Best Online Family Nurse Practitioner Programs

Bridge, Accelerated, and Alternative Pathways

If you don’t meet the typical requirements associated with traditional family nurse practitioner MSN or DNP programs, you may be able to take advantage of bridge or accelerated programs. These programs are a shortened version of traditional programs that allow nurses to enroll with either an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. Here are a few examples:

• RN to NP
• RN to MSN
• BSN to DNP
• Accelerated MSN
• Master's Entry to Nursing Practice
• Post-Master’s Certificate

Learn more about Nurse Practitioner Programs.

Fast & Affordable FNP Programs

While we generally associate graduate degree programs with being costly and taking a long time to complete, there are still plenty of options for students to get their degree in a reasonable amount of time and for a cost that’s much lower than one might expect. Below are a few tips to those seeking these types of programs and how to find them.

How to Complete an FNP Program Quickly

Nurses lead busy lives with little flexibility in their schedules, but with the help of online and night school, there’s sure to be an FNP program that fits your unique situation. Here are a few tips to find the quickest FNP programs in your area:

1. Opting for a full-time program will save you time over a part-time option.
2. Online programs can often be completed more quickly than their on-campus counterparts.
3. MSN FNP programs typically take 2 years to complete, much shorter than 3-4 year DNP programs.

A few examples of quick FNP programs include:

FNP Programs with Affordable Tuition

Believe it or not, FNP programs don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are lots of FNP programs that will fulfill even the tightest budget. To find the most affordable family nurse practitioner programs, here are a few tips:

1. Location – Urban and high-cost living areas will naturally command higher tuition rates.
2. Private vs. Public Schools – Private schools often have higher tuition and fees than public schools.
3. Degree Level – MSN-level FNP programs are often shorter and cheaper than DNP options.

Here are a few of the most affordable FNP programs available:

FNP Curriculum

The curriculum of a family nurse practitioner program is designed to provide comprehensive training in primary care across the lifespan, focusing on health assessment, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Coursework typically includes advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment, as well as specialized courses on pediatric, adult, and geriatric care. FNP students also complete clinical hours in diverse healthcare settings to gain hands-on experience managing common acute and chronic conditions, preparing them for certification and real-world practice in family-focused primary care environments.

Typical Classes/Courses

Below is a bullet-point list of common courses found in FNP programs at both the MSN and DNP levels:

• Advanced Pharmacology
• Primary Care of Adults
• Primary Care of Pediatrics
• Geriatric Health Management
• Evidence-Based Practice and Research
• Family Practice Management
• Health Promotion and Disease Prev

Program Clinical Requirements

Both MSN and DNP family nurse practitioner programs require extensive clinical practice, with 500-1,000+ hours of supervised experience depending on the degree level. It's essential to review your program's curriculum for specific requirements on direct-care clinical hours.

MSN: FNP students usually complete around 500-600 hours, focusing on primary care for all ages in outpatient settings such as family clinics, community health centers, and pediatric practices.

DNP: DNP programs generally require 1,000+ clinical hours, including advanced training in clinical roles, leadership, and project-based healthcare improvement. DNP students may also complete a clinical residency and undertake a capstone project to showcase their expertise in family-focused primary care and evidence-based practice.

These clinical experiences are critical for building competencies in comprehensive patient management, including health assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and preventive care across diverse primary care settings.

List of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Programs

There are a variety of family nurse practitioner programs available, see a state-by-state list of all campus, hybrid, or online MSN-FNP or DNP-FNP programs.