RN to NP: What It Takes to Become a Nurse Practitioner
It's the fastest-growing path in nursing. Here's what the data say and what to ask before you enroll.
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Nurse practitioner is one of the most common next moves for experienced RNs, and federal projections show why it's attractive. BLS projects employment of nurse practitioners to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035, from about 336,300 jobs to 474,100. That's much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for nurse practitioners was $132,300 in May 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, 2026, bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and). For comparison, the RN median was $97,550 (BLS, OOH: Registered Nurses, bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm).
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The path: APRNs need at least a master's degree in their role, a national certification exam, and a state APRN license on top of the RN license. Scope of practice varies from state to state (BLS, same APRN URL).
The questions that matter most are often practical. Which population focus (family, adult-gero, psych-mental health, pediatrics)? Can you keep working while in school? How does the program place you in clinical rotations? This article walks through each one.
Practical takeaways:
- Choose your population focus based on the patients you want to care for long term.
- Ask every program how clinical placements and preceptors are arranged. Don't assume they're provided.
- Check your state's NP scope-of-practice rules, since they shape your day-to-day work.
- Ask your employer about tuition support.
Link idea: "Browse NP roles →" https://jobs.rnsignal.com/jobs/search/nurse-practitioner-jobs?utm_source=rnsignal&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=next-move&utm_content=rn-to-np
Sources: BLS OOH APRN (2026) and BLS OOH RN (2026), links above