additional dedicated Field Placement Team that partners with you to identify a site and preceptor. If you’re unable to identify your own nursing practicum site and preceptor after several attempts, we’ll assist in finding you a suitable match (along with additional requirements*).
1Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) IPEDS database. Based on the most recent year of completions survey data available, using CIP code family 51.38 “Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing” for Master’s degrees (Award level 7). Available at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data. (Retrieved January 2021; may consist of or include provisional release data.)
2Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, SOC Code 29-1171. Retrieved September 2021. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee actual job growth, and are subject to change.
3Source:https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm
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: Walden’s MSN nurse practitioner specializations are designed to academically prepare graduates with an active registered nurse (RN) license to practice in the U.S. as nurse practitioners. However, each state has its own academic preparation and authority to practice requirements and issues its own license for an RN to be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner in that state. Learn more about professional licensure.
No graduate program can guarantee that graduates will obtain licensure to practice as a nurse practitioner. 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. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide information relating to licensure; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to licensure for the state in which they intend to practice, as requirements vary widely.
Note on certification: Walden’s MSN program is designed to academically prepare graduates to apply for national certification. Walden makes no representations or guarantees that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to achieve national certification. We encourage students to consult an appropriate certifying body for the specific certification eligibility requirements. Students should also consult their state board of nursing or other state agency to determine what certifications are required or accepted in that state. It is an individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification, as requirements vary widely. For more information about nurse practitioner certification exams, students should visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board at www.aanpcert.org, the American Nurses Credentialing Center at www.nursingworld.org/ancc, or other nurse practitioner certification websites.
Enrollment Restrictions by State
Walden currently cannot enroll residents of the following states/districts into any nurse practitioner specializations: Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Rhode Island.
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.