There are more than 385,000 licensed nurse practitioners (NP) in the US(1), working in dozens of specialties. However, some NP specialties are easier to get into than others.
This guide explores the top five easiest nurse practitioner specialties to get into, their responsibilities, and program requirements.
What Makes a Nurse Practitioner Program Easier to Get Into?
You must earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree to become an NP. These programs can be long, tedious, and challenging to balance with a job and other responsibilities.
With the number of NPs nationwide rising, programs are becoming increasingly competitive. Luckily, several nurse practitioner specialties are more accessible than others.
NP Specialty Demand
Ultimately, the easiest NP programs to get into specialize in high-demand fields with many job openings. For example, emergency room (ER) NPs are in higher demand than saturated fields like aesthetics and cosmetics.
Program Availability
Additionally, NP specialties with more programs will be easier to get into. Since there are more adult-gerontology (AG) NP programs than oncology, becoming an AGNP is more accessible.
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What Are The Easiest Nurse Practitioner Programs to Get Into?
1. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
The easiest nurse practitioner specialty to get into is psychiatric mental health, also called a PMHNP. Currently, there is an increased demand for PMHNPs caused by rising mental health and substance abuse concerns nationwide.
PMHNPs specialize in mental health treatment, including patients with mental illness, disorders, and substance abuse problems. Primarily, they assess, diagnose, and provide treatment plans for these patients.
Other PMHNP duties include:
- Diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, illness, and crises
- Prescribing medications and titrating to effect
- Providing therapy
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals
- Educating patients and families on mental health disorders
- Providing care to individuals with substance abuse problems
Program Requirements
Each nurse practitioner program will have its own specific standards. However, general PMHNP program requirements include the following:
- BSN from an accredited nursing school
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Two years of full-time, relevant, psychiatric bedside experience
- Current, unencumbered RN license
- Three letters of recommendation
- Transcripts from all undergraduate programs
- GRE, if applicable
- Personal statement
- Interview
- Resume
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2. Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner
Emergency room nurse practitioners are in high demand to cover large urban ERs and smaller, rural ones. According to the CDC, there were over 139.8 million ER visits, with 18.3 million admissions. Medical doctors alone cannot handle this volume, putting ER NPs in exceptionally high demand.
Specific job responsibilities for ER NPs include:
- Delivering care to patients in emergency settings
- Resuscitating patients
- Prioritizing and triaging patients
- Coordinating transfer of care
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies
- Prescribing medication and therapies
Program Requirements
Unlike other NP specialties, there are no ER NP degree programs. Instead, you must acquire a post-graduate ER NP certification. Schools that offer these certificate courses often require the following:
- Current, unencumbered RN license
- Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) license
- National Certification
- Prescriptive Authority license
- Personal statement
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- CV/Resume
- Interview
- Transcripts
3. Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
Primary and acute care adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNPs) comprise just 15% of the NP workforce. This number is relatively small for practitioners caring for an aging population.
PRB predicts that the number of Americans over 65 will grow from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 (a 47% increase). Thus, AGNPs, who receive specific training to care for this patient population, will be in more demand than ever.
Specific adult-gerontology NP duties include:
- Analyzing & interpreting patient symptoms, diagnostic information, and health histories
- Developing diagnoses and comprehensive treatment plans
- Prescribing medication
- Educating patients on diagnosis, treatment options, and medications
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests
- Diagnosing and treating common acute healthcare problems
- Evaluating patient treatment efficacy
- Collaborating with other healthcare providers
Program Requirements
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current RN license in the state of the program
- Bachelor’s degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Official transcripts
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Relevant bedside nursing experience
- CV/Resume
4. Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
Neonatal nurse practitioners possess a particular skill subset and treat an exceedingly specific patient population. Therefore, they're in high demand, especially considering how few NNP programs are available.
In 2022, the March of Dimes reported that preterm births rose from 364,487 to 383,082 for women of all races. The report also found that racial and socioeconomic factors may increase the risk of preterm delivery. This rising trend indicates a growing demand for NNPs.
Additionally, significant increases in NICU technology allow medical professionals to push the age of viability and save earlier preterm babies. Healthcare facilities will need NNPs to fill staffing voids due to the increased number of neonatal patients.
Specific neonatal nurse practitioner responsibilities include:
- Treating neonates and newborns with medical conditions
- Collaborating with neonatologists and other healthcare providers
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests
- Starting and maintaining IV lines (e.g., central catheters and umbilical lines)
- Participating in high-risk newborn transport
- Ordering or performing procedures like intubation or central line placement
- Monitoring specialized equipment (e.g., incubators, ventilators, dialysis)
Program Requirements
While specific standards vary by institution, most NNP programs require the following:
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current RN license in the state of the program
- Bachelor’s degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Official transcripts
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Relevant bedside neonatal nursing experience
- CV/Resume
- Background and fingerprint clearances
- Physical and immunizations
5. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Family nurse practitioner programs are easier to get into, mainly because there are so many. You can attend an FNP program in person, online, or in a hybrid format and earn either an MSN or DNP degree.
The downside of this NP specialty is that finding a position can be challenging since several FNPs graduate each year. However, getting into a program is relatively easy.
Specific family nurse practitioner duties include:
- Managing care of patients of all ages, including infants, children, teens, and adults
- Collaborating with specialists and other healthcare providers
- Prescribing medication and titrating to effect
- Ordering diagnostic labs and tests and analyzing results
- Performing health assessments
- Conducting sick visits
- Patient & family education
- Developing treatment plans
Program Requirements
While specific standards vary by institution, most FNP programs require the following:
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current RN license in the state of the program
- Bachelor’s degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- Official transcripts
- Letter(s) of recommendation
- Relevant bedside nursing experience (can be pediatric or adult)
- CV/Resume
- Background and fingerprint clearances
- Physical and immunizations
Next Steps
Becoming a nurse practitioner requires advanced schooling and a serious time commitment, regardless of specialty.
Some NP specialty programs are vigorously competitive, while others have a higher acceptance rate. Ultimately, the ease at which you get into an NP program depends on the school, the program, and your qualifications.
However, with over 500 accredited NP programs nationwide, you have plenty of options to expand your career and achieve your goals.
