RNtoNPIs NP School Worth It?
Menu
← RN to NP
HomeRN to NPPreparing to Apply to NP School
A checklist with four ticked items beside a graduation cap

For RNs preparing to apply to an NP program

Preparing to Apply to NP School

By David Becker, RN 8 min read
Preview for design review. This sample has not received final editorial approval and is not an eligibility or practice determination.

What to verify before you apply to an NP program: accreditation, the certification exam your program prepares you for, state licensure, clinical placements, and the work and loan plan that goes with it.

Before you apply to NP school, confirm three things: the program is accredited, the certification exam it prepares you for is one you can take in your state, and you have a realistic plan for your work, money and clinical placements. Program websites and rankings often answer none of these clearly. Each one can be checked against an official source in about an hour.

Who This Is For

This guide is for RNs who have chosen a pathway, or narrowed to two, and are about to submit applications. If you are still choosing a population, read How to Choose an NP Pathway first.

Step 1: Confirm the Program Is Accredited

Nursing programs in the U.S. are accredited by agencies the U.S. Department of Education recognizes. Two accredit graduate nursing programs. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) says it ensures the quality of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) says it is recognized by the Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the accrediting body for all types of nursing education programs.

  • Search the program on the CCNE accredited programs list or the ACEN program search. Check the program name, degree level and population track on the accreditor’s list, not only the school’s website.
  • Save a dated screenshot or PDF of the listing, and note the accreditor and the date you checked.
  • If the program is listed as seeking accreditation, ask the school what that means for your graduation and certification eligibility.

Step 2: Know What You Will Be Certified For

Graduate training prepares you for a national certification exam. The APRN Consensus Model says an APRN must pass a nationally accredited certification exam, in addition to holding an APRN license in the state where they practice. These are two separate things.

Certification Licensure
Who issues it A national certifying body, such as AANPCB Your state board of nursing
What it proves You passed a national exam in your role and population You are allowed to practice in that state
How you get it Eligibility from your program, then an exam Application to the state board

Sources: APRN Consensus Model, NCSBN; FNP certification exam, AANPCB.

Ask the program which exam it prepares you for. Then check that exam’s content outline and eligibility rules on the certifier’s own site. For example, the AANPCB describes its FNP exam as a competency-based test for entry-level family nurse practitioners, covering health assessment, pathophysiology, therapeutics and evidence-informed practice, across the lifespan.

Step 3: Check Your State’s Rules

Scope and licensing rules are set by each state. The AANP state practice environment map sorts states into full, reduced and restricted practice. Your state board of nursing sets the licensure requirements. Use the map as a starting point, then confirm the rules with the board before you commit to a program in another state.

Step 4: Ask About Clinical Placements

Clinical hours are part of every NP program, and placements are often the hardest part to plan. Ask each program these questions before you apply:

  • Does the school assign placements, or do I need to find my own preceptor?
  • How many clinical hours does my track require, and how are they split between practicum years?
  • What is the school’s policy if a placement falls through?
  • Do placements require travel or a specific schedule I would need to plan around my job?

Step 5: Plan the Work and the Money

These two plans decide whether you finish. Build both before you apply.

A working plan should include your schedule, the hours you can study each week, and what changes if a placement is far away or on a different shift. One NP student described keeping a full-time job, including 12-hour shifts, during school, and said underestimating the workload was his biggest mistake. Time was the hardest part of the program for him.

A money plan should include the total tuition, fees and living costs for the full program, the loans you would take and their repayment terms, and whether your employer offers tuition help. Read your loan terms before you sign, not after you start. One NP student said loans and repayment were the part he wished he had understood earlier.

A Note From an NP Student

I am an AGACNP student. My advice to an RN who is not sure about more school is to know your why. A clear reason makes the choices about schools, schedules and loans easier to work through, and it helps when the program gets hard.

Your Application Checklist

Use this list before you submit each application:

  • The program is on the accreditor’s list for my track, and I saved the listing with the date.
  • I know the certification exam my program prepares me for, and I checked its eligibility rules.
  • I checked my state’s practice environment and licensure rules with the board of nursing.
  • I asked how clinical placements are assigned and how many hours my track requires.
  • I have a weekly schedule that includes study time and work hours.
  • I know the total cost of the track and my loan repayment terms.

Key Takeaway

Sources

Sources & further reading

Official requirements can change. Verify details with the relevant school, certifier, or nursing board before acting.

Your Next Step in Nursing

A clearer next step.
One useful email.

Career insights, practical NP guides, and one action to move you forward. For nurses exploring their options and nurses ready for what’s next.