Certified Family Nurse Practitioners: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of certified family nurse practitioners about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for certified family nurse practitioners to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of certified family nurse practitioners expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for certified family nurse practitioners.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners?
Do certified family nurse practitioners need a degree? What kind of experience do certified family nurse practitioners typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for certified family nurse practitioners to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners
Jobs Postings for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners By Education
- No Education Listed: 1,316 (47%)
- Master's degree: 1,022 (37%)
- Bachelor's degree: 233 (8%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 144 (5%)
- High School or GED: 56 (2%)
No education was listed by most employers of certified family nurse practitioners. According to job data, no education was required for 47% of positions. In 37% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 8% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners
Jobs Postings for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 312 (28%)
- 2-3 Years: 674 (61%)
- 4-6 Years: 121 (11%)
- 7-9 Years: 1 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 1 (0%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for certified family nurse practitioners. In 61% of job postings for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 11% of job postings for certified family nurse practitioners.
What Kind of Degree Do Certified Family Nurse Practitioners Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for certified family nurse practitioners, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 5 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective certified family nurse practitioners, and in 2023 a total of 254,678 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective certified family nurse practitioners.
Top Degree Programs for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners
Top 5 Degree Programs for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 250,462 |
| Nursing Science. | 3,542 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery. | 538 |
| Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services, Other. | 70 |
| Direct Entry Midwifery. | 66 |
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Degree Options for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your nursing knowledge and experiences with our online degree-completion program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: CCNE
Learn and practice the skills you need to play a pivotal role in creating progressive healthcare programs, systems and processes that result in high-quality, affordable care for everyone.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3-4
Unleash your potential by completing the online FNP Certificate program that readies you for an advanced role in nursing.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Expand your scope of practice as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, and become an expert in healthcare delivery for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Realize your potential to impact healthcare with an accredited degree that blends nursing theory, advanced practice concepts and research.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 18
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Broaden your knowledge and your practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner equipped to provide a holistic approach toward healthcare.
- Months To Complete: 28
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing with a streamlined path to the M.S. in Nursing.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16-30
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Certified Family Nurse Practitioners Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by certified family nurse practitioners to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for certified family nurse practitioners, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Certified Family Nurse Practitioners
Based on 2,512 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Midwifery | 1,688 | 67% |
| Obstetrics And Gynaecology | 1,242 | 49% |
| Gynecology | 1,211 | 48% |
| Postpartum Care | 1,028 | 41% |
| Nursing | 937 | 37% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Certified Family Nurse Practitioners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 632 | 25% |
| Communication | 421 | 17% |
| Research | 313 | 12% |
| Teaching | 255 | 10% |
| Leadership | 183 | 7% |
Based on 2,512 job postings related to certified family nurse practitioners, midwifery was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 67% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for obstetrics and gynaecology, gynecology, postpartum care, nursing and intrapartum were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for certified family nurse practitioners, followed by communication, research, teaching, leadership and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Midwifery | 1,688 | 67% |
| Obstetrics And Gynaecology | 1,242 | 49% |
| Gynecology | 1,211 | 48% |
| Postpartum Care | 1,028 | 41% |
| Nursing | 937 | 37% |
| Intrapartum | 683 | 27% |
| Family Planning | 497 | 20% |
| Medical Records | 487 | 19% |
| Childbirth | 392 | 16% |
| Medical Ultrasonography | 347 | 14% |
| Cardiotocography | 295 | 12% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 242 | 10% |
| Pap Tests | 219 | 9% |
| Cesarean Section | 207 | 8% |
| Pelvic Examination | 205 | 8% |
| Clinical Experience | 200 | 8% |
| Triage | 189 | 8% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 186 | 7% |
| Clinical Practices | 170 | 7% |
| Social History Records | 167 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 632 | 25% |
| Communication | 421 | 17% |
| Research | 313 | 12% |
| Teaching | 255 | 10% |
| Leadership | 183 | 7% |
| Writing | 164 | 7% |
| Decision Making | 161 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 135 | 5% |
| Spanish Language | 101 | 4% |
| Planning | 95 | 4% |
| Quality Assurance | 95 | 4% |
| Coordinating | 94 | 4% |
| Customer Service | 93 | 4% |
| Critical Thinking | 88 | 4% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 79 | 3% |
| Problem Solving | 75 | 3% |
| Computer Literacy | 71 | 3% |
| Innovation | 71 | 3% |
| Lifting Ability | 70 | 3% |
| Compassion | 69 | 3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about certified family nurse practitioners? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for certified family nurse practitioners.
What do certified family nurse practitioners do?
How much do certified family nurse practitioners make?
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