Advanced Practice Registered Nurses: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of advanced practice registered nurses 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 advanced practice registered nurses to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of advanced practice registered nurses 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 advanced practice registered nurses.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses?
Do advanced practice registered nurses need a degree? What kind of experience do advanced practice registered nurses 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 advanced practice registered nurses to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Jobs Postings for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses By Education
- No Education Listed: 120,512 (57%)
- Master's degree: 67,749 (32%)
- Bachelor's degree: 11,932 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 10,485 (5%)
- High School or GED: 1,744 (1%)
No education was listed by most employers of advanced practice registered nurses. According to job data, no education was required for 57% of positions. In 32% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 6% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Jobs Postings for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 41,032 (45%)
- 2-3 Years: 42,883 (47%)
- 4-6 Years: 6,412 (7%)
- 7-9 Years: 267 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 249 (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 advanced practice registered nurses. In 47% of job postings for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 45% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 7% of job postings for advanced practice registered nurses.
What Kind of Degree Do Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for advanced practice registered nurses, 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 15 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective advanced practice registered nurses, and in 2023 a total of 293,125 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 advanced practice registered nurses.
Top Degree Programs for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Top 5 Degree Programs for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 250,462 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing. | 14,970 |
| Nursing Practice. | 9,195 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other. | 4,347 |
| Nursing Science. | 3,542 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 250,462 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing. | 14,970 |
| Nursing Practice. | 9,195 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other. | 4,347 |
| Nursing Science. | 3,542 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing. | 3,245 |
| Pre-Nursing Studies. | 3,044 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. | 2,159 |
| Critical Care Nursing. | 591 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing. | 558 |
| Pediatric Nurse/Nursing. | 508 |
| Women's Health Nurse/Nursing. | 288 |
| Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing. | 124 |
| Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing. | 72 |
| Forensic Nursing. | 20 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- 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
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3
- Accreditation: CCNE
Keep up – and lead – advances in family practice healthcare by further professionalizing your skills with Franklin’s DNP-FNP program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3
- Accreditation: CCNE
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
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 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by advanced practice registered nurses 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 advanced practice registered nurses, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Based on 195,979 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 59,015 | 30% |
| Primary Care | 50,909 | 26% |
| Medical Records | 33,491 | 17% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 27,994 | 14% |
| Treatment Planning | 25,434 | 13% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 39,972 | 20% |
| Communication | 38,997 | 20% |
| Leadership | 17,574 | 9% |
| Writing | 15,880 | 8% |
| Computer Literacy | 14,492 | 7% |
Based on 195,979 job postings related to advanced practice registered nurses, nursing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 30% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for primary care, medical records, patient education and counseling, treatment planning and geriatrics were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for advanced practice registered nurses, followed by communication, leadership, writing, computer literacy and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 59,015 | 30% |
| Primary Care | 50,909 | 26% |
| Medical Records | 33,491 | 17% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 27,994 | 14% |
| Treatment Planning | 25,434 | 13% |
| Geriatrics | 23,484 | 12% |
| Urgent Care | 22,801 | 12% |
| Medical History Documentation | 22,689 | 12% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 21,451 | 11% |
| Family Medicine | 20,307 | 10% |
| Chronic Diseases | 19,642 | 10% |
| Clinical Experience | 18,665 | 10% |
| Psychiatry | 17,026 | 9% |
| Acute Care | 16,708 | 9% |
| Internal Medicine | 16,354 | 8% |
| Patient Treatment | 16,265 | 8% |
| Mental Health | 14,006 | 7% |
| Medication Administration | 14,004 | 7% |
| Pediatrics | 13,741 | 7% |
| Home Health Care | 13,717 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 39,972 | 20% |
| Communication | 38,997 | 20% |
| Leadership | 17,574 | 9% |
| Writing | 15,880 | 8% |
| Computer Literacy | 14,492 | 7% |
| Research | 13,699 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 12,973 | 7% |
| Operations | 11,929 | 6% |
| Planning | 10,953 | 6% |
| Customer Service | 10,950 | 6% |
| Coordinating | 10,483 | 5% |
| Scheduling | 9,665 | 5% |
| Problem Solving | 9,383 | 5% |
| Decision Making | 9,315 | 5% |
| Teaching | 9,136 | 5% |
| Accountability | 8,917 | 5% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 8,144 | 4% |
| Critical Thinking | 7,835 | 4% |
| Time Management | 7,509 | 4% |
| Spanish Language | 7,466 | 4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about advanced practice registered nurses? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for advanced practice registered nurses.
What do advanced practice registered nurses do?
How much do advanced practice registered nurses make?
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