The Fastest Way to Become a Nurse Practitioner For People with a Bachelor’s Degree
Nurse practitioners provide exemplary care in primary and specialty care settings throughout the United States. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) found almost one billion patient visits with nurse practitioners each year. Without an influx of new practitioners, however, patients of all ages will have fewer care options.
Career-changing professionals find professional fulfillment, competitive compensation and autonomy as nurse practitioners. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates 336,300 nurse practitioner roles will open between 2025 and 2035. Let’s explore why professionals like you may fit well in this career before looking at the fastest way to become a nurse practitioner.
Why Become a Nurse Practitioner?
You’re considering a career switch because you want a new challenge or opportunity. Nurse practitioners find opportunities for personal and professional growth in every patient interaction. Here are a few reasons why now is the time to become a nurse practitioner:
1. Career Satisfaction
Nurse practitioners work in a career respected by experts and patients. U.S. News & World Report ranked nurse practitioners at the top of its job rankings in 2024, 2025 and 2026. This repeat performance reflects the growing role of nurse practitioners in American healthcare.
Nurse practitioners find satisfaction in treating patients during difficult moments. High levels of satisfaction lead to exceptional care, which results in patient trust in the nursing profession. In fact, Gallup’s annual survey of the most trusted professions places nursing at the top from 2002 to the present.
2. Professional Autonomy
Nurse practitioners learn how to practice independently through graduate programs and supervised experiences. Their patient interactions may include diagnosing patients, establishing treatment plans and interpreting tests. The level of autonomy depends on state laws where nurse practitioners work.
AANP found that 27 states and the District of Columbia allow full practice authority for nurse practitioners. In the remaining states, nurse practitioners work under physicians’ supervision. In either situation, though, nurse practitioners possess considerable autonomy over their work.
3. Good Return on Educational Investment
Following the pathway to becoming a nurse practitioner is a smart investment in your future. The BLS projects a 41% growth in demand for nurse practitioners from 2025 to 2035. High demand for a healthcare role requiring advanced education translates to strong compensation.
The typical nurse practitioner earned $132,300 per year in 2025. This median salary was far higher than the $50,980 for all occupations and the $97,550 for registered nurses in the same year. The hard work and commitment required for a nurse practitioner are worth it for those who want a helping career.
Fastest Ways to Become a Nurse Practitioner
You’ll need the right education and licensure to unlock the benefits of a nurse practitioner career. Every degree path aims toward state licensure as a nurse practitioner. Licensure requirements vary by state; for example, Illinois’ requirements for nurse practitioners include:
- A graduate degree in nursing
- A current Registered Nurse (RN) license in Illinois
- A collaborative agreement with a physician for 4,000 post-graduate supervised hours
- Completion of a national certification exam
The first step toward your new career is a graduate degree. You’ll want degree options that build on your bachelor’s degree rather than having you retrace your steps. Here are two quick pathways to becoming a nurse practitioner:
1. Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) and Graduate Degree
ABSN programs train professionals with non-nursing degrees for RN roles. The expedited timeline focuses on foundational nursing skills without repeating coursework completed in previous degrees. ABSNs typically take less than two years to finish without sacrificing the skills necessary for clinical success.
Graduates of ABSN programs still need a graduate degree to qualify for nurse practitioner roles. A two-year graduate degree program focused on advanced practice fulfills this requirement. The ABSN and graduate program route takes up to four years for completion, the same as a typical undergraduate degree.
2. Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP)
The MENP is an innovative and expedited approach to nursing education. This degree type prepares graduates for registered nursing positions with eligibility for post-graduate certificate programs. This pathway combines supervised clinical hours with advanced coursework to get degree candidates up to speed.
Adding a specialized nurse practitioner certification in an area like family or psychiatric-mental health practice strengthens qualifications. An MENP program is ideal for professionals who are sure they want to be nurse practitioners. This pathway takes less than four years to complete: the MENP takes two years, and certificates require two years of study.
Aspiring nurse practitioners should choose the MENP as the next step in their careers. You can get the most out of your educational experience by learning at an innovative and regionally recognized university. Elmhurst University’s MENP is a great place to start your nurse practitioner career.
Beginning Your Nurse Practitioner Career at Elmhurst University
This online direct entry MSN accelerates the pathway to nurse practitioner careers for non-nurses. This affordable, 100% online graduate degree can be completed in 20 months of full-time study. With an Elmhurst University MSN in hand, you’ll be ready for RN and Clinical Nursing Leader (CNL) certification exams.
MSN candidates complete 71 credits of coursework under the tutelage of experienced nursing professionals. The program requires 810 hours of supervised clinical experience to develop clinical decision-making. Students also gain practical experience during an immersive on-campus residency before graduation. This innovative curriculum covers topics including:
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Family Health: Childbearing
- Healthcare Technology and Information Management
The MENP is built for student success, with 100% of program graduates passing the NCLEX-RN exam. The program infuses Elmhurst University values like social responsibility and stewardship into every course. Graduates also benefit from the University’s stellar reputation in national publications like U.S. News & World Report.
Find out how Elmhurst University’s MENP can prepare you for the career you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nurse practitioners are advanced clinical practitioners who provide care across different ages and populations. They can order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose and treat health conditions, and prescribe medications within their scope of practice.
Nurse practitioners focus on overall health and well-being rather than only treating illness. Their work may include health promotion and disease prevention before patients become sick.
Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, private clinics, surgery centers, schools, public health departments, hospice organizations, substance use centers, and psychiatric facilities.
Becoming a nurse practitioner can be rewarding because practitioners have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on patients’ lives. Their emphasis on preventive care allows them to help people stay healthy and support long-term well-being.
The pathway includes earning a nursing degree, passing the NCLEX-RN, obtaining a graduate degree, gaining nursing experience, earning a nurse practitioner postgraduate credential, and passing a specialty certification exam for licensure.
A direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing program is designed for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. It provides nursing education, clinical training, and leadership preparation that can serve as a foundation for pursuing nurse practitioner credentials.
